The Don'ts of German Trains

[@AbudMunichen]

Those Bahn apps or the apps from the regional providers can be super helpful, because they show you the delays and connections in real time.

[@jakobholzwarth1544]

Yes. The DB Navigator app is invulnerable inorder to adjust to delays.

[@freibert]

Never get on a German train without this app, your connection won't be working and you are always in need of an alternativ //

[@cz2301]

Funny that Germany is seen as the country of efficiency and punctuality but their trains always delay. In Japan they very rarely delay and when it does, it’s due to some extraordinary reason, such as a suicide in the train tracks or an earthquake

[@AbudMunichen]

@@cz2301 the problem is that during the privatisation of the Bahn, tracks were removed because they weren't "profitable". However now there are no more tracks the trains could evade to in case one of the main tracks is blocked. And that is the problem, why the whole system is falling appart when there's only one train which has a technical problem.

[@cz2301]

@@AbudMunichen i see.. thanks for the explanation

[@mariohendriks1]

Also don't be afraid about what happens when you miss a connection due to a delayed train. Even with the cheapest ticket you can get the next connection.

[@muiggmuigg]

yes, that´s true: If you miss the connection because the train you are on is delayed to much you can use EVERY train you wish to finally get to your destination.

[@Judy-zs4gz]

@@muiggmuigg helps me a lot!! Last time, my friends told me a way to get bigger discounts for rail trips. so i plan to have a rail trip

[@ajinkyamehere5365]

@@muiggmuigg even ICE, if my original ticket was on a RE?

[@muiggmuigg]

@@ajinkyamehere5365sure

[@leonlimmer8274]

Professional DB travellers buy the cheapest tickets with the most complicated connection begging for something to go wrong and you'll end up on the fast train 1h earlier to your destination

[@Kilandil]

1st rule: Have plans ABCDEFG 😅

[@michaelkores6860]

Plan C: Take your car and enjoy the Baustellen on the A3 and the many Staus, giving you the opportunity to watch some content on KZbin!

[@jakobholzwarth1544]

Nah you can try to plan but it's so unpredictable that you just have to improvise as the situation changes.

[@Judy-zs4gz]

Another Tip here: I just found out that buying train cards saves more!! There will be coupons available to drop

[@kk-qu1zc]

rule #2 bring a watermelon

[@AndreasDelleske]

@@Kilandil .. also start with plan C.

[@jarsenaultj]

I guess the one good thing I can say about trains in Canada is that I'll never get confused about which train to take. There's three trains leaving Halifax per week.

[@freibert]

So do not miss them, or youre in need of warm clothing for the waiting time ;-)

[@fridericusrex9812]

🤣sad Canadian noises

[@correctionguy7632]

you werent joking holy shit

[@Bambergensis]

Glad to see you here in my home town. Greetings from Bamberg!

[@dummekuh1212]

username checks out lol

[@acemakerjay]

I was born in Bamberg. I was adopted and my wife and I are going there in two weeks for the first time. I am so excited.

[@xeldrin8465]

I'd also like to add that when you use the paid toilets on the stations, the receipts also count as discount coupons at selected stores

[@2006gtobob]

So, it pays to give a shit, so to say?

[@Judy-zs4gz]

Another Tip here: I just found out that buying train cards saves more!! There will be coupons available to drop

[@mijos3]

@@2006gtobob Well, you often pay a Euro for the toilet (SANIFAIR and RailAndFresh are the most common toilet operators at stations and they both charge a Euro) and you get a little coupon worth 50 cents. But the use of it is limited: You first need a store that accepts it, then you need to pay at least 2,50€, and you can only use one at a time. But yeah, it kind of pays. (The operators know that not many people use them and just leave them in their wallet, and I can say that I got like 3 of these in my wallet that I haven’t used and probably will not use, I think they even expire after some time)

[@Carrylane]

@xeldrin8465 Wow those 0,50€ Discount you get from spending money on peeing or shitting, is nothing worth. You have to spend min 2,00 to get those 0,50€ discount, otherwise you can do nothing with it

[@TDarkHunt]

The Schienenersatzverkehr is also a nightmare, especially if you have to take a bus after a cancelled train

[@kessas.489]

I took these buses for 1,5 years and it was a totally nightmare! 😒

[@muiggmuigg]

yes, butr that can happen also in other countries (like in Switzerland ;-) )

[@mariokrings]

The main problem about the practise of replacement buses (SEV) is, that we don't have enough bus drivers anywhere in the country. So for the recently started 5-month reconstruction of the _Riedbahn HST_ between Frankfurt and Mannheim they bought 150 busses and employed and schooled 400 bus drivers from 14 european countries with basic german and teaching them the rules and the routes on that 100 km strip. That alone took around 2 years.

[@DanielZabransky-h3f]

Such great advice! I leave to Muenchen on the 30th for a three-week vacation. Thank you for this!

