Rothenburg ODT to Boppard by train

There are no good saver fares available any more for tomorrow, so I'd buy a »Quer durchs Land« - ticket (€52/2, regional trains only) and take any one of this connections with transfers at Steinach, Würzburg, and Frankfurt/M:

Rothenburg dep. 12:06 - Steinach dep. 12:25 - Würzburg dep. 13:37 - Frankfurt
arr. 15:24 / dep. 16:08 - Boppard arr. 17:52

Rothenburg dep. 14:06 - Steinach dep. 14:25 - Würzburg dep. 15:37 - Frankfurt
arr. 17:24 / dep. 18:08 - Boppard arr. 19:40

Rothenburg dep. 15:06 - Steinach dep. 15:25 - Würzburg dep. 16:37 - Frankfurt
arr. 17:40 / dep. 19:08 - Boppard arr. 20:39

(later connections tend to get poor.)

To find them on the DB web site you have to deselect the »prefer fast connections« option. Please note: you will be shown other connections with the same departure time from Rothenburg but using IC(E)'s for some leg of your trip. I'd avoid them since they are marginally faster but drastically more expensive.

I agree - the Quer durchs Land Ticket (Day Ticket for Germany) is the right ticket. It must be used after 9:00 am and you must use local/regional trains only.

BUT... the previous instructions for finding the local/regional trains-only itineraries for this ticket aren't the best - they leave out some of the options and include high-speed train options you cannot use. So INSTEAD - leave the "prefer fast connections" option checked - and check "only local transport" as well. Then you will see 9:06, 10:06, and other morning departures, and none of the trains that will get you in trouble!

I did see those options but there were more cities/towns listed and it got me confused. I honestly have no earthly idea how all this works.

So... is that ticket something that we would buy on the spot from someone in the station here? Presuming it's staffed, that is. Please don't tell me that I would need to get it from a machine. I couldn't even buy a freaking postage stamp. How's that. Lol. Thank God for helpful people.

The 9:06 has only 3 connections and is almost as fast (5 1/2 hours) as connections using fast trains, which have the same or more connections to make. At almost 1/3 the cost when using the Quer durchs Land ticket (52 EUR for 2 people). Buy it from the station ticket vending machine, or pay 2 EUR more to buy from the ticket window. Write your names on the back of the ticket.

Edit - Doesn't look like Rothenburg o.d.T. is a manned station, but you can buy on-line and get a pdf ticket you can print out. If you are registered on the DB site with an account, you can get your ticket on your mobil phone if you're prepared for that.

So... is that ticket something that we would buy on the spot from someone in the station here?

Yes on the spot but, sorry for you, probably from a ticket automat. The DB station data base doesn't mention any opening hours and, sadly, in that respect it's usually more accurate than the site of the Bavarian Railway Authority, which thinks there should be a ticket window open from 10:00 to 18:00 (which was probably true back in 1898).

So, I'd suggest that you ask your hotel to print out the QDL for you (or do you have the DB Navigator app on your cellphone? It can be used for buying tickets too).

Good luck!

@sla019....
Is this something the TI can/would do?

Buying a QDL/Day Ticket for Germany at the Rothenburg station ticket machine shouldn't be a frightening experience. The machines speak English as long as you select the English option. Just go there a little early and play with the machine for a few minutes if needed so you can see how it works.

Are you at a hotel with computer/printer at the front desk? If so, forward the email from DB, or attach the pdf to an email and send it to the hotel and they can print the ticket for you.

Lol. Not necessarily frightening, but definitely confusing as heck. Ugh. My least favorite thing of an incredibly great trip!

Here's a photo of the screen - start by clicking the British Union Jack at the bottom:

http://www.germantravel-info.com/graphics/opening_screen.jpg