Does anyone know if I can buy a ticket at the airport for the train to Freiburg? Do they fill quickly? Do I need an advance reservation? I hate to do that, in case my flight gets delayed. I don't speak the language and am panic stricken about what to do! Any information will be greatly appreciated!
Posted by
Greeley, co, usa
2549 posts
You can buy the ticket at the train station. They speak English at the ticket office. You pay more when you buy last minute, but only you can decide if it worth the gamble to do an advance purchase. I gambled and lost when I tried it as my flight was several hours late. You might check if your airline does the Fly & Rail program
Posted by
Green Bay
20977 posts
No worries. The agents at the airport ticket office generally speak English. There is at least one ICE train connection every hour that will get you there in a little over 2 hours. Price is 69 EUR at the ticket office. There are also some train connections using IC or EC trains that take about 2 1/2 hours for 58 EUR.
Follow the signs and/or the "train" icon to the Fernbahnhof (long distance train station). Schedule and prices at https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml
It would be unusual that a given train would be full, and regardless you can stand until a seat opens up. You can also buy a seat reservation for an additional 4.50 EUR when you buy your ticket.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Thank you! My worry is that the train will be full.
Very nervous. wish I would have gotten those blood pressure pills!
Once we get to Freiburg, we are to contact our Cousin in Endingen to pick us up, or take a taxi the 10 miles (which may be expensive, but should get us there.) Once there, he plans to take us all over.
Posted by
Bavaria
2457 posts
My worry is that the train will be full.
Don't worry. That might be the case as far as Mannheim (30 min.), but then the lines splits into the Stutttgart and Basel one, and trains toward Switzerland are never that full. However, as said above, for the ease of mind just reserve a seat for €4.50 each.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Can I book a seat reservation if I am buying a ticket for a train leaving within the hour?
Also, are there bathrooms on the trains?
Posted by
Green Bay
20977 posts
Yes, if there are seats available, you can buy them with your ticket. And yes, each carriage has a toilet & sink.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Can I book a seat reservation if I am buying a ticket for a train leaving within the hour?
Yes. But if the train has already left its starting point (for example Cologne or Amsterdam) it may not show on the indicators on the train. Don't stress about getting an reservation, most of the passengers on the train will not have one.
Also, are there bathrooms on the trains?
No, I have never seen a bathroom on a train. Some luxury sleeping trains have very small showers in the most expensive rooms, but that doesn't apply in this case. But all trains except for metro/underground trains in cities have toilets.
Not speaking the language is not a reason to panic. Signposting at Frankfurt airport will be in German and English. Travelling around a country where you don't speak the language is what people do every day in Europe. I got asked for directions in French yesterday - panic. You aren't expected to speak German, so long as you don't expect Germans to speak English, that would be rude. Don't be afraid to ask "Do you speak English?". Even if you get a "no", they may point you at somebody who does.
Posted by
Green Bay
20977 posts
No, I have never seen a bathroom on a train.
OK, "Bathroom", American euphemism for the little room with the toilet and wash basin. Nobody is actually thinking of taking a bath on the train. But that would be quite an experience when the train stops and starts at the station.
Posted by
OP
8 posts
Yes, sorry about that! I should have remembered from Italy: a banyo had a toilet with a stool, a toilette was a hole in the floor.