Rail travel in Germany

Germany's rail system covers most points of interest. While tickets bought "last minute" can be expensive, they can, with a bit of planning, also be surprisingly cheap. Despite the rise of intercity buses, trains are still only second to cars when it comes to getting around. A train journey from Hamburg in the north to Munich in the south usually takes less than six hours. The same journey by car takes around eight hours, a bus takes ten hours or more and neither of those figures accounts for traffic congestion. Furthermore, most trains depart every hour or every two hours while buses tend to have a much sparser schedule.

According to Deutsche Bahn, train travel is rather environmentally friendly. In 2014, one passenger-kilometre of travel on a DB long-distance train emitted almost 13 times less CO₂ than the same distance travelled by car. Local and regional trains emit more, since they tend to use less renewable energy and more diesel. DB also aims to steadily increase the share of renewable energy in the electricity it uses for its trains. In fact, the green stripe on all BahnCards indicates a promise that all tickets sold to BahnCard owners represent trains running with 100% renewable electricity.

Understand

Long distance train travel is operated by the state-owned Deutsche Bahn. However, the monopoly was ultimately broken when Flixtrain (the same company that operates Flixbus) entered the market on key routes serving some of Germany's largest cities such as between Berlin and Stuttgart, Berlin and Aachen, and Hamburg and Aachen, with cheaper fares albeit slightly outdated carriages. Another private operator Alex operates lines between a few cities in Bavaria and Prague in the Czech Republic.

Operators from neighbouring countries also operate lines from a city or two in Germany to their respective countries using rolling stocks from either Deutsche Bahn or their own. Most of these lines can also be used for domestic travel and may also be booked at the Deutsche Bahn website.

Deutsche Bahn

Deutsche Bahn operates the vast majority of German long distance trains and also sells tickets for regional and local trains operated by other companies. The DB website (which has localised versions for many places and is available at least partially in English and a half dozen other languages) is an excellent resource to find train connections throughout Europe, although some heritage railways and railway integrated bus services are not listed. The DB website sells tickets for most trips originating and/or terminating in Germany, but not for a trip only passing through Germany (for example, for a trip from Paris to Warsaw you'd have to buy a ticket from Paris to Berlin and one from Berlin to Warsaw) and won't display prices or sell tickets for some international as well as a few local train connections.

Timetables and fares

Timetables and standard fares (Flexpreis) are generally valid for one year. A new timetable comes into effect each December, usually published in mid-October. DB usually increases their prices mostly for long-distance trains with the schedule change. Verkehrsverbünde usually change their schedule around the same time but not always on the same day. There might be transition periods for the validity of local tickets.

On most routes tickets can be booked up to 180 days ahead, but tickets after the schedule change only go on sale once the new schedule has been published. If you want to get cheap tickets for long-distance trains, buy the special tickets (such as saver fares) as early as possible. The number of such tickets per train is limited, and the price goes up the closer the departure date is, and they can get sold out. However, most Germans don't book more than one week ahead, with the possible exception of international tickets.

Prices for standard fares for any train and special tickets for regional and local trains normally stay the same over the year (and they are unlimited), so they can be bought just before your trip.

Integrated public transport systems (Verkehrsverbund)

In larger urban areas, local transportation companies often form an integrated public transport system, called Verkehrsverbund (VB) (or Verkehrsverbünde in its plural form). In each Verkehrsverbund all public transport (this may include subways, city buses, S-Bahn, light rail and even regional trains) can be used with a common ticket and fare system. A Verkehrsverbund also offers a common and coordinated schedule. Examples include VBB around Berlin and Brandenburg (the largest by area), RMV around Frankfurt, MVV around Munich, or Bodo for the area in Germany immediately next to Lake Constance.

These urban transport networks are often (but not always) integrated with the DB network and Verkehrsverbund tickets are valid on local trains. The trend has been towards bigger Verkehrsverbünde with better railway integration and local transport schedules are often made with the train schedules in mind. The S-Bahn is usually the "heart" of a Verkehrsverbund and S-Bahn expansion has in the past often coincided with Verkehrsverbund expansion.

Long-distance trains (which includes, e.g., Flixtrain and all "white" DB trains) are not part of a Verkehrsverbund, which means a passenger may not use such services to commute between two points in a metro area with only a Verkehrsverbund ticket.

The DB Navigator app allows you to purchase most Verkehrsverbund tickets using a VISA/Mastercard debit or credit card even if you do not have a long distance train journey on the days you wish to use local city transport.

Background information

Germany has over 40,000 km of railways (making it the sixth longest rail network and one of the densest worldwide) and thus is incredibly well-connected, making it possible to connect from most rural areas to large metropolises. No German town with more than 100 000 inhabitants lacks rail service and most towns with more than 20 000 inhabitants have regular rail service.

Deutsche Bahn — the main railway operator in the country — is in an unusual position. Since 1994, it has been organised as an Aktiengesellschaft (joint-stock company), which is normally expected to return a profit. However, the state owns all the shares. This means DB gets pulled in two directions at the same time: it is supposed to act like a private for-profit company and also act like a state institution. Consequently the CEO - and at least some members of the board - is a political appointment and usually a household name in Germany shortly after taking office. The CEO is often referred to in the media and informally as Bahnchef ('rail boss'). So the current CEO Richard Lutz is often just called Bahnchef Lutz.

While all operators (including DB) are in theory free to run long-distance trains on any given route at any price they see fit — provided they pay track access charges to state-owned DB Netz (itself a DB subsidiary) — the situation for local trains is more complicated. The federal government gives a certain amount of money to the states which they are supposed to spend on local railway service. Some states hand this money on to local Verkehrsverbünde while others have one big pot at the state level. The state or the Verkehrsverbund that has been given the authority to do so by the state then sets timetables and train requirements (for example one train every hour with a specific number of first and second class seats, Wi-Fi and level boarding) and asks for bids from all over Europe. Usually DB will be among those bidding, but often other operators will ask for a lower subsidy and thus get the contract. Bidding for a new contract usually starts before the old contract has run out. Contract terms tend to be quite long: on some routes DB still operates under contracts that weren't subject to open bidding or where DB was the only bidder. This is one of the main reasons why Wi-Fi is very rare on local trains: operators are not obligated to provide anything not stipulated in the original contract. The contracts are often rather specific and some observers joke that the only thing a railway operator actually gets to choose is the colour scheme and the wages of employees - naturally leading to claims of DB's private competition undercutting DB's union wages still influenced by former civil servant contracts.

Common German words and their translations

Flexpreis: standard fare
Sparpreis: saver fare
Hauptbahnhof: main train station
Reisezentrum: travel centre (with staffed ticket counters)
Verkehrsverbund (plural: Verkehrsverbünde): integrated public transport system

Train types

Long-distance trains

ICE lines: frequency and speed limits as of 2018

Almost all long distance trains are run by Deutsche Bahn. All major cities are linked by DB's ICE (InterCity Express) and regular IC (InterCity) trains.

