I purchased a 1st Cl train ticket from Munich to Rothenberg ob der Tauber for October of this year. It shows up on the DB app and I can see the itinerary etc. There is a red exclamation point beside the itinerary and in the notes it says "there are current notifications" however I can't see anything on the itinerary that alerts me and when I click on the little bell at the top which is, I assume, the symbol for notifications, there is nothing there that concerns me. We are not able to reserve seats but I have read elsewhere that that can be common on certain routes. Also for the transfer to Rothenberg at Steinach, the ticket changes to second class. Just as an experiment to see if I am missing something, I went to make a new reservation for the same route and for the same date and time, and it still comes up as an available option so it doesn't seem like anything has changed or has been cancelled. What would the red exclamation point be referring to? I also have not received any email from DB alerting me to any change in my ticket. I have checked my junk mail as well.
Posted by
NW England
658 posts
It's clearly too early for real disruption alerts for October. It might have been something more general like certain station facilities out of action - but as you have found the trains are still running as advertised. But it may be something to do with the large warning on the homepage of the website that parts of that system (and probably the App) will be offline for much of this weekend. See if it's still there on Monday.
Posted by
Duluth🌲
9658 posts
It's probably referring to the fact that you are not able to reserve seats on that train.
OR it could deal with the second portion of your trip. Did you pay for 1st class for the entire trip? If so, it's possible that the notification is to let you know that there are no first class cars for the 2nd portion.
You could always get there a bit early, if possible, and ask someone who works there.
Posted by
Bavaria
2566 posts
There is a red exclamation point beside the itinerary and in the notes it says "there are current notifications"
If you are on the DB website, you will see a “Details” link under the connection, where you can find more information. However, if you tell us the exact travel date and the selected connection, we can check this in the (German-language) construction site reports.
Also for the transfer to Rothenberg at Steinach, the ticket changes to second class.
This is quite normal: the little shuttle between Steinach and Rothenburg does not have a 1st class compartment.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Hello, thank-you for your quick and helpful replies. I have also considered all of these possibilities so I am glad to get some affirmation in my speculations. I did go on the DB website and looked at my trip. In the trip conditions for the ticket there were two thing that had black exclamation points: one was that my ticket could not be cancelled and the other was that my ticket was valid from the day of my trip until 3 am the next day. So I suppose the red exclamation mark by "itinerary" on the app could be referring to those things? For the person who asked for details I am booked at Oct 3 at 9:35 am from Munich Hbf to Rothenburg Hbf with the transfer in Steinach.
Posted by
Paradise
7475 posts
Your train journey consists of two RB trains (regional trains,) one right after the next. But it's not a normal ticket. It's a day pass called the Bayern Ticket., right? It's valid for REGIONAL train travel across all of Bavaria until 3 am the following morning, and apparently you chose the first class version priced at €44.50 for one person, with add-on Euros for any additional persons. This price is slightly cheaper than a simple one-way fare on regional trains for your route (€55.90 in 2nd class); the Bayern ticket is the smartest ticket to buy for this trip since your regional train trip is unusually long and standard fares are computed by kms traveled. Because the ticket is valid all day long, you could use it to travel back to Munich the same day if you wish, or to travel to some other destination within Bavaria.
Regional trains are considered local transport in Germany. They are in the same category with local buses, trams and subways. ICE, IC, EC trains are high-speed long-distance trains for which many people pre-purchase tickets (at a discount - "saver fare") and get seat reservations. Pre-purchase is not necessary for regional train tickets and offers only the disadvantage that you cannot cancel/refund, AFAIK. There is no seat reservation connected with the Bayern ticket day pass as a rule (or does your ticket somehow have the train car and seat #'s on it??) Your ticket just provides the right to travel that day on any regional trains you like in the first-class area of the train, AFAIK.
The Arverio company operates the RB train from Munich; it will look something like this.
https://www.arverio-by.de/fileadmin/_processed_/4/9/csm_2024_Arverio_Bayern_Mireo_RB87__5__53f80c135d.jpg
I don't know what the interior looks like. Typically the first and second class areas are pretty similar. The stated first-class advantage at the DB site is more legroom.
If you have additional tickets to purchase, it never hurts to run your needs past the forum here. Lots of us here are familiar with the unique rail and ticketing system in Germany.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Oh wow this is great info. Yes, this was not intuitive when I was looking at options and definitely wishing I would have posted here first. Will I need to do anything when I arrive at Munich Hbf? I do have a ticket on the app with a QR code. I knew that for some tickets you have to purchase a seat separately (we did that for Salzburg to Munich) but I had no idea when I was purchasing this particular ticket that there was no option to purchase/reserve a seat.
Posted by
Bavaria
2566 posts
I am booked at Oct 3 at 9:35 am from Munich Hbf to Rothenburg Hbf with the transfer in Steinach.
Thanks. None of the two databases show any disruption to the network for your day of travel. For the following week, it is indicated that your train only runs to Marktbreit (just before Würzburg) due to construction work, and perhaps an earlier start of work was entered for this at the time of booking. But that wouldn't have affected you either, because you change two stations before. Anyway, there is neither in the german nor in in the English version of the DB website any indication of track work for October 3 and I don't see a red exclamation mark either. So you shouldn't worry.
Will I need to do anything when I arrive at Munich Hbf?
No. Just go to the platform and board.
I don't know what the interior looks like. Typically the first and second class areas are pretty similar.
I know this type of train well from my regular trips between Augsburg and Munich: the difference is mainly in the color of the seats, and you always wonder how the price difference between 1st and 2nd class in such trains can be justified. In addition, these Siemens Desiro HC (not: Mireo) trains only have 38 1st class seats (compared to 500 in 2nd class), so the hope for more space and comfort is not always fulfilled. In any case, it's good to be at the station 15 minutes before departure to secure the seats.
Posted by
Wengen
3171 posts
There are no reservations on regional trains. That is only available on long distance trains.
Also, this is a type of ticket that you do not need to buy in advance. There is no advantage in doing so, and the disadvantage is that you cannot cancel it if your plans change. You could have easily bought that the morning of your travel.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
My recent experience in other countries is that ticket prices increase (often double or more) the closer I get to the travel date so I was trying to avoid that. Clearly I didn't know the German system is different. We often learn through our mistakes.
However, I have learned a lot of new things by posting my question here so I appreciate everyone’s input.