[@PeaceNPassion50]

The video I didn’t know I needed! Leave for Germany in a few weeks. Thank you for being comprehensive!

[@colin9981]

I am just back from Germany and did a train journey from Dortmund to Cologne and it it true what you said about checking which station you are going to. I was told to change at Wuppertal but there are 4 Wuppertal stations but thanks to those nice people at the reisenzentrum I got a detailed itinerary showing where to get on and off.

[@Skegeemade]

This is great. I’ve watched your videos for years and this particular video is perfectly timed. I’m going to Berlin and plan to take the train to Nuremberg & Prague by train.

[@WaechterDerNacht]

"The Deutsche Bahn has a history of the best train system in europe..." - the key word here is "history" (cheers from Switzerland, where there is always a train waiting to cover the route of a delayed train coming from Germany)

[@77Badger]

I can tell you it was the best at one time. As of last summer when I traveled on DB from Heidelberg to Salzburg it can be a mess. Faulty equipment (broken air conditioning and water closets) and not on schedule. Plus there are labor actions. Yes, do not count on arriving on time and have alternate plans just in case. I rode HSR in Japan, Spain and Italy lately and those are far superior.

[@lassepeterson2740]

I think the Swiss railways were always the best train system in europe , so when was the DB the best ?

[@77Badger]

@@lassepeterson2740 I would agree with you that Swiss railways are great if you want reliability. DB WAS really good in the 1990s. Fast and reliable.

[@wallerwolf6930]

Die Schweiz hat es aber auch leichter, das Netz ist bei Weitem nicht so groß und kompliziert.

[@WaechterDerNacht]

@@wallerwolf6930 Vielleicht nicht so gross von der abzudeckenden Fläche wie Deutschland. Wenn man jedoch die Anzahl Strecken anschaut welche bspw. aufgrund der Topografie nur einspurig geführt werden können etc. würde ich hinter dem "nicht so... kompliziert" ein grosses Fragezeichen stellen, damit die Verbindungen sinnvoll klappen.

[@alexelliott37]

Taking my first trip overseas to Germany this summer and planning on taking the train all around NRW and to Berlin. Some great tips here. Awesome video, as always!

[@KasraKasra-wu3ol]

Enjoy Berlin it’s a great city with awesome public transportation, don’t forget to validate your ticket on those small boxes at stations 🙏🙏

[@alexelliott37]

@@KasraKasra-wu3ol thanks for the tip! Berlin looks amazing, I can't wait to see it in person!

[@KasraKasra-wu3ol]

@@alexelliott37 have fun 🇩🇪

[@raileon]

You'll be in for an adventure, taking the train in NRW. It'll be chaotic, but you'll be fine. The DB app will be your best friend.

[@alexelliott37]

@@raileon I'm very excited. Lots of interesting places to see and seemingly a pretty good railway system between the cities. Cologne is at the top of my list!

[@RthnVhm.o-sc5he]

This is the most fitting video about German trains I've seen.

[@Chris_Taru]

14:30 I think that information about included S-Bahn connections requires some clarification: 1) Flex tickets automatically come with a city ticket which includes ALL modes of local public transport at the start and final destination throughout almost all of Germany. 2) The very same city ticket can optionally be added to reduced tickets (Sparpreis) for a small extra-charge. 3) Without the city ticket you can transfer to S-Bahn but only when the final destination of the ticket is an S-Bahn stop (adding that distance to the trip and price). 4) When DB has a partnership with a local public transport provider then it's possible to book tickets to and from any of their bus/tram/metro stations (adding their fair to the price).

[@Gokatgo]

Regarding tight transfers. If the train you are on causes you to miss the transfer, no matter how tight it is, your "Zugbindung" will be annulled, which means you can take any train you like to get to the destination. This is however only true if you have a valid "continuous" ticket for both trains you will use. So for example if you are separately using the "Deutschlandticket" for local trains, and this causes you to miss your ICE, you are simply shit out of luck. I would still however recommend using direct trains wherever possible. I once traveled between Düsseldorf and Munich via ICE and decided to save 8 Euros by taking a route that included a transfer (and was only 10 minutes slower), only to have my train be rerouted behind Cologne because of congestion, making me miss the transfer and delayed my arrival by an hour. The direct train which left Düsseldorf on the same platform just 30 minutes later arrived with no delays.

[@ajinkyamehere5365]

In case of missed connection, can I take an ICE, if my original ticket was for a RE?

[@CaptainPfeffi]

@@ajinkyamehere5365it depends what kind of ticket u are using

[@_is_gra]

@@ajinkyamehere5365 you can, but you need to buy the ICE ticket beforehand and then get it refunded later on. Doesnt work for Bayern Ticket etc. or 49€ ticket

[@sheayoung]

This was great! Definitely saving and sharing! !

[@WoltersWorldEats]

Thanks!!

[@atm9862]

Great advice. I will be in germany and use the DB.

[@woltersworld]

Awesome!