InterCity Express (ICE) trains. High speed trains capable of speeds up to 320 km/h (200 mph). The condition of tracks and signals however allows top speeds of only 160 km/h (99 mph) on unmodified legacy tracks, 200 km/h (120 mph) on routes with special electronic equipment called "Ausbaustrecke" (the Berlin Hamburg railway is an Ausbaustrecke built for 230 km/h (140 mph)), or 250 km/h (160 mph) to 300 km/h (190 mph) on designated high-speed tracks called "Neubaustrecke". The top speed of 320 km/h (200 mph) is reached on the journey from Frankfurt to Paris, France. Although significantly faster than by road, they can also be expensive, with a 1-hour-trip (Frankfurt to Cologne, around 180 km) costing up to €67 one-way ("Flexpreis", i.e. walk up fare without any discount). However when you book the ticket in advance and are a bit flexible with hour and date of travel, you can get a considerable discount. All domestic ICEs are electric. There are several different types of ICE, but they are all fairly similar to one another and only distinguishable for non-enthusiasts by their top speed and age. One notable difference is the ICE 4 which was introduced into regular service in December 2017 and is the only ICE which carries bicycles. The order for the ICE 4 was one of the biggest in DB history and it will take into the mid 2020s before all ordered trains enter service.
ICE Sprinter. The same trains as regular ICEs, but they run non-stop between major cities or have only one intermediate stop. Their travel times are all below four hours in order to equal or beat door to door travel times of the airlines. There is no surcharge for using ICE Sprinter services anymore, but cheap early bird tickets may be scarcer for them. For example, an ICE Sprinter trip between Berlin and Munich takes just about 4 hours.
InterCity (IC) trains. Fairly comfortable, even if they lack the high-tech feeling of the ICE. ICE trains are only faster than IC trains on purpose-built tracks or existing track which has been upgraded. Older ICs are locomotive hauled single level stock dating back as far as the 1970s, but most were built or refurbished in the 1990s or later. Old ICs have top speeds up to 200 km/h. In 2016 DB introduced a slew of new bi-level Intercity stock, called "Intercity 2". They have a top speed of 160 km/h (99 mph) and are fairly modern and comfy with electric outlets, reclining seats and at-your-seat snack and drink service, but the space for luggage is rather limited, so avoid them if you have a lot of stuff to carry — however there's usually space under the seats if all else fails. On some routes IC trains are hauled by Diesel locomotives, but this is getting rarer as more routes are electrified and more routes are operated by multiple units that make switching out the motive power difficult.
EuroCity (EC) trains. Connect larger European cities and are virtually identical to IC trains. Many EC trains are provided by neighboring railway operators (for example the Prague-Hamburg route operated by Czech railways). While this has no effect on booking and prices, the interior of the trains might be notably different from comparable German trains. Also, EC trains, especially those that travel very long distances, are more prone to delays than purely domestic services.
EuroCity Express trains. Introduced in December 2017, they only serve the Frankfurt-Milan corridor and the Munich-Zurich corridor with stops in Switzerland. Unlike all other train categories, there is a mandatory (but free) reservation and tickets are bound to a specific train even for "Flexpreis" tickets (but Flexpreis tickets can be rebooked to another train free of charge subject to availability). The trains are Swiss tilting trains of the ETR 610 family with a top speed of 250 km/h (160 mph). Unlike EC, IC and ICE, the category "EuroCity Express" is not yet used by other railways - not even the Swiss and Italian ones, so these trains will show up on Swiss and Italian schedules as regular EC.

On major lines, ICE or IC trains run as often as hourly during the day, and even some smaller cities popular with tourists like Tübingen or Heringsdorf have daily or weekly services.

However, given the caveats above about top speeds of certain lines, you might want to check if the ICE is significantly faster than regional and local trains before you shell out for an ICE ticket. Still, early bird tickets are often priced very much in line with expected demand and faster trips tend to be more expensive than a trip with many changes or along slower lines between the same endpoints.

There are also long-distance trains operated by other companies than Deutsche Bahn (see below), usually running over secondary routes with cheaper track access charges. These are usually comfortable enough (although not as comfortable as ICE) and sometimes considerably cheaper, but their stopping pattern can be both vastly more frequent or vastly more infrequent than comparable DB trains. Before the liberalisation of the intercity bus market competition on long-distance train routes had been increasing. But since the buses were generally even cheaper than the train services competing with DB, several companies exited the market, shelved plans to enter it or greatly reduced their services. With Flixbus now controlling well north of ninety percent of the intercity bus market, they are also the main competition to DB in the field of long distance trains.

Seat reservations

Seat reservations^{[dead link]} are not mandatory but are recommended, especially if you are travelling on Fridays, Sundays or holidays, when trains are more likely to be full. That means with an Interrail or Eurail pass you can use domestic ICE trains (including Sprinter ICE trains, but not international ICE trains) without paying a supplement.

A seat reservation costs €4.90 in 2nd class. For 1st class tickets, it is included only in Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus tickets and costs €5.90 for every other 1st class ticket (for all ticket purchases after June 11, 2023). It is therefore not included in any Sparpreis tickets. Seat reservations are valid for 15 minutes from the time the train departs. After that time other passengers can legitimately take your seat if you have not occupied it.

If you don't have or want to buy a seat reservation, look for a seat that hasn't been reserved at all, or that is only reserved for a section of the trip after you get off the train. Seat reservations are marked either with an electronic display above or in the seat or on a small paper sign at the window.

If your reserved train gets cancelled or delayed, you can have your seat reservation changed to another train at a DB Service counter or have it refunded via Passenger rights claim.

Amenities

There is free Wi-Fi^{[dead link]} on virtually all ICEs, but not on ICs. As it is provided via a mobile signal, bandwidth can be lacking sometimes. To access the Wi-Fi just select "Wi-Fi on ICE" and the program should walk you through the next steps. On the second class, speed may be reduced after 200MB of usage per device. On some international trains, the Wi-Fi network may stop working when the train leaves Germany.

There is also an entertainment portal^{[dead link]} with around 50 series and movies free of charge. The full spectrum of around 1000 shows and movies is only available to maxdome customers. As the entertainment portal is accessed via onboard servers, it is not affected by lack of bandwidth or other potential Wi-Fi issues. Similarly, the ICE Portal also offers free audiobooks and news (mostly in German) as well as some information about the trip and the next destination; you can also see where the train is on a map and how fast it's going.

In every train there is either a Bistro or a restaurant, where passengers can order drinks or snacks and enjoy them at a standing table or sitting down. They sometimes also bring these drinks on carts should you wish to stay in your seat. Payment can be made in cash or credit card, though the latter can be sometimes slow or even non operational as the terminal depends entirely on cellphone reception. Prices are on par to slightly more expensive than at the train station.

All announcements and signs on trains, including the approaching station and connections from there are conducted in German and English. Conductors generally speak at least some English, and should be able to help if you miss a connection or need help.

Every train includes quiet carriages which do not allow noise or even cellphone use; reservation costs the same as for seats in a normal car. Cabins for 6 people are also available, but may not be booked privately, i.e. 2 people in a 6-people cabin.

