We are currently in Munich for the next 4 days. We bought a 3 day pass. We are staying near the Marienplatz station. I think I have figured out the map with all the colors and which a train to take, my question is how do you know what direction it's going before you get on? We found out that we were going in the wrong direction only by noticing the next stop was going away from our stop!! Thank you!!
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Because it says the destination (final stop) on the indicator on the platform, and on the front of the train.
Each line is numbered, S1, S2 etc.
At the station there will normally be two platforms for each line, one for each direction and they will be labelled with the line number and name of the end station.
For example, see this photo here: http://www.br.de/nachrichten/inhalt/s-bahn-muenchen-stammstrecke-114~_v-img__16__9__xl_-d31c35f8186ebeb80b0cd843a7c267a0e0c81647.jpg
That is an S6 heading for Ostbahnhof.
The blue sign say "Richtung Hauptbahnhof" = "Direction Main Station".
Some lines split, so you can have two alternative destinations, or trains might not go all the way to the end of the line.
BTW, S-Bahn = Stadt Schnellbahn = Urban Express Railway, not "train".
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
The direction is clear by consulting the indicators at the station and on the platforms, which show the final station of the trains.
Posted by
OP
25 posts
Thank you so much! Incredibly helpful!!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19099 posts
The direction is clear by consulting the indicators at the station and
on the platforms
But you still have to know the final destination of the S-Bahn you want. There are yellow departure boards in the station. They show each train, the time, the final destination, the track number, and all of the first few stops up to the target sign, then significant stops after that. Use that board to determine which train you want, it's final destination, and the track number.
Note a peculiarity for trains from the airport. The S1 goes around the west end of town, through the trunk tunnel going east, and ends up at Ost Bahnhof, and the indicators in the airport S-Bahn station will show Ostbahnhof, or Ost, as the final destination. But that's just where the S1 finally ends. It takes longer to get to Ost by the S1 than it does by the S8, which comes into town at Ost Bahnhof, goes through town to the west, and will show a final destination of Herrsching or Weßling.