[@dummekuh1212]

Consider using DB Navigator or even a third-party app to always get your connection on your phone. I couldn't live without this. Sometimes you have to pay attention to whats going on at the station so you don't miss your train because it's suddenly departing from another platfrom and not late anymore lol

[@bruceketcheson4877]

Good luck with that

[@borschbandit]

Been watching you for years Wolter, you're a legend, now I have my own travel vlog. Genuinely good tips. Also, I spent my childhood in Bamberg, glad to see you there.

[@LIBREPUB]

This is one of your most importantly essential videos on train travel.

[@berulan8463]

Thank you, that was a very informative video.

[@joshlunt7827]

Great video! 😁

[@debbiebaitinger3843]

Love the trains! Munich to Vilshofen. Half way to our destination the train stopped (Dingolfing) in the middle of nowhere. Accident on the track so we all had to get off. Train returned to Munich. Only a platform no station. No info on what was going on. Two hours later a train showed up and we were on our way. So overcrowded we sat on the stairs with our bags. Adventure!!!

[@fotoeins]

Thanks for your video, Mark. I've been travelling to Germany almost every year since 2001, and I echo your sentiment about the highs and lows about Deutsche Bahn. Like you, I too have seen many parts of the country, thanks to DB.

[@pjschmid2251]

This just highlights how long it’s been since I’ve been to Europe. The last trip I made was just after 9/11. I left that Saturday and the airport was crazy because it was the first day of international travel. Once I got to Germany though my Eurorail pass was a breeze. The only reservation I made was for an overnight train from Berlin to Zürich. I did need a special pass for the trains in the Jungfrau area because they have their own train system. But that was so worth it. I loved that part of my trip. But I think travel was way down because of the tragedy and people were nervous to travel. It was definitely an interesting time to be an American abroad.

[@Judy-zs4gz]

thx again! This video helps me a lot!! Last time, my friends told me a way to get bigger discounts for rail trips.

[@tobiojo6469]

Hey Mark, great video

[@evelyngrammar]

Thanks! Heading to the Christmas Markets in December. This is very helpful.

[@WoltersWorldEats]

You will love it!

[@EnjoyFirefighting]

1:50 as for space for luggage: many regional and regional express trains have dedicated space for e.g. bicycles. Often a rather open space with folding seats - in case you have a large suitcase or lots of luggage, you might want to go there. It's not really an issue when you have lots of luggage. 2:05 true for most trains, however there are a few like the alex where you can buy the ticket on board of the train as well 8:36 except for train stations, gas stations, airports and at resort towns And don't be afraid of missing your station. You can get off at the next station, get onto the train back, talk to the conductor and they'll usually let you ride back to your station without additional charge.

[@mariokrings]

*Some probably helpful hints:* 1) [0:44] Even though he is right with what he's saying about the delays, you don't have to avoid connections and prefer direct trains for that matter (if not for the convenience not to have to change the train). If it's expected, that you'll reach your destination with a delay of more than 20 Min., you're allowed to take any other train heading towards your destination. Even if you bought a special offer which usually is only valid on one designated train. That by the way is an EU law, so valid in all EU member states. Just bear in mind, that you'll loose seat reservations you might have booked in addition to the ticket if you make use of that EU right. The train company has to refound that mones of course. 2) [1:30] You will experience that germans don't care about you having to travel standing in the isle, while their backbacks or shopping bags are traveling comfortably sitting on the neighbouring seat. Ask them kindly to remove the items, so you can have a seat. Long-distance trains (most of them are called IC, EC or ICE and are white with a red ribbon (there are few exceptions)) usually offer enough space for luggage. The official rule is one personal item and a packing piece that one person must be able to move. Regional (commuter) trains (often red and usually called S, RE, RB, IRE) appear in dozens of different trains models and are usually specious. They have overhead bins, which are most of the times empty, because commuters won't bring luggage. In peak hours it can get tight anyways, like anywhere in the world in in rush hour. 3) [2:00] You shold definitely get the App called _"DB Navigator."_ This App from Germany's biggest operator Deutsche Bahn (DB) allows you to search for connections (including those from other companies, like Flixtrain), buy tickets (only from DB) and store the digital tickets and your travel connection directly in the App. You can check-in for long-distance trains yourself (board WiFi => Comfort Check-in) and get all information there about the trip (delays, connections, travel speed, next stop) as well as information about the train (where is 1st/2nd class, the buffet/restaurant car, family compartment, wheelchair places and toilet, so on....) If you want to travel more than only one trip in germany, you should also get yourself a _BahnCard 25_ which gives you 25 % off, even on money saver offers. *But what does this have to do with **_"Don't get on the train without a ticket"_* Well, *you can buy your tickets up to ten minuts after leaving the station you've gotten on the train.* Even if the employee comes to check your ticket within these 10 Minutes you can still tell him, that you're about to buy one. This is not european law, but a company offer from DB. It's only possible on long-distance trains (white, red ribbon) from Deutsche Bahn (DB) and partners (like ÖBB (Austria), SBB (Switzerland) and SCNF (France)) in Germany. Competitors like _Flixtrain_ (green cars) don't sell their tickets in the Navigator and won't allow you to buy the ticket on the train. And don't do it on regional trains either (like the red one in the backround of the video), because this rule only applies to ICE, ECE, IC, EC, railjet and TGV (most of them white with red ribbon). 4) [14:14] This is not 100 % right. If your tickets says _Berlin Hbf to München Hbf_ (München Hbf = Munich main station) you *can't(!)* use the S-Bahn to your final stop, like wherever that is. That can result in a 60 Euro fine. If you want to do that, you have to put the name of the Station you want to go to when you buy the ticket, like _Berlin Zoolgischer Garten to München Flughafen_ (Munich Airport). The price might be the same at the end, but it can make a big difference when your ticket get checked. Some Tickets include the *City-Ticket-Option.* If you pay full price (Flex price) the City-Ticket is always included. Otherwise you can book and pay extra for it. Your ticket would say _Berlin+City to München+City._ With this ticket you can use the S-Bahn as well as the bus, the tramway and the underground (U-Bahn). But be careful: If you want to use the public transport in both cities, the _"+City"_ has to be written behind both city names. If the ticket says _Berlin Hbf to München+City,_ it would mean you have to organise and pay for the public transport in Berlin, but in Munich it is included. And important: if you interrupt your trip from Berlin to Munich, which you can do with a flex price ticket, and you stay e.g. overnight in Nürnberg and get back on track the next day, you'll lose your City-Ticket for Munich. That's because the flex ticket is valid for the next day (if the journey is >100 km), but the City-Ticket is only valid on the first day.