First class

Most trains in Germany, apart from some local trains, have first and second class sections. First class passengers on long-distance trains get more room (three rather than four seats abreast, more legroom, seats which recline more) and - on ICE trains - you can ask the conductor to bring you drinks and food from the restaurant car. Drinks or food are not included in the fare. Seat reservation is included only with Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus tickets. Second Class passengers are normally not allowed to sit in first class sections. The price difference between first and second class varies widely and there are separate BahnCards for first and second class, but sometimes you can get a first class ticket for a few euros more than a second class ticket. First Class is marked with the number 1 and (as per the European standard) a yellow stripe of paint on the outside of first class sections. First Class passengers with Flexpreis and Flexpreis Plus tickets can also enjoy lounge services in select lounges in major German train stations and lounges of partner railway companies outside Germany for international routes.

Sleeper trains

DB ended its sleeper train services in 2016, replacing them with a limited number of regular ICEs running at night as well as some buses.

The main operator of sleeper trains in Germany is ÖBB, the Austrian state railway. Tickets for what they call Nightjet^{[dead link]} trains start at €29 for the cheapest seats and early booking. Sleepers or last minute bookings are naturally more expensive. Every sleeper ticket includes breakfast and can be booked via the DB website. You can book anything from your own compartment with bed and shower to a single seat in a six-seat compartment. ÖBB is modernising their fleet (some of which they bought from DB when DB got out of the night train business) and has announced intentions to run additional routes, however difficulties in getting regulatory approval and the fact that ÖBB intends to repair and service all trains in Austria limit the scope of possible expansion.

Operated by ÖBB

NJ 40490/40421: Düsseldorf – Frankfurt – Nuremberg – Passau – Vienna
NJ 420/421: Düsseldorf – Frankfurt – Nuremberg – Augsburg – Munich – Innsbruck
NJ 490/491: Hamburg – Hanover – Nuremberg – Passau – Vienna
NJ 40420/40491: Hamburg – Hanover – Nuremberg – Augsburg – Munich – Innsbruck
NJ 40470/401: Hamburg – Zürich
NJ 456/457: Berlin – Wrocław – Vienna
NJ 470/471: Berlin – Zürich
NJ 294/295: Munich – Rome
NJ 40463/40236: Munich – Venice
NJ 40295/40235: Munich – Milan
NJ 424/425 and NJ 50490/50425: Vienna or Innsbruck – Munich - Nuremberg - Frankfurt-Cologne-Brussels

Cooperations with ÖBB and other national railways

EN 462/463: Budapest – Vienna – Salzburg – Munich, in cooperation with Hungarian Railway MÁV
EN 498/50463: Zagreb – Ljubljana – Munich, in cooperation with Croatian Railway HŽ
EN 480/60463: Rijeka – Ljubljana – Salzburg – Munich, in cooperation with Croatian Railway HŽ

Other night trains

Berlin Night Express: Berlin – Malmö (with some wagons to Stockholm), operated by Snälltåget and only runs in summer. Some days it continues to/from Dresden. Some weekends in winter, this train runs between Malmö and Salzburg (Austria) through Germany.
№23/24: Moscow – Berlin – Paris, operated by Russian Railways (suspended since March 2020)
SJ EuroNight: Berlin – Hamburg – Stockholm, operated by SJ (Swedish state railway company), running year round (Berlin – Hamburg runs April-September)
Nachtexpress a summer season sleeper train from Sylt to Salzburg. Booking is per six person compartment - whether there's one person or six in your group, you pay the same fare.

Car trains

BahnTouristikExpress — a company which specializes in renting out trains to tour operators and private groups — runs a train service (BTE AutoReiseZug) from Lörrach in the Southwest of Germany, close to Basel, Switzerland, and the French Alsace to Hamburg-Altona year round. ÖBB Nightjet also runs car trains (Autoreisezug) from Vienna and Innsbruck to Hamburg Altona and Düsseldorf. DB stopped running its own car trains (except for the Sylt train, which is only a 50-minute ride) in 2016.

To and from Sylt

Regular car trains link the island of Sylt with the mainland, operated by DB (under the brand Sylt Shuttle) and the private company Autozug Sylt, a subsidiary of the American Railroad Development Company (RDC) (the only other link to the mainland is a ferry from Denmark.) Their prices are broadly similar, though -as the newer entrant to the market- Autozug Sylt tries to undercut DB. Unlike most non-regional trains in Germany, there is no discount for advance purchase of tickets, but there are discounts if you buy ten or twelve tickets at once and there is another discount for Sylt residents. The two companies use the same terminals in Sylt and 54.7806078.8411771 Niebüll.

Regional and local trains

Regional and local trains in Germany are conveniently referred to with the German word Nahverkehr. These trains come in several flavours:

InterRegio-Express (IRE). The fastest type of regional train, calling only at a few stations. They usually cover longer distances than "normal" REs.
Regional-Express (RE). Semi-express trains that skip some stations. On many routes, this is the highest available train category.
Regional-Bahn (RB). Stops everywhere except that it may skip some S-Bahn stops.
S-Bahn. Commuter network for a city or metropolitan area, which can nonetheless cover fairly long distances. Some S-Bahn trains are the only trains in Germany routinely not to offer a toilet, though this in part depends on the precise region and line and is getting rarer.

The majority of regional and local trains run once an hour or once every two hours from 05:00 or 06:00 to roughly 23:00 or even later. S-Bahn lines often have headways of 30 minutes or less which can come down to 15 minutes or even seven and a half minutes on trunk routes where several lines overlap. Between big cities in a major metropolitan area S-Bahn and regional trains may overlap in their route, giving more transportation options when you want to go from city centre to city centre.

On regional trains Wi-Fi is still the exception rather than the rule. It is estimated that only around 10% of trains will have Wi-Fi by 2020. Wi-Fi was not a requirement in most current contracts for regional trains and there are not enough mobile phone masts along the lines.

On regional trains first class — if available at all — is usually pretty similar to second class, but as there is usually no reserved seating in either class, you're more likely to get a seat in first class on busy routes. Some operators however do try to justify the markup for first class by (for example) providing better seats or seat pitch or reserving the upper deck on bi-level stock for first class.

Many companies apart from Deutsche Bahn run regional trains. This is usually done through a contract with the Bundesland that pays them to run a certain number of trains at specified hours and usually those contracts also stipulate that DB-tickets (such as Ländertickets and the Quer durchs Land ticket) are accepted. In some regions such as Schleswig-Holstein there might be two, three or more different ticket vending machines in the station, one for each company. When in doubt ask people on the platform, or better yet DB personnel. With very rare exceptions you can buy tickets valid on non-DB trains with standard DB vending machines, but not the other way round.

Reserved seating on local trains

By and large you can't reserve a seat on local trains. However, the first class surcharge in many ways works as a de facto "seat reservation" because first class almost never gets so full no seats are available (and obviously a first class ticket entitles you to ride in second class just as well). However, some commuter lines have experimented with reserved seats as a further enticement for people to buy monthly or yearly tickets. There may then be seats marked with numbers and an explanation in German (and sometimes also in English) that the seat should be given up to someone who has a reservation. In practice this is usually only an issue during the morning and evening rush hour. On a handful of regional trains you can also buy a seat reservation (only at the ticket machine - not online or at the counter) for €1, but as they are limited, they may sell out even for trains where they are otherwise available.

