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Rail Travel in Germany
Trains in Germany/Luggage on German Trains/Types
of Train
German Rail Tickets and Passes from North America
and the UK
Trains from London
Buy
A Rail Pass For Germany

Trains in Germany
The German railway system is run by Deutsche Bundesbahn (DB Rail)
[tel. 0800 150 7090].
The trains are clean and punctual and travelling by rail is a pleasant
experience.
There are first and second class seats.
A snack bar or a dining car is generally available on express trains.
Luggage on German Trains
The following items are accepted on German trains:
Suitcases and backpacks; steamer trunks; bicycles; skis; pushchairs
and strollers.
Unlike in many countries, bags can be left at the luggage counter
at many stations, and these bags will be delivered to your destination
hotel. A door-to-door service may also be available depending on
starting point and destination – please check at the phone
number given above for this and baggage insurance information.
Types of Trains In Germany
Apart from local trains, there are also these types:
InterCity [IC]: comfortable trains with (often) a telephone and
secretarial services, bar, restaurant, lounge.
EuroCity [EC]: these trains connect with other European countries
and offer a comparable level of service as IC.
InterCity Express [ICE]: high-speed trains (175mph/280kph). Only
on a few routes, however:
Berlin - Frankfurt - Munich (München)
Hamburg - Würzburg - Nuremberg (Nürnberg) - Munich (München)
Frankfurt - Stuttgart - Munich (München)
InterCity Night [ICN]: first class (beds & included breakfast)
and tourist class (reclining seats) on these night trains. Restaurant
and bistro car. Reservations are required. Departure time: around
10pm. Arrival time around 7am. Routes:
Berlin - Munich (München)
Berlin – Bonn
German Rail Tickets and Passes from North
America
GermanRail pass (26 years old and over) 4 days travel
in one month - first class US$260; second class US$180. For additional
days, price per day: first class $34; second class US$24.
GermanRail pass (under 26 years) Second class only.
4 days travel in one month - $142 10 days travel in one month -
$220
TwinPass (2 adults together) 4 days travel in one month -
first class US$390; second class US$270.
Extra benefits for pass holders:
- free or reduced rate bus fares on certain routes only: Deutsche
Touring/Europabus.
- free day trips on river boats operated by KD German Line Steamers.
For more information on these and other services as well as ticket
purchase, including the Europe-wide Eurail pass, contact German
Rail in the US [tel. 1 877 272 RAIL]. Canadians could try CIT Tours
[tel. 800 CIT-TOUR]. Local travel agents will also be able to provide
tickets.
German Rail Tickets and Passes from the UK & Europe
Apart from travel agents, the International Rail Centre at Victoria
Station, London has information and passes as well as major rail
stations throughout Europe. [tel. 0870 5 848 848].
Inter-Rail passes are available for people under 26 (who
have been resident in Europe for over 6 months). It allows for 12
or 22 days unlimited travel in any one of 8 European zones or longer
for travel in more than one rail zone.
The Eurodomino Pass allows travel flexibility in any one
of 28 countries in Europe and North Africa. It allows you anything
from 3 to 8 days extensive travel within a one month period on the
entire rail network of your chosen country. The price may vary slightly
from country to country.
Trains to Germany from London
From Waterloo Station, London, and after 2007 London St.
Pancreas, the Eurostar trains to Brussels operate all
year on a 24-hour basis. Change at Brussels (Bruxelles) for trains
to Germany. Eurostar reservations from the UK: 0870 530 0003 Eurostar
reservations from France: 08-36-35-35-39
There are four daily trains to Germany from Victoria Station
via jetfoil or the Ramsgate-Ostend or Dover-Ostend ferry.
From Liverpool Street Station, 2 trains via Harwich-Hook
of Holland (Hoek van Holland). You can change at Cologne
(Köln) in Germany for other destinations.
London to Berlin
takes about 20 hours, about the same to Munich.
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Book Air Tickets to Germany
From
Europe with Air France
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to Germany with KLM
Flights
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