[@melissagregory9901]

So helpful. Thank you!

[@BasicAmericanDadAbroad]

vielen Dank für die tollen Informationen! 🙌

[@tanjasajovitz2935]

@woltersworld -love your European videos, been watching for years. I am quite surprised that -as you said-you have been going to Germany for many years, but never showed Würzburg (especially since it's so close to Nürnberg). It's a BEAUTIFUL and historic city really worth visiting. The same goes for places like Trier and it's surrounding areas. Would really like to see you showcase any of that. Thanks!

[@benfox1588]

I agree, I'm also surprised he hasn't mentioned Würzburg. I would also highly recommend many of the towns in Thuringia, like Erfurt, Jena and especially Weimar. Hidden gems!

[@dag3014]

German trains are so delayed that other countries experience knock on delays because of them. Austria, France and Switzerland are all prime examples of countries with better trains unfortunately.

[@BoloH.]

Out of curiosity, what's the normal delay in Germany? 15 minutes?

[@dag3014]

@@BoloH. not sure of the exact numbers but train delays are so ridiculously common that train drivers dont even bother to let passengers know if its delayed. ive been personally delayed by at least 35 minutes on 3 different trains.

[@BoloH.]

@@dag3014 Yikes, 30+ minutes is starting to be really annoying

[@bahnfahrenaufschlau]

@@BoloH. Regional trains actually have a punctuallity (Delay between 0-5:59 Minutes) of 92%, whilest Long distance trains are the real problem with only about 66% punctuality, so 1 out of 3 long distance trains is delayed by more than 6 minutes.

[@fabiansaah6482]

​@@BoloH.Long distance trains. Commuter trains normally don't have that amont of delay. And sometimes trains wait for other trains from somewhere ( I was f.e. in a train waiting for the train from Belgium that was waiting for the train from London) and it becomes a chain.

[@DJKLProductions]

Apart from the fact that it is always practical to carry as little luggage as possible, I have a tip for those who have to carry a lot: there is also space under the seats on (high-speed) trains! Many people forget this; the same applies to aeroplanes, by the way. The supports of the rows of seats are built in such a way that, depending on the size of your suitcase, you can fit up to two of them under the seats. On some local and regional train models, however, the seat supports/anchors are designed in such a way that you realise that the designers have not thought about usable storage space. As a result, some supports run diagonally. But as I said: the less luggage, the better, because it is simply more comfortable. It sounds unbelievable, but in Germany there are also washing machines: in hotels, in most guest rooms and especially in holiday flats.

[@fixh]

13:24 There are some providers where you can cancel your Deutschlandticket subscription directly when ordering. This makes it possible to buy this ticket just for one month. Please note that the DE-Ticket always starts on the 1st day of the month.

[@jamesf931]

Been living in Switzerland since 2017. The DB is about the same as the SBB here. Don’t know about DE, but here in CH having your feet/shoes on the seat is highly frowned upon. Unfortunately, I have not done much travel on DB. Traveled from Zürich to Munich a handful of times. Great video. Thanks

[@sunspot42]

Be careful when considering a plane instead of a train. Yeah, there are flights between cities that can be cheaper by air than by train, as well as potentially faster, but you also need to take into consideration the time and expense of travel to and from the airport - at both ends of the journey - to your accommodation in both cities. That'll often eat up most of the time savings and all or more than all of any cost savings, as train stations tend to be located close to the central areas where tourists stay, whereas airports are usually on the outskirts of town where it can be time-consuming and expensive to reach them. Also, flights are far more likely to be severely delayed or even cancelled than trains. Which means when things go wrong, they can really go wrong, leaving you hours late arriving to your destination or even stranded for a night at an airport.