Other train operators

Even though the German rail market has been liberalised for years, there are relatively few train operators other than DB, and they are all tiny. They can also be hard to use - they don't show up in the central train planner, and Eurail passes are not valid on them. They can be much cheaper than DB though, especially on short notice. DB seems to deliberately bunch its own IC/ICE trains around the departure times of competing services on some routes, so if the departure time of the competition agrees with you, you'll have more choice than usual.

Here are some examples:

Alex. Routes from Munich, Nuremberg or Regensburg to Prague from €23 one-way or €43 return ticket (Prag Spezial), among others. Tickets can be bought on the train. On almost all of their trains you can buy snacks and drinks at very reasonable prices. Ultimately part of the Italian national railway (Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane) through a series of German subsidiaries.
Flixbus / Flixtrain, the near monopolist in Intercity buses in Germany has taken over two independent operators on Hamburg-Cologne and Berlin-Stuttgart routes. They've subsequently added Berlin-Cologne-Aachen service. When booking make sure you actually book a train, as Flixbus also sells bus tickets along the same routes.
FlixTrain carriage

Apart from those, there are several steam or diesel heritage railways, often using narrow gauge tracks. They are usually not integrated into DB ticketing or Verkehrsverbund ticketing and can be significantly more expensive on a per km basis than mainline operators. They run the gamut from summer season and weekends only to daily operations that have significant transport value.

Buses

Local buses are usually integrated into the ticket system of any given Verkehrsverbund and the DB City Ticket, which is available at no extra cost for many long distance tickets with a BahnCard discount, includes a ride on buses, trams, light rail and subway as applicable to/from your final destination within the origin/departure city.

Flixbus, being primarily a bus company sells tickets for its two rail routes as well as through tickets which combine its buses with trains. They do not, however, sell combined tickets with local trains.

Cooperation with airlines

See also: Rail air alliances

Lufthansa has cooperated with DB in one form or another since the 1980s. For a time they even ran their own trains, complete with Lufthansa livery. Today, AIRail enables certain ICEs to be booked like a flight sector (you can even earn miles), with check-in at the train station. (You still have to drop your luggage off at the airport, though.) Practically all German airports are linked to the mainline rail network, the local tram or the subway network. A handful of airports even have trains stopping there but no scheduled flights. You can usually buy a through ticket all the way to the airport through DB. Many airlines that fly to/from German airports offer rail&fly tickets. They usually have to be booked together with the flight. Such tickets are usually cheaper than a comparable domestic flight or even entirely free, depending on the airline and ticket type. Rail&fly lets you take any train from any station in Germany (and even some in adjacent countries) to the airport (again, even some non-German airports are part of the program) with any number of changes up to one day prior to departure, and to take any train from the airport to any station on the return journey. Rail&Fly is a standard feature for package holidays departing Germany, but if you book a flight only, a few airlines that nominally offer rail&fly can make it a bit difficult to book. You can check in for your Rail&Fly train trip up to 72 hours before departure on this website.

Tickets

How to buy tickets

There are several ways to buy tickets. If you are caught without a valid ticket, you have to pay at least a €60 penalty fare.

On the Internet/Mobile App

You can buy tickets on the DB website or via the DB Navigator App^{[dead link]}. The journey planner will automatically show the cheapest possible fares, including any early-booking discounts. However, some offers for regional trains may not show up unless you remove the checkmark for "prefer fast connections" and/or add the checkmark for "regional trains only".

You either need to print the ticket or present it via the app. Showing the ticket as a PDF document on a mobile device might be accepted (see infobox).

When making the booking you have to specify your name (as well as those in your travelling party) and the ticket is only valid for you and those in your travelling party. Upon ticket inspection you may have to show some form of identification (passport or EU ID card, but driver's licenses are not accepted) for both types of tickets.

On the DB website, you can book tickets without an account, however for the app, you need to create one. If you use an account on the DB website, your tickets will automatically be available in the app. Otherwise, you can always input the ticket's confirmation number and your last name to retrieve your reservation in the app.

You can also buy tickets online and have them mailed anywhere in the world for €3.90. You don't need to show ID when travelling with such tickets, but if they are lost in the mail DB will not replace them.

Beware of travel agent sites that appear when searching for the DB website. They pay heavily to appear at the top of search results, and may overcharge significantly. Be sure to use the official site linked above.

In addition to long distance tickets, you may also use the DB Navigator app to purchase most kinds of tickets for most local transport associations even if you do not have a long distance train journey. This is handy if you prefer not to use cash (which may be the only way to pay for some tickets) or do not have a German address (which may be required if you want to use the apps specific to each transport association).

At a vending machine

Very old phased-out ticket machine with keypad (on the left) and older touchscreen DB ticket machines (on the right)

At a station, find a ticket machine with a touchscreen, choose your language, and then navigate through the menus. Like the online journey planner, it will automatically suggest the fastest routes. The machines sell all DB train tickets including some international tickets, special tickets (both for long-distance and regional and local trains) and tickets for local transport. Touchscreen machines accept credit cards, older ones do not.

Ticket machines for local Verkehrsverbund are yellow, white or grey. They can be used to buy tickets for local transport, including DB trains. On secondary routes, vending machines inside trains are becoming more common, usually leaving smaller stations without vending machines.

Many local machines and old DB machines require you to enter a four-digit code for your destination, found on a panel of densely packed print nearby. Press the flag button to switch to English, punch in the code for your destination station on the keypad, then hit the appropriate button in the left ("adult") row below to pick your ticket. The first button is always one-way single (Einzelfahrausweis). A price will be displayed: insert your money (quickly, since the timeout is quite fast), and the machine will spit out your tickets and change. Vending machines give max. €9.90 change in coins and will not accept larger notes. For new blue DB machines, select the local tariff union in the top menu, and the rest is easy.

If a station is not equipped with a vending machine or if all the machines are out of order, you have to buy your ticket from a staffed ticket counter. If this isn't available either or it is closed, you are allowed to buy your ticket on the train. If there is no vending machine on the train, you have to approach the staff right away and ask them what to do. You should then be able to buy a ticket without paying a surcharge. However, it is usually much less hassle to just buy a ticket via the app.

At a staffed ticket counter

Go to the Reisezentrum at any major train station. You might have to take a number and wait until it is called. It is becoming less common to buy tickets at the counter, but if your itinerary is unusual or you can't make heads or tails of the machines, talking to an actual human being can be a godsend. DB charges €2 extra for some special tickets (for regional and local trains) if bought at the ticket counter.

On the train

Since January 2022, it is no longer possible to buy a ticket on the train. However, on long distance trains, you can use your smartphone to buy a ticket in the app until 10 minutes after departure, provided the train has no other stops within 10 minutes.

