Rail Travel

German trains are clean, comfortable, reliable and fast. If you're travelling within the country, it just doesn't make sense to fly!

Germany's privatized railway, the Deutsche Bahn, is by far the best way to travel around the country, there can be large discounts for those who take the trouble to study what is offered (See their website http://www.bahn.de selecting the "International Visitors" section for English-language). In addition to cleanliness, comfort, reliability and speed, even in severe weather, the Bahn offers high quality and a startling array of discounted fares. You are not likely to do better than that flying when you consider the time it takes to get to and from the airports. Also, flying is expensive and much more subject to weather-related delays.

Because of this, major efforts are being made to integrate air and rail travel. The speedy ICE trains that will travel from Frankfurt to Cologne in 58 minutes (compared to 2� hours on "normal" trains) will stop at airport terminals in both cities. The Frankfurt airport terminal is now open, and the one at Cologne is due to open sometime in 2001. To further integrate air and rail transport the Bahn offers "Rail & Fly" tickets which provide bargain rail travel in connection with an international round trip airline flight.

For a quick sample of the efficiency of the German train service, look at their timetable enquiries website:

This English-section of their website allows you to input your departure and destination points within the whole of Europe, and provides a full/detailed schedule of your routing (even the platform number, transfer waiting time and distance to walk to your transfer!). This site also provides costs of travel, although this is only for the parts you travel in Germany.

Super fast InterCityExpress (ICE) trains reach up to 280 km/h linking up all major cities. The ICE from Munich to Frankfurt takes just over 3 and a half hours, and once a new high speed track is completed the trip from Frankfurt to Cologne will be less than one hour.

The reason for the increasing popularity of the ICE trains is easy to see. They are fully air-conditioned with reclining seats, fixed or hinged tables at all seats and a low noise level. ICEs and other express trains have dining cars and often "BordTreffs," with a typical bistro atmosphere. A mini-bar goes through the second class coaches bringing drinks and snacks to your seat.

There are card operated telephones on the ICEs, and each of these trains has its own telephone number so passengers can be reached while travelling. Newspapers are for sale and the service crew can arrange a taxi or porter meet you on arrival. A PA system provides information about the next stop and the connections available. An information leaflet at your seat also states the available services and connections. Some seats have video and audio outlets, but you must provide your own earphones.

There are baby/small child compartments with changing rooms on the ICEs. Help in boarding is available for disabled travellers, who also have special compartments with wide doors, space for wheelchairs and special toilets. (Advance reservations are highly recommended for the child and disabled compartments.)

Each European railroad applies a "Supplement"; fee for reserving seats, couchettes or beds as well as meals on trains. The fee for reserving seats is only �2.50 per person. In Germany travellers pay extra fees associated with the higher speed of IC, EC and ICE trains, costing approximately �3.50 per adult. Independent of the possible need for reservations, the general rule of thumb is if you need to travel more than two hours on a long-distance train, then reserve the seat.

The U/S-Bahns run from approximately 05.00 to 01.15 on weekdays and until approximately 02.00 on weekends. The nightline (Nachtlinie), is a configuration of 11 buses and 3 tram lines running almost throughout the night at 30 minute intervals. For details see the following websites, they are in German but easy to follow, or telephone the service centre on +89 41424344

MVV Website:
http://www.mvv-muenchen.de
Tramlines/routes:
http://www.mvv-muenchen.de/mvv_plaene/images/tram/Tram.html
S/U Bahn Routes:
http://www.mvv-muenchen.de/mvv_plaene/images/sbahn/sbahn.html
Zones/fee structure Inner City
http://www.mvv-muenchen.de/mvv_plaene/images/tarif_inn/tar_inn.html
Zones/fee structure Outer City:
http://www.mvv-muenchen.de/mvv_plaene/images/tarif_ges/tar_ges.html

You can purchase varying types of tickets to travel on the inner-city transport system (U-Bahn/S-Bahn, Trams, Buses etc), with various special deals which are listed after this section. For normal ticketing, you need to decide on the type of ticket you need (the number of zones you will cross through, how many people in your group etc). Ticket machines are usually around all U/S-bahn stations and also some kiosks (usually indicated with a "K" sign). The actual machines can seem confusing but should be easy to follow if you know the key words!.

KNOW YOUR ZONES! The MVV system is divided into four zones, the centre (Innenraun) and four outer areas (Aussenraum). The fare price depends on the number of zones through which you plan to travel, you will therefore need to check the number of zones you plan to travel through.

STAMP/CANCEL YOUR TICKET! - (Entwerter abgestempelt) It is very important to note that although you have purchased your ticket, this is not valid to travel until it has been 'Stamped or cancelled' (Einstempln). You stamp your ticket in a special machine (at entrances to S/U-Bahns, on the trams and busses), the stamp machine is a little blue box with an "E" letter, and this will print the time/location of your start of journey.

SINGLE-DAY-TICKET (Single-Tageskarten). One-day ticket, for one person, valid from the day/time of 'stamping' until 0600 the following day. Entitles users to use any service on the MVV and as many journeys as required. You can also purchase this type of ticket as a 3-day ticket. (Drei-Tageskarten)

SINGLE-JOURNEY-TICKET (Einzelfahrkarten):- Single tickets can be purchased for each single journey; for 1, 2, 3 or 4 zones with prices ranging from Euro 4 to Euro 8

STRIP-TICKET (Streifenkarte) has 10 strips can be used depending on the number of zones you plan to travel through on each single journey, a list on the vending machines will show the required strips to be stamped (you must 'stamp' again for your return journey). This ticket can be used for any number of travellers - 'stamping' as necessary for each passenger. A full adult 10-strip card costs Euro 9.

PARTNER-DAY-TICKET (Partner-Tageskarten). For families or groups, of up to 5 people, valid from time of 'stamping' to 0600 the following day, as many journeys as required, on any MVV service. (2 children between 6-14 count as one adult). A Day-ticket (Tageskarte) allows unlimited MVV travel from the point of stamping until 0600 the following day. You can also purchase this type of ticket as a 3-day ticket.