[@hansbornemann9018]

great video! if you do a part 2 consider adding about pet policy on trains and do and don’ts when taking pets in trains would be amazing

[@LarArauz]

We visited western Germany last year and loved the train system. All, even local trains were reliable and much faster than buses. But on the way back to Frankfurt airport we had a major delay on the first train and had to change our connection. I was so glad we took the earliest train and had some extra time. Otherwise we would miss the flight back home. 😅

[@DrWatson610]

Local trains are a lot more punctual/reliable than high speed trains in Germany. In March 92% of local trains arrived with a delay of less than 6 min. For high speed trains that percentage becomes merely 68%. If the time gain for taking a high speed train over a local train is only marginal, I would advise to take the local train.

[@mariokrings]

@@DrWatson610 yeah but thats just not the fact. local trains won't comulate bigger delays, because they don't run longer distances. On the other Hand a train from Vienna to Hamburg has a long long way to travel and once he got late the delay will increase, because their slots on the tracks are gone. But if your train is late, you can hop on another, so unlike the train you don't leave your station with a delay. And the time advantage of HST is huge.

[@TCPUDPATM]

This was a great video! I used the DB Navigator app and it was very easy to use - once you figure out the general usage.

[@Sebastian-pr8kz]

One point on the seat reservation, i've not yet seen people having issues moving (maybe they're not happy, but usually they know its not their seat). The only case when somebody will ask you to show any reservation is if they (or you) mistook the carriage you are in. That happens sometimes, because its just easy to mix neighboring wagons up. And on the get-ready-to-get-off-advice, sorry, thats very common in a lot of countries. If the train only stops for 3min, you gotta be ready and by the door. That's just common knowledge when travelling on high-speed trains.

[@emjaymiller]

I saw a woman arguing that someone was in her seat, just to realize she was in the wrong carriage. There is a Seat #10 in each carriage, for example. Check your seat AND carriage number.

[@AlexMoskau]

Cool positive vibe!

[@filb]

Your video could'nt be more perfect timing. I will be leaving for Germany today :)

[@ClaudiaG.1979]

have fun

[@filb]

@@ClaudiaG.1979 Vielen Dank :)

[@SamuelLee-gw6wr]

Thanks a lot, I will be going to Germany for study abroad for a month soon, in which I will be using the trains on seven days. I mostly avoid connections and also reserve my seat early. If I have a connection to a train I have reserved a seat for, I will plan to take one train earlier than the recommended train on the DB app, so even if my train gets cancelled, the next train can still get me to the connecting station on time.

[@MagnificentGermanywithDarion]

Outstanding video Mark with great advice. I noticed Bamberg right away :). I am glad that your friend survived the head trauma, lol. I am counting the days for my next trip to beautiful Germany :). I will be sharing this video on my channel :)

[@MrMazza4321]

06:14 @Wolter what location was this mate? Looks amazing

[@andreasiven21]

i think it is bamberg :)

[@desiderata2209]

Bamberg is a designated UNESCO world heritage site. Well worth a visit.

[@ClaudiaG.1979]

100% bamberg.. i know because i live close to bamberg

[@StephanHeinrich-gc5iv]

Mind that in Germany you gave clearly over 20.000 train connections every day, whilst many tracks are being restored etc. That explains the high number of delays

[@hinnerkwh]

To add: if your long distance train ticket has the suffix +city after the destination e.g. Munich + City you can use any public transport to your final destination for free within the city. So you get can get from the central train station to your hotel by bus, tram, sbahn or subway for free :).

[@lawrencelewis2592]

I was on the Harz Narrow Gauge last summer on a tour from London. A great time but getting there was a pain sometimes as trains constantly changed platforms in stations. You have to keep your eye on the electronic departure boards. Often on regional trains there will be a drinks trolley going up and down the train.

[@mrpeel3239]

Great, helpful advice! Ps enjoyed my trip to historic Coburg.

[@adi91216]

Train journeys in Europe transport you a different world as you look out the window. It is not to be missed.

[@joshlunt7827]

I usually get my stuff ready when it says "We are now approaching (insert stop name here)"

[@silasjones7270]

I just got back from a two week trip to Germany, and I loved the Deutschlandticket. It's only 49 euros, and I used public transit multiple times every day both between cities and within them so it absolutely paid for itself many times over. It was so nice having one ticket which covered almost everything I needed (apart from ICE trains obviously)

[@rajeshoa71]

Great train vlog 🇮🇳👍😍

[@brucebogtrotter9200]

So true about the delays. Seriously expect anywhere from 5 minutes to 2 hours

[@MarkYaklich-fm3ty]

Last two times we were in Germany on our travels, the DB cancelled our direct trains and we had to deal with re-ticketing connecting trains the day we got there because they did not give us advanced notice. The people at the train stations were kind and helpful but I'd recommend continually checking if the train still runs prior to travelling there.