On regional and local trains, tickets are usually not sold so you need to buy them at the station. Signs on platforms or on trains saying Einstieg nur mit gültigem Fahrausweis mean that you have to have a ticket before you board. Drivers on buses and trams usually do sell tickets, though they might not have (or know about) all ticket types. Some regional trains do sell tickets on board either through machines or via conductors. This is usually also shown on the door upon entry. Of course you should buy a ticket as soon as you board in those cases.

Standard tickets

Standard tickets^{[dead link]} (Flexpreis; flexible fare) have the fewest restrictions, but can be quite expensive. The maximum price for a standard ticket (single rail journey within Germany) is €142 in 2nd class and €237 in first class. They are valid for 1 day (trips of up to 100 km) and for 2 days (trips more than 200 km) to travel between a specified departure and destination train station and are not tied to a specific train. Sometimes the word "via" followed by either some cryptic code or a city name will appear on your ticket. That means the ticket is only valid for the specific route booked and not for a different route to the same destination.

Unlike in other countries, standard tickets do not get sold out for a specific train. If you don't have a seat reservation, then you might have to stand or sit on the floor if the train is very busy. When booking long-distance tickets on the DB website, the search results for a train journey will indicate how full/busy the train is likely going to be.

BahnCard discounts

BahnCard holders get discounts on all standard DB tickets. A BahnCard can be of great use if you plan to travel by train a lot or a long-term stay in Germany. BahnCards are typically valid for one year from the date of purchase and are renewed automatically unless cancelled in writing at least six weeks before the end of validity. They can be bought at train stations for immediate discounts. If you do that you'll get a temporary (paper) card and you will need to supply a European postal address to get the proper plastic card. Alternatively, one can purchase a 'digital' BahnCard on the DB Navigator app; upon completion, a barcode which contains important information about your subscription will be generated and you can retrieve it whenever you open the app. Ticket inspectors on trains will normally insist that you present not only your ticket, but also the BahnCard used to claim any discount and some form of official ID with a photo. You may present your 'digital' BahnCard in lieu of the physical one during inspection. Starting June 2024 all BahnCards will be digital only, physical plastic cards will remain valid until their expiration date or cancellation.

The BahnCard discount doesn't necessarily apply to all regional transport day tickets, but some do offer their own discounts for BahnCard holders. BahnCard holders can also get discounts on international trains, as long as the journey originates or terminates somewhere in Germany.

There are three variations of BahnCard. The normal BahnCards are offered for passengers ages 27 and above:

BahnCard 25. Costs €59.90 (concessions €38.90) for 2nd class (€121/€77.90 for 1st class) and grants you a 25% discount on all standard tickets for a year. Spouses/partners and kids of BahnCard 25 holders can get additional cards for €5 each. The BahnCard 25 discount can be combined with any Sparpreis discounts. (In effect granting you a further 25% discount on an already discounted fare.)
BahnCard 50. Costs €244 (concessions €122) for 2nd class (€492/€241 for 1st class) and grants you a 50% discount on all standard tickets as well as a 25% discount on Sparpreis tickets for a year.
BahnCard 100. Costs €4339 for 2nd class (€7356 for 1st class). Unlimited travel for a year on all trains and in many cities even all public transportation. Night trains cost extra. You'll need to bring a photo to buy a BahnCard 100. Holders of 2nd class BahnCard 100 still have to pay for seat reservations; holders of first class ones do not, just like with normal tickets.

There are also variations of the BahnCard 25 and BahnCard 50:

Probe BahnCard 25 / Probe BahnCard 50. ("Probe" is the German word for test/trial/sample.) More suitable if you're not ready to commit, don't need a card for a whole year, or will be in Germany only for a short time (but will spend a lot of time commuting by train), these cards are valid for three months and entitle holders to the same discounts as the regular BahnCards listed above. A Probe BahnCard 25 costs €17.90 (2nd class) or €35.90 (1st class), and a Probe BahnCard 50 costs €71.90 (2nd class) or €143 (1st class). Probe BahnCards become regular ones unless cancelled at least six weeks before the end of their validity.
My BahnCard 25 / My BahnCard 50. These cards can be bought by anyone under the age of 27 and entitle the holder to the same discounts listed above. My BahnCard 25 costs €36.90 (2nd class) or €77.90 (1st class), and My BahnCard 50 costs €69.90 (2nd class) or €241 (1st class). As with other cards these get renewed automatically unless cancelled at least six weeks before the end of their validity.
Jugend BahnCard 25. Open to anyone aged 6 to 18, costs €7.90 for a year and entitles the holder to a 25% discount, so it often pays off on the first trip. It's valid in 1st and 2nd class. Remember that under 14s travel for free with their parents or grandparents. It is without a picture - if you are at least 16 years old, you must carry ID with you. It is not necessary to cancel the Jugend BahnCard; it runs for one year and expires automatically.

Special tickets (long-distance trains)

Standard fares are relatively expensive, but special promotions and prices exist. Your best course of action is to check the DB offers page, to ask at a train station, or call them for current details. If you search for a connection with the journey planner, it automatically offers you the most favourable discount for the journey in addition to the standard fare.

Saver fares

Saver fares (Sparpreis) are low-cost one-way tickets for journeys that include long-distance trains (ICE or IC/EC). Regional trains can be added to complete the journey. These tickets are limited, and the actual price varies according to demand. You should purchase them as far in advance as possible (up to 180 days before the departure date), though they can be available minutes before departure for some routes and times. You can use the saver fare finder to find the cheapest saver fare variant.

The following saver fares are offered:

Sparpreis (Saver fare). Prices start at €21.90 (second class) and €32.90 (first class). BahnCard customers get a 25% discount on top of those prices. The ticket includes a City-Ticket for trips longer than 100km. The ticket can be refunded up to one day before its validity at a cost of €10. The refund is given as a DB voucher. DB offers "insurance" on Sparpreis offers that covers cancellation and rebooking in case of major injury or illness, but it is not really worth it compared to other travel insurance. First class customers are entitled to use the DB Lounge.
Super Sparpreis (Super saver fare). Prices start at €17.90 (second class) or €26.90 (first class). BahnCard customers get a 25% discount on top of those prices. The ticket cannot be refunded (unlike "normal" Sparpreis tickets) and they do not include a City-Ticket. First class customers are not entitled to use the DB Lounge in the stations.
Sparpreis Europa and Super Sparpreis Europa (Saver fare Europe and Super saver fare Europe). A Sparpreis variant for international connections. In Germany this is available for all trains, but abroad there may be restrictions on which trains can be used – if you cannot get a quote for a certain connection online, this may be the case. There are often some specific routes or start points near the border which can net you even cheaper fares.
Sparpreis Gruppe (Group saver fare). For groups of six or more people. Prices start at €9.90 (second class) or €27.90 (first class) per person, and include seat reservations. These tickets can be booked up to 12 months in advance at the ticket counter, or up to 6 months in advance online. For short journeys, the regional train day tickets can be cheaper.

