I will be in Germany traveling by train to a few destinations. I downloaded the DB Bahn app to purchase tickets. I recall a prior time in Germany many years ago where I had to stamp in my ticket before boarding the train. With the app, I am assuming my ticket will be in my phone. How does that affect the stamping in? What do I need to show when I am on the train? Passport and mobile ticket?
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
Only certain city and regional transit networks require you to self-validate a ticket. On any train run by Deutsche Bahn, the conductor will validate your ticket (whether paper or on a smart phone) by scanning it.
Posted by
OP
Dallas, TX, USA
51 posts
Thank you!
Another question: if I purchase a mobile ticket and miss that time, can I use the same mobile ticket to catch the next train?
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
"...if I purchase a mobile ticket and miss that time..."
If you buy a saver (Sparpreis) fare you are obligated to use the long-distance trains for which you are scheduled. You can't just jump on a later train with that ticket.
If you pay full-price (Flex-price) fare, you can use later trains on that same route. Route deviations are not permitted. Because some trips to the same destination have different routings, you should check the route before boarding to make sure you're on the route you originally scheduled.
Posted by
OP
Dallas, TX, USA
51 posts
Aha. Makes sense. Thank you.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
If you're going to purchase full-fare tickets anyway, just buy them when you arrive at the station and catch the next train. When paying full price, there's no advantage with advanced purchase.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19275 posts
The tickets that are required to be stamped (Entwertet) are tickets for local transit authorities (Verkehrverbünde), and these tickets are not sold online by the Bahn (at least not on the full website), so there shouldn't be a problem with "stamping" mobile tickets.
The only advantage to mobile tickets is having the "ticket" in hand when you get to the station and not having to take time to purchase the ticket, and possibly missing your connection.