[@JoseHernandez-rb2pn]

If you use an e ticket, take a screenshot of the scan code in case you're in the middle of the trip with no service and the conductor is asking for tickets.

[@the_retag]

@@JoseHernandez-rb2pn germans will often print it

[@EmpoerterGeisterfahrer]

Thanks for being so cheerful despite Deutsche Bahn 😊

[@paulgerrard9227]

The regional pass can be very good value to allow flexibility to switch delayed connections. The late train you are on can open pther better faster trains. Locked in trains are less flexible. The DB app is so helpful to check these alternatives which may also be later.

[@kuschelirmel]

A few additional tips from a regular ICE traveller (for communiting to work twice a week): 1) Another thing about Sparpreis vs Flexpreis is that if you buy an ICE ticket Flexpreis, it will have a City Ticket included (may require a minimum distance, I don't remember, not available for all cities) for the city where you start and the city where you go to. So you do not need a ticket to get with the S- or U-Bahn even if the carrier is not DB. 2) The Flexpreis ticket price will vary with how many people are expected to travel that day (a bit like for plane tickets). So they will be lowest usually on Tuesday and more expensive around the weekend, or leading up to a long weekend especially. But the price will not change whether you book it 2 months, 2 weeks, 2 hours in advance or right when you step on the train. This may be useful if you really don't know yet when you want to travel and which train you want to take or if you want to prolong your stay etc. 3) You can only use comfort check in (only via DB Navigator app) when your ticket is for the train you are on (at least currently). For a Sparpreis you have to go with that train anyway, but on a Flexpreis you could in theory take the train say 1 h later and lose the perk. Why I like the Comfort Check In so much? Not only will no one ask you for your ticket (not even after a personell change) but they have made it so your seat is practically reserved for you without paying for an actual reservation. You check in on that particular seat and it will show "belegt bis xx" so if you go get sth from the Bistro, you can get back to your seat without a fight. 4) The reason you get asked for proof on your seat reservation is mostly because the system is pretty good, so it is super super rare that your reservation is not showing up (at least on the ICE). It is far more likely that if no reservation is shown, the person asking you to leave has the reservation for a different car (or I've even seen someone be on the wrong train, poor guy).

[@lauriedavis7471]

I am going from Zurich to Munich this week. Until I watched this video, I knew to use Trainline and Omnio.🤣 it now sounds super overwhelming.

[@ajs11201]

Great B-roll!

[@stevebartley628]

There can be multiple train passes that might work in one region. When I was in Tuebingen, there were 3 different passes that I could use, depending on where I planned to go.

[@aingeasil]

Actually, would always recommend using the Bahn in Germany instead of driving. Be honest, as a tourist, you usually do not stay in those teeny tiny villages - so check if there is a train connection - and all the beautiful smaller towns like Nuremburg, Heidleberg, Münster, Freiburg, etc. do have quite a good connection. Google does a really nice job with public transportation. And then, I'd actually recoent even tourists taking the Deutschlandticket, so they can use all public transportation - including buses and U-bahn - with the exception of IC/EC and ICE for 50 €. It is a monthly subscription service - so you can cancel it instantly and only get it for a month. And yes, do not expect the Bahn to be on time. But actually you won't be on time by car either. And going by car is way more stressful if you are not used to orderly chaos.

[@emjaymiller]

The Deutschlandticket for 49 € is amazing, because not only does it work on all local transport and regional trains, but you can also use it on German regional trains to cross the borders into neighboring countries.

[@JR-zm5uw]

Pro Tipp: If you book a savers ticket with very close connections you almost always end up with a flex ticket. If you miss your connection because of delays, you can take any train you want. Often times because of this rule I reached earlier than planned despite delays 😅. Same counts if delays are more than 20 minutes. If that’s the case before you boarded you can even take an earlier train. And you can always count on db to have delays.

[@slimdarcy9503]

They are really nice looking trains.

[@gigachad5419]

10:08 Even if it says there, the reservation is only valid until 15 after departure, so if the person comes to the place only 15 after departure, the reservation is invalid.

[@mariokrings]

it disappears anyways....

[@Vagas2012]

Hi. I've watched many of your vlogs in the last couple of years, and if you don't mind me asking, other than you being a KZbinr, what other type of profession you're in. Keep the great vlogs coming. 🍻🍻

[@anthonylamesa7619]

The €49 ticket can definitely be a good option for a lot of tourists, though. Just make sure that you time the purchase and cancellation right, such that you only get charged for a single month. Then you don't have to worry about paying for any local public transit fares or regional train fares.