Unlike standard tickets, any Sparpreis ticket is valid only on the train booked so you cannot use them on an earlier or later train. That restriction only applies to the long-distance trains of your journey. You can use different regional trains if your ticket includes both regional and long distance trains. If your train is delayed and you miss the follow-up train connection that restriction is lifted, however it is advisable to get a train conductor or some staff at the train station to confirm this on your ticket. If your expected arrival at the final destination is longer than 20 min, you are no longer bound by the restriction.

Other options

Deutsche Bahn also offers — usually without too much advance notice — some special offers on a semi-regular basis. Usually they are fixed-price tickets that can be used for pretty much any train (sometimes certain days of the week or hours of departure, e.g. Friday evening is excluded). Those tickets are often sold at supermarkets, other types of store or online. While they may be more expensive than the cheapest early bird tickets in some cases, they usually offer the benefit of being flexible until you board the train and fill them out.

L’TUR offers last-minute tickets for €25 (or €35 for an international trip) 1–7 days before departure.

If you need a network ticket for long-distance trains, get a European rail pass or a German Rail Pass.

Special tickets (regional and local trains)

See also: Deutschland-Ticket section.

On many shorter connections, local trains are not much slower than long-distance trains (IC, EC, ICE). Most of the special tickets for regional and local trains are automatically offered in addition to the standard fare if you use the DB journey planner and select the Only local transport option.

Almost all special offers for regional travel are available at all times and can be bought in advance or minutes before departure.

There are discounted tickets for trips with specific maximum lengths within a certain region (e.g. 150 km or less within Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia) either one way or round trip. There are also fixed prices for certain connections, e.g. Berlin-Hamburg in an InterRegio-Express.

Day tickets

Day tickets are valid for one day in all DB regional and local trains (S, RB, SE, RE and IRE), some private local trains and often include public transport (subway light rail and bus) in cities and allow for unlimited travel. They are often cheaper than single or return tickets. All day tickets can be purchased online and at ticket machines at railway stations. You cannot buy them from the conductor.

All of these tickets are group tickets, but can be used by a single traveller as well. There are few general rules to keep in mind:

The price of the ticket usually depends upon the number of travellers with a relatively high base price and a small supplement for every other member of the group up to five.
The ticket must bear the name of (at least) one member of the group. That person may be asked for ID. Sometimes all members of the group will have to be mentioned on the ticket.
Most Ländertickets are only valid for second class (although in some states they are also offered for first class for a higher price). The difference between first and second class on regional trains is small to non-existent, and some trains don't even have first class. On the other hand first class may be empty on an otherwise crowded train.

The most common day tickets are:

Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket (QdL). Valid for one day on all regional trains in Germany from 09:00 until 03:00 the following day. The ticket costs €46 for one person and €9 for every additional person (there is a maximum of five people in total).
Länder-Ticket. This ticket is valid within one federal state (Bundesland) or a collective of them (usually, a few short links across the border are included). Specific Länder-Tickets cover more than one state: a Länder-Ticket bought in either Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt or Thüringen are valid in all of those three states together, the same holds for Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland, while a Länder ticket bought in Schleswig-Holstein is also valid in Hamburg and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, but not the other way round. The Länder-Ticket is valid between 09:00 till 03:00 the next day on working days, or between 00:00 till 03:00 the next day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Tickets are priced differently, but expect to cash out at least €20 for one person and €6 for an additional person. A few states still have flat-rate tickets that cost the same for one or groups of up to five people.
Cross border day tickets. In some areas a ticket is available for travel within the state or a part of it plus an adjacent region across an international border. Their conditions are often similar to the Ländertickets.

Sharing day tickets

While sharing day tickets existed in a grey zone for some time, Deutsche Bahn has now published their own App (for Android and iPhone) explicitly for sharing group tickets. It only covers a handful of states (as of May 2016), however the implementation of more states has already been announced.

Some locals look for other people at stations to share a journey with to reduce costs. If you know your itinerary, you can arrange a group on the Internet, buy a ticket and get started. For example, there's a website for searching for a travel companion.

Some people sell their day ticket for a discount after arriving at their destination to recoup some of their expenditure. In response, DB now requires you to write your name on the ticket to validate it. Reusing such a ticket is illegal and (if caught) you may be charged with a crime.

Deutschlandticket

Deutschlandticket (or D-Ticket) allows unlimited travel on all regional and local public transport. This includes regional and local trains, trams, metros and regional and local buses. It is also valid on a limited selection of routes in countries adjacent to Germany:

To Tondern in the RB66 from Niebüll
To Groningen in the RS6 from Leer (replacement buses Leer - Weener until ca. mid-2025)
To Hengelo in the RB61 from Bielefeld, Osnabrück, Rheine and Bad Bentheim
To Enschede in the RB51 and RB64 from Dortmund and Münster
To Arnhem in the RE19 which departs e.g. from Düsseldorf
To Nijmegen in the SB58 express bus which departs e.g. from Kleve and Emmerich
To Venlo in the RE13 which departs e.g. from Düsseldorf
To Luxembourg in the RE11 from Koblenz, public transport in Luxembourg (country and city) is free
To Sarreguemines (Saargemünd) in the Saarbahn from Saarbrücken
To Wissembourg in the RB54 from Neustadt a. d. Weinstrasse and Landau in der Pfalz
To Lauterbourg in the RB52 from Wörth
To Strasbourg only with a supplement ticket of €4.20
To Basel in the S6 and regional trains
To Salzburg in the local and regional trains
To Kufstein in the RB54 which departs e.g. from Munich
To Hrádek nad Nisou and Varnsdorf in the Trilex L7 from Zittau
To Świnoujście in the RB23 e.g. from Usedom

and on many local crossborder bus routes that often connect to train stations.

It does not allow travelling on first class, all long-distance trains (ICE, IC, EC, EST, Flixtrain), on Flixbus, or on transport mainly used as a tourist attraction.

There are no restrictions on who can purchase and use the ticket. It costs €49 per month and is valid for a calendar month (not rolling 30 days!). While it is a subscription that will automatically renew every month, it is still possible to buy it for only one calendar month.

The ticket can in most cases only be obtained online, not from vending machines or drivers. Most however require a European bank account and do not accept credit cards.

For travellers it's recommended to buy the ticket online at Mopla: The first advantage at Mopla is that you can pay with credit card or debit card (in addition to EU SEPA withdrawal). The second advantage at Mopla is that you can cancel the subscription until the second last day of the month.

For the ticket inspections you need to have a government-issued photo ID such as an ID card or passport.

Buying the ticket somewhere else

If you buy the ticket at other vendors, then the subscription can be only cancelled until every 10th of the month. So if you purchase a ticket on the 11th day or later, you will need to pay for the current and following month. And at most other vendors you need to provide an EU bank account that supports SEPA direct debit. It would not have to be your own bank account and for example parents can purchase tickets for their children. The other vendors with the unfavorable conditions are public transport operators (for example Deutsche Bahn, Transdev, ...), local transport associations ("Verkehrsverbünde") or a staffed ticket counter ("DB Reisezentrum"). The ticket is not available from vending machines.

The ticket either requires a smartphone with an app installed, or you purchase it online or in person as a smart card ("Chipkarte"). Regardless of how you buy it, for the ticket inspections you need to have a government-issued photo ID.

