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German DE trains: Departure too far in the future,

Posted by on

I’m trying to buy a bunch of train tickets around Germany for our upcoming trip, Aug 28 - Sep 17.
On the German train site: https://int.bahn.de/en/

I keep getting errors for all the ticket classes:
Einzelfahrt Erw.
Departure lies too far in the future. Purchase not possible.

I’m trying to book a direct train:
Frankfurt Main (HbF) to Bacharach on August 28, 2024, 2nd class. That’s only 4 days away.

Is there something I need to do? I created an account. The logo show “RMV” in blue lettering. Here’s the link:
Journey on Mi. 28.08.2024
• from Frankfurt(Main)Hbf, departure at 18:25 Pl. 1 with RE 29544
• to Bacharach, arrival at 19:30 Pl. 2 with RE 29544
View journey: https://int.bahn.de/en/buchung/start?vbid=9cf1f3c4-7409-4a53-bd76-a1d9859e0dd7

It doesn’t seem to matter what I choose, the warning is the same that it’s too far out to book.

Help please!

Posted by
6923 posts

The RMV transit authority (a local entity responsible for local train service, one of many in Germany) makes the rules for short journeys within its smallish zone. Your journey is within that zone. It is not necessary - or possible - to pre-purchase this ticket and it will do you no good at all in terms of pricing or reserving a seat. Regional trains like the RE do not take seat reservations and ticketing is more like municipal bus ticketing back home if you travel inside a single transit authority zone. When you arrive at the main train station in Frankfurt, buy your ticket at that time, as it is valid only for a short period of time after purchase. Use either the app or a ticket machine at the station. Ticket machines will have the RMV logo, like this one does:

https://download.transdev.de/transdev/uploads/transdev/pictures/item_paragraph/799/s1200.jpg

The map below shows the RMV zone in green and other transit authority zones in this part of Germany:

https://www.vrminfo.de/fileadmin/data_vrminfo/PDF/RLP-Ticket_streckennetz.pdf

Posted by
6923 posts

Yes. Just make certain that you use regional trains from Frankfurt.

Just to clarify... you are looking to leave from Frankfurt's central station, correct? If instead your journey starts at Frankfurt Airport, then be sure to use the Airport's Regionalbahnhof station (the one for regional train departures.)

Whichever station you start out from, the D-Ticket will be valid. It's valid on all regional trains in Germany.

Posted by
10 posts

Yes, I'm planning to tour around Frankfurt for the day, then go from the Frankfurt central station on to Bacharach. Is there left luggage at Frankfurt central (Hbf?)? I'd like to avoid hauling around luggage all day.

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