[@adriennecoleman5249]

Thank you for this video. I’m taking the train from Prague to Berlin in September. Thank you for the tip on reserving a seat, as I will do it when I purchase our first class tickets. Do you have any other tips?

[@derpderpderpityderp8848]

I found the Bahncard 25 saved money in less than a couple weeks intercity and daytripping from Munich and Berlin in past years.

[@francesgill8621]

AMTRAK in the states is very similar. Short stops in many towns. They tell you to get ready before your stop. At least they give you fair warning.

[@yaush_]

I think this is the same for every train worldwide haha

[@stevebartley628]

One of our trains in Sept. 5 minutes late, 15 minutes late, 25, 45, 75 minutes late. finally cancelled and the regular train spaced 2 hrs apart is the one that finally came

[@vant83]

Well, a really great, informative video that I think would have been of great help last year when I went to a conference in Bonn and I traveled in the area a bit, for a few days. HEven when I experienced some small verspätungen (delays) and a small problem on German Unity Day (which, coincidentally, was the day I had been assigned to take the flight back), everything was OK and I really loved that train system. I come from a country in which public transportation is not prioritized in the political agenda and though there is a pretty decent train system in the Great Metropolitan Area (but that doesn't operate outside commuter times, therefore not on nights or weekends, which would be tremendously convenient), plans for its integral modernization have been scraped by the current government. So, in Germany and with Deutsche Bahn, as an urban planner, I finally got to see what one dreams our cities could be like.

[@evaeori5968]

Everybody in Germany makes fun of the Deutsche Bahn, but we all know that it's a good trainsystem compared to many other countries. About the flexticket: reserve a new seat if you decide to take a different train as planned.

[@muiggmuigg]

About the seat reservations: That´s special: If you have reserved a seat, that´s fine. But you should find your seat within a certain amount of time (10 minutes or so?) - because after that time, the reservation sign above the seat is gone and everybody else can take that seat. If you arrive too late, so the reservation sign is gone, you have no more right to get that seat. I learned that from one of the DB-service persons...

[@ulrichveigel8077]

15 minutes

[@muiggmuigg]

@@ulrichveigel8077Thanx for the precise info :-)

[@irnakkgd6364]

I once managed to catch the EC train from Hamburg to Denmark with 8mins change time after taking the Nightjet from Tyrol 😭

[@joshlunt7827]

Those wafers @ 4:10 look lovely 😋

[@ceemichel]

Most trains in Germany work on a schedule, so if you miss your train, there will be another one 30 minutes, an hour or two hours later

[@fabioolgiati5062]

Sorry, one more question today tickets are available until Dec 14th. Im checking from time to time to get the best fares My plan is Amsterdam-->Berlin Berlin-->Munich Munich-->Stuttgart Stuttgart-->Zurich What the clever way to travel in a budget? Eurail? DB options? SuperSpare? thanks in advance

[@benbenji4245]

Is there any way to tell which seats are forward facing (relative to direction of travel) and backward facing? I've got motion sickness so I'd like to avoid the backwards-facing seats...

[@hbzach]

Luggage space: The ICE and many IC trains have floor luggage racks, either right when you enter the car and/or at the middle of the car. They provide much more space than the overhead section.

[@BobSmith-rf3ph]

My advice would generally be to shoot for the train before the one your brain thinks - so if you're thinking 9am, go for the 8.30am, the train may not always be on time, but that just means you adapt accordingly. Also, watch those boards like a hawk, they'll save your behind much more than you'd think, might just be me, but those announcements they make aren't always friendly for those of us who struggle with German (or hearing!), the platform boards will be your friend there.

[@sammiejones08]

Where is first class on the regional express train? I always find difficulty finding the wings on the Deutsch Bahns too.

[@afhyoutube]

A 20 mintue video on German rues. Very fitting.

[@ringo7561]

I'm looking forward to my two month trip to Europe with a Eurail pass this summer. I like the German trains. I can get off and on any train without a first class reservation fee unlike Italy, Spain and France. And i dont mind the sometimes late German trains because im a solo traveler and i just chill out. It just means i have time to have that extra beer or two in that city.

[@derstijn]

Have fun this summer! Don't forget that they are selling beers on most ICE and long distance trains, too :)

[@ringo7561]

@@derstijn yep, thanks....

[@ringo7561]

@@derstijn Railjet serves beer too

[@tonisims7055]

Oh man, I am so confused. I love your videos but I am having a hard time figuring it all out. Traveling Dec 6 from Frankfurt airport to Nuremberg. Returning to Frankfurt from Nuremberg the 10th. With three kids. And was hoping to do a side trip one day to Munich. Any suggestions? Thank you so much and thanks for your advice and videos.

[@louiscapriotti9697]

One bad time. Had 1st class ticket for 4 and seats reserved. Our DB car wasn't on the train. (Car 14) They pulled it off. Our choice was to get 4 seats on different cars or sit in the bar car. (Munich to Heidelberg ?) Guess were we sat...in the bar car.