Using the D-Ticket on long journeys

It is possible (and tempting, if on a budget) to use a Deutschland-Ticket for long cross-country journeys on regional trains. Selecting "local/regional transport only" on the DB website or DB Navigator app makes it easy to plan such trips. However, these trains often serve small towns, so even routes between major stations will involve several stops and possibly transfers with just a few amenities. A missed connection could leave you waiting one or two hours for the next departure. Even when a trip goes smoothly, a long distance journey on regional trains can easily take over twice as long as an ICE connection on the same route. Before committing to a month of long regional journeys, consider whether some direct ICE, IC trains with super saver fares, Flixtrain/Flixbus rides or a rail pass makes better use of your time and budget.

Verkehrsverbund tickets

Each Verkehrsverbund has a single integrated tariff system. Any travel within a single Verkehrsverbund is "local" and usually quite cheap. However any travel between different Verkehrsverbünde requires either a special fare (within North Rhine-Westphalia) or the full DB fare and will usually be considerably more expensive. For trips entirely within one Verkehrsverbund, the DB website will typically tell you the name of the applicable fare (for example, "MVV Fare" in Munich, or "VBB Fare" in Berlin) instead of showing the price for that trip. The DB website may allow you to purchase a day ticket for such a trip, while the DB Navigator mobile app will often offer a wider range of tickets, including for single trips valid instantly. Ticket machines at train stations are usually equipped to sell tickets within a Verkehrsverbund and general DB tickets. Failing that, there are usually machines specifically for Verkehrsverbund tickets. Verkehrsverbund tickets cost the same no matter when you book.

Ticket validity varies from one Verkehrsverbund to another: usually, there is either a zone system (the further you travel, the more you pay), a time system (the longer you travel, the more you pay), or most commonly a combination of these two. Unlimited transfers between trains, buses, etc. are usually allowed as long as your ticket remains valid. Discounts may be given for return trips or groups, and one-day tickets (Tageskarte) are usually cheaper and much less hassle than single tickets, although zone limits apply to them as well. At local ticket offices ('Reisezentrum') you can often pick up brochures explaining all the details, usually with helpful maps, and occasionally even in English.

You will usually have to validate a Verkehrsverbund ticket by time stamping it at machines on platforms. If there is a stamping machine on the platform, chances are tickets need to be stamped prior to boarding. Unstamped tickets are not valid tickets. If you are caught without a valid ticket you will be fined €60 (even if you are a foreigner or first time offender). Fare inspectors won't take "I didn't have any time to buy a ticket" as an excuse.

DB trains often cross between VBs with at best a cryptic "three letter acronym (that being the Verkehrsverbund) only till X" (in German) on the display at the platform and sometimes no warning at all, and your "local" ticket stops being valid the instant you cross the invisible line. On some trains there is an announcement upon leaving a Verkehrsverbund, but don't count on it.

Ticket add-ons

All Sparpreis and Flexpreis tickets for long-distance trains covering a distance of more than 100km include a City-Ticket. That means your train ticket doubles as a ticket for local transport. It can however only be used to get to the station from which your train departs and from the station at your destination. (Travel is within the city zone only.) City-tickets are valid in 126 cities in Germany. If your ticket mentions +City, this option is included.

If your ticket is not eligible for the automatic free City-Ticket add-on you can add a similar option called City mobil at an extra charge. This only includes public transport at your destination in one of the about 100 participating cities. Price varies by city, and single or day tickets are available. This usually doesn't present a monetary saving, but you are spared the hassle of finding a ticket vending machine or small coins for the bus driver.

German Rail Pass

See also: European rail passes

A German Rail Pass allows unlimited travel throughout Germany in all trains on 3–10 days within a month. There is an interesting "twin" discount for two people travelling together. The pass is available only for residents outside Europe, Turkey and Russia; you can purchase it on the DB website or from travel agencies outside Germany.

Eurail offers a pass for 3–10 days of travel (which do not have to be consecutive) throughout Germany.

Youth and child discounts

Children younger than 6 travel for free and don't need a ticket (but you might want to reserve seats in a Familienabteil; family compartment), children aged 6 to 14 (inclusive) can travel for free when travelling with their own parent or grandparent if that person pays a Flexpreis or Special price ticket. The number of children has to be specified when purchasing the ticket. There is also a discount for people aged below fifteen travelling in the company of someone who is not their parent or grandparent, but it is usually only 50%. Some special offers are explicitly limited to students or "young people" with a cutoff point usually in the mid twenties.

Stations

Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the capital's main train station

Train stations run the gamut from barely a shelter by the trackside to multilevel temples of transit with ample shopping (usually at least partially open on Sundays and public holidays) that are often architecturally stunning as well. In German there is a distinction between "Bahnhof" (Bhf.) and "Haltepunkt" (Hp.) with the former usually being major stations and the latter basically just a point along regular tracks where a train stops. As a rule of thumb you won't find many amenities at Haltepunkte.

Almost all major German cities have a main train station called Hauptbahnhof (Hbf). These are often in the centre of town and have accommodations, restaurants, and attractions nearby. Some larger German cities, such as Berlin and Hamburg, have more than one main line station. In some cities (most notably Kassel) long-distance trains like ICEs might stop at another station than local trains. If the city has public transit such as S-Bahn, U-Bahn, tram, or even buses, Hauptbahnhof will often be the main hub or an important secondary hub for local transit service. From major train stations you can usually hail a cab or rent a bike from a station.

Track layouts usually follow a logical pattern starting at track (Gleis) 1 with adjacent numbers corresponding to physically adjacent tracks. However, there are exceptions to this, especially at larger stations. Individual numbers may be skipped. For example in Ulm there are tracks 1-6, 25, 27 and 28, and Dortmund has tracks 2-8, 10-11, 16, 18, 20-21, 23, 26 and 31. In some cases S-Bahn tracks have high numbers and are "on the wrong side" of track 1. (e.g. Tracks 20 and 21 for S-Bahn then track 1, 2, 3 and so on). One track number will usually only be assigned once per station, even if there are multiple levels. In a complex (or unfamiliar) station allow some time for connections, especially if it says "tief" on your ticket, which can indicate an underground level on stations such as the main stations in Frankfurt or Berlin. Small towns usually have a single platform station and normally only regional and local trains stop there.

Not all train stations have toilets, especially the smaller ones including Haltepunkte. If toilets exist you usually have to pay a fee, so use the free toilets on trains while you can.

If you need to use elevators, plan additional time for that since they are often quite slow, busy, or broken (and you have to search a different one).

Bigger train stations usually have lockers where you can store your luggage. However, only coins are accepted (change machines are provided at the entrance). Prices depend on the size of your luggage and location, and most are flat-rate within the operating day. Most of the lockers are locked with a key. As with other locker stations elsewhere, make sure you have everything you will need for the duration of when you plan to part with your bag; your session will end once you unlock the door and you will need to pay again for a new rental session to lock the door.

