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German train system with kids

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My husband and I are traveling in Germany for close to 3 weeks with our 4 kids (8-12 years.) Half the time we are renting a car, and the other half we are relying on public transportation system. Our itinerary with trains and other public transportation includes: Nurenburg to Erfurt; then to Berlin; then Berlin to St. Goar. Is there a site I can read up to find out more information? My questions:

  • Should I buy some of the train tickets in advance? Do they sell out?
  • What ticket site should I use?
  • How do I figure out which train station I need? I already know all the places where we are staying, but I'm confused about which station to use.
  • I'm a little concerned about transfers with my family of 6, especially from Berlin to St. Goar. Is it difficult to figure out the platforms, and will connections be difficult to make with the kids?
  • I read somewhere that kids are free on trains traveling with an adult, but a German friend of mine said that wasn't true. Do you know?

Thank you,
Marian

Posted by
8889 posts
  • Yes, you should buy the tickets for longer trips in advance. They do not sell out, but it will be cheaper to buy in advance. You will get "print-at-home" tickets which you show to the ticket inspector on the train. I would also recommend seat reservations where possible (not possible on local trains). This will ensure you can all sit together. Go for a block of 4 seats, 2 facing 2, and another 2 seats (possibly across the aisle), then you have a space for yourselves.
  • Buy on the DB (German Railways) website: https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml You can also look up train times on the same site.
  • In most cases there is one station in each town, with the same name as the town (example: "St Goar"). In big cities with multiple stations, the big main station is always called "Hauptbahnhof", abbreviated "Hbf". For example "Berlin Hbf", "Nürnberg Hbf", "Erfurt Hbf"
  • Changing trains is not that difficult. The DB website will tell you the platform (Gleis) numbers in advance. You can also ask the ticket inspector in advance. At the station there will be signs to each "Gleis", plus videos listing trains. Photo here ("Gleis" is the column on the right): https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Berlin_Ostbahnhof_Abfahrt_Departure_Board_15185701340.jpg Hanging above each platform is an indicator showing the next train from that platform. Here is one, 06:23 to Berlin via Dortmund, Bielefeld, Hannover, Train No. ICE843, and it is platform 6 https://blog.hiogi.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/IMAG0381.jpg
  • Children pay reduced fare. The DB site will apply the correct prices.
  • Site for more information: https://www.seat61.com/Germany-trains.htm
Posted by
20135 posts

I read somewhere that kids are free on trains traveling with an adult, but a German friend of mine said that wasn't true. Do you know?

Often, they are free if they are 14 or under and one of the adults is a parent or grandparent. Even if they are free, they need to be listed on the ticket as passengers with the ages and the relationship.

6 is an awkward number for Deutsche Bahn website, which is geared to 1 to 5 passengers. When you put in more than 5 passengers, you get redirected to the group ticketing page. There are group discounts.

With a family of 6, at least for long distance trains like Nuremberg to Erfurt to Berlin, and Berlin to Frankfurt or Mainz (for the Berlin to St Goar trip) you can get a family compartment all to yourselves.

Posted by
2335 posts

Even if they are free, they need to be listed on the ticket as passengers with the ages and the relationship.

That's not the case for so called Laendertickets, e.g. the Bayern Ticket. Assuming you are a family of six, 2 adults and four children (under 14 yo, other wise they will be considered adults), you will buy a ticket for two. There is no need to enter the childeren on the ticket. And if you book online you just book for two adults and enter their names, not the names of the children.

(cf. Laender ticket terms and conditions, §3.4: "Familienkinder nach Nr. 3.1.2 sowie Kinder bis einschließlich 5 Jahren sind nicht einzutragen" - kids belongig to your family and any other kids up to 5yo are not entered in the ticket)

For long-distance tickets, simply fill in the corresponding fields on the DB website and it will show if and how much the children have to pay.

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