[@g745-z2r]

Do not only look above seats for reservations. Check the side of the seat head rests too, depending on the train type.

[@KitsuneHB]

I'm glad you mentioned "Don't be loud on trains". But also in other public spaces. I was on a bus yesterday and there was a guy, who 'entertained' the whole bus on english. I even grabbed my noise cancelling headphone because that guy was annoying. But also don't be surprised if some people here in Germany are loud too - we got some egoistic *ssh*les too. Please regard the "Ruhewagen" on trains. They got specific signs (mostly a person with a finger at their mouth) - here you have to be extra quiet. Yes, you can talk, but don't entertain the whole train. About the lockers - some central stations don't have lockers anymore. I was in Hamburg in february and wanted to put my luggage into the lockers but the most were deinstalled and the few lockers were already in use. So had to carry my luggage around the city. :/ Also you find the lockers mainly in central stations - not in smaller stations.

[@SamuelLee-gw6wr]

I will treat every train car as a Ruhewagen. On one of my ICE rides, I'm not sitting in a Ruhewagen but I need to join a Zoom meeting on the train, which I don't want to be disturbed as there are some important announcements in the meeting regarding what's happening shortly after I fly home. I expect people to disturb me on that ICE if I am loud on other ICE trains, so treating every train car as a quiet car and being extra quiet on the train will help, and others will do the same to me when I need on that ICE.

[@bbpete8349]

You have a lot of good tips! I very much like taking the trains in EU. It has been about 5 years since the last time I did travel on trains - including Germany - and one thing you said here was about the on-time factor. You said they were not always on time. All the times I was on trains in Europe including Germany I was so impressed with the adherence to departure times. I learned that you better be on the train when your schedule said! So, it is news to me that they aren't as good as then. Good to know.

[@amduser86]

5 years ago it was not any better. in fact it all went to shit in late 1990's ...

[@bbpete8349]

I am speaking of my experience and cannot relay anyone else's.

[@raileon]

Yea it went downhill since covid died down. The main problem is that the state didn't invest into its rail infrastructure over the past decades and now huge parts of it are in bad shape. Couple that with more and more train traffic and you get daily rail traffic jams and infrastructure faults. It'll take a few years until it gets better.

[@amduser86]

@@raileon the state did not invest into rail infrastructure since the reunifacation. they tried to sell the "deutsche bahn ag". they did not sell it, since the infrastructure back than already was bad. that is actually a quite funny construct, a public traded companey owned 100% by the state ...

[@christown2827]

They used to have leaflets on ICE and IC routes which gave timings and all the local connections at subsequent destinations even giving bus times if that was the only connection to your local final destination. And are the platforms still marked for the make up of the train showing first class carriages etc.

[@cz2301]

I haven’t watched the video but i can guess: - don’t expect the trains to come on time. Such a shocker for Germany

[@mariokrings]

it's a lack of respect to comment on a video you haven't seen

[@cz2301]

@@mariokrings lol

[@Der_Hoschinator]

Don't expect the trains to come....

[@cz2301]

@@Der_Hoschinator don't expect anything

[@thomasphillips8539]

Can you back up and give me Trains in Germany 101? I have never used a train and it is very intimidating. Start with the basics please.

[@bartmannn6717]

Every time I returned to Germany for some weeks over the last years I found that the cost of travelling with Deutsche Bahn through the whole country is almost half compared to renting a car+gasoline. Add to that, that you can just relax and look out of the window and order a coffee instead of sitting hours behind the wheel - and you got yourself a deal! Don't go to important appointments by train though. :D

[@morbvsclz]

Often (not sure if it's always the case) when you fly Lufthansa or another Star Alliance carrier from Germany the ICE Ticket to (for example) Frankfurt Airport can be included in your Flight Ticket. Afaik Deutsche Bahn is the only Member of an airline alliance, that is not actually an airline. So try booking your entire travel from door to door, rather than just booking a flight and then checking train tickets to the Airport, as those might have been included for free otherwise. I think you can also use (maybe even collect) Star Alliance / Lufthanse Miles & More airmiles with Deutsche Bahn, but that's just what a colleague told me, so I have not done any research on the details.

[@KnowoneHFRC]

I recently bought some of my tickets ahead of time for my upcoming trip in Germany. I'm a little concerned because one of my journeys will take me from Utrecht Netherlands to Aachen Germany. Between the trains I only have a 10 minute transfer. What do I do if I miss that transfer? Do I need to go to the Reisezentrum?

[@MicahB640]

Surprisingly, Google maps does a decent job of showing the routes, train numbers, how many stops the train will make, etc. As always, it's a good idea to double check this information in the station.

[@Bob-eo3gf]

If I took a train from Munich to Krakow, then a train from Krakow to Oswiecim. Would it be better to travel at night. Or go by day. I'm trying to plan a trip. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.