While most train stations were built on what was then cheap land outside the historic old town, subsequent development has meant that train stations are usually very close to at least one major centre of business, retail and city life and often the centre. "Sugar beet stations" as found along French high speed rail lines are very rare and even suburban stations surrounded by park & ride lots will usually have some bus service to get you to where you want to go.

Most train stations were built in the 19th century and some show very visible signs of their age. Rural stations can seem rather overbuilt for their current function and as such may sometimes be a bit sad, but there is just no likelihood of the need for gigantic coal ware houses and water tanks or for hundreds of railway workers ever coming back.

At 15 major stations across Germany, first class passengers and members of Deutsche Bahn's bahn.bonus loyalty programme who have reached comfort level (similar to frequent flyer programmes) can access DB lounges. They have comfortable seating, Wi-Fi, free drinks, newspapers and work spaces. You're not allowed to take the newspapers with you. Berlin, Cologne, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich main stations have lounges with special areas reserved for first class passengers only, where passengers are also served light snacks.

Passenger rights

Despite being fast, modern and highly profitable, German railways are known among Germans for delays on main lines. Long-distance trains usually do not wait for one another in case of delays, whereas most local trains normally wait for up to 5 minutes. You should not rely on connecting times of less than 15 minutes. However, if you think you might miss your connection because the train you are on is delayed, talk to a conductor on board. They may be able to arrange for the connecting train to wait a little, or give you information on other connections you can take to reach your destination.

If you miss your connection due to a delayed train or your original train is delayed by at least 20 minutes, you may use another, under certain circumstances even better (e.g. ICE instead of IC) train. However, you have to show your original booking to a staff in the following train.

EU Passenger Rights^{[dead link]} entitle you to a refund of 25% of the single ticket price if your train arrives at your destination at least an hour late, or 50% if arriving at least two hours late. However, for special day tickets for regional and local trains (for example Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket, Länder-Ticket), you only get a refund of €1.50 for delays of an hour or more. Refunds are only given if the refund value is more than €4, but you can claim a refund for multiple tickets at the same time. You can choose whether you want the refund in cash or as a voucher. It is best to get the delay confirmed by a conductor, so do so while still on the train, as they can also advise you on connections. To receive a refund you need to fill out a (claim) and send it alongside the ticket (mobile tickets need to be printed out) by mail or give it to the staff at any Reisezentrum. Your claim must be filled within one year after the delayed connection. There is no need to get the delay confirmed by the conductor, though confirmed delays may be paid out instantly at the Reisezentrum as opposed to approximately 1-2 weeks processing time otherwise.

If you miss the last train of the day due to a delay or a cancelled train and cannot continue your trip to your destination as a result, DB will either arrange an alternative way to complete the journey (like a taxi), or will arrange free overnight accommodation. However, the first step is always to contact DB (for example by speaking to the conductor on the delayed train, or personnel at the train station). Only if you cannot contact DB can you arrange for alternative transport or accommodation yourself. In such cases, a maximum of €80 is refunded. In some cases, you can also get transportation back to your initial point of departure, if the delay makes your journey otherwise pointless.

Passenger rights are laid out by European legislation and even apply in many cases of "acts of god" (e.g. bad weather, or suicides). If there is a dispute, SÖP can arbitrate between you and the railway company to find a mutually satisfactory solution (usually a reimbursement).

Accessible travel

DB has an overview of information on accessible travel(in German). Information about accessible travel is available daily from 06:00-22:00 on ☏ 0180 6512512 (in country only). Calls cost €0.20 per call from a German landline, and a maximum of €1 per call from a mobile phone. You can book assistance with boarding or changing trains up to 20:00 on the day before your trip by calling the same phone number.

DB's journey planner lists which platforms are wheelchair accessible. (In the detailed view: click on show details, then station information.) Information for individual train stations is on this webpage (in German). Newer train station platforms often provide level access to trains. However, some trains (especially older ones) still have stairs.

DB is required to make an effort to make newly-built stations and newly-purchased rolling stock accessible. Existing stations are modernised and upgraded with elevators and the like whenever possible. Unfortunately, there is an exemption for small stations that don't have elevators. Local or state government sometimes pays for such modernisation. One big issue keeping full accessibility and level boarding from happening are the different platform heights. Unlike most of Europe, two platform heights have historically been common in Germany and both are still used, even with new platforms.

Bicycles

DB's journey planner has an option (in "advanced") to toggle on "search for connections which can carry bikes".

On IC and EC trains bikes cost €9 extra for a day and you must reserve a space in advance. On international routes the cost is €10 for one journey. Long-distance trains have a special section with bike holders. Follow the bike symbols near the carriage door. Bikes are not allowed on the majority of high-speed trains (ICE, Thalys, TGV). The new fourth generation ICE, introduced in December 2017, has some bike spaces.

On regional and local trains you do not need a reservation and you can usually put your bike in the open area near doors. In some Verkehrsverbünde, if you have a valid ticket for yourself you can bring your bike for free at off-peak hours. For short journeys outside the Verkehrsverbund you have to buy a bike supplement ticket for €6, valid on all regional and local trains for one day. If there is no space for bicycles on the train, staff might refuse to let you on, even if you have a valid ticket. At peak times, you might have to wait for the next train. Remove any bags attached to your bicycle to reduce the space it takes up (to allow other travellers to bring their bicycle aboard too). Secure your bike so that it does not fall over, or stay close to it and hold on it. If there are folding seats at the designated bike space and people are sitting there, politely ask them to make space, which is what they are supposed to do.

DB also has a luggage service which can send your bags to any address in Germany, including islands, cruise ships and major airports. Bags can also be delivered to Austria, Switzerland and Italy. Allow at least two working days for delivery. The service also transports bikes on most routes, which may be less hassle than taking it on the train. The service itself is provided by Hermes, a German parcel delivery company.

Stay safe

Train travel in Germany is very safe for train passengers. Most fatalities and serious injuries involving trains in Germany are the results of accidents at level crossings or people being on the tracks. In 2015, only around 2% of fatalities relating to train accidents were actually train passengers. There are however some security concerns:

As luggage isn't checked in you should always have a watchful eye on it as luggage theft and pickpocketing occur on trains from time to time. If you notice that your bag isn't where you put it, notify a conductor as they may be able to find it if it has just been put elsewhere by someone storing his/her own luggage.

There are usually emergency brakes in every car of the train and they are clearly marked in (at least) German and English as such. While pulling them without justification incurs a heavy fine (often more than €1000 for first time offenders), you are not charged if you can plausibly explain why you thought the train was in danger. Most conductors have the same right as you to pull the emergency brake and there is thus nothing gained (but maybe valuable time lost) if you ask a conductor before pulling the brake.

If for some reason the door doesn't open there is usually some mechanism to open it manually. If you can, ask a conductor before doing so, or let them do it for you, as sometimes these systems have to be disabled manually before the train can drive on, thus causing delays when done incorrectly.

In the unlikely event of an accident the doors may be impassable or not within reach. You can create other escape routes by breaking the windows. This is usually done by hitting the small red dot on top of the window with the red hammer. You can then safely remove the broken window. Make sure that the drop is not too deep before you exit the train.