Please sign in to post.

Understanding the D-Ticket

Posted by (Overland Park, KS) on

With all of the recommendations for the Bahn, I've been working on researching routes, times, costs, etc. and have a few questions. If we purchase a D-Ticket, I understand that it is good for all regional trains and buses...correct? So a train that starts with RE or S or maybe SWE (or is that a French train?) is included? Then if we have the D-Ticket, do we just get on whatever of those trains works for our schedule...no additional ticket needed...just decide on the time that we want to go and get on and we would just show that ticket when they check for tickets and we're good to go?

Another question...If our route has some IC or ICE train combined with a regional train do we purchase the IC/ICE portion of the route and use the D-Ticket for the regional train portion? Is this a risky venture to not purchase it to include the entire route or is it the right thing to do?

Posted by
20937 posts

SWE trains are regional trains. They operate in the Baden-Wuertemberg. The D-ticket also works on local buses, trams, U-Bahns.

Yes, if a route includes IC or ICE trains, you just book those separately. Nothing risky about it

Posted by
2844 posts

If we purchase a D-Ticket, I understand that it is good for all regional trains and buses...correct?

Yes, also subways and trams. RE trains and RB tirains. You just use all of this without additional efforts - ensure you have the original of an ID document with you.

If our route has some IC or ICE train combined with a regional train do we purchase the IC/ICE portion of the route and use the D-Ticket for the regional train portion?

You just book the IC / ICE / EC leg of it and use the D ticket for regional trains.

Be aware to cancel D ticket on time to avoid automatic prolongation.

More details on D ticket: https://int.bahn.de/en/offers/regional/deutschland-ticket

Posted by
19232 posts

If our route has some IC or ICE train combined with a regional train do we purchase the IC/ICE portion
of the route and use the D-Ticket for the regional train portion?

You just book the IC / ICE / EC leg of it and use the D ticket for regional trains.

It's a little more complicated than that. It depends on whether you have a Sparpreis ticket for the long distance train (IC/EC/ICE) and whether the regional train comes after or before the long distance train. Sparpreis tickets are train specific for the long distance train. If you miss the long distance train due to your fault, the ticket is not good on any following train.

If you book both the regional train and the long distance train on the same Sparpreis ticket (and don't use your D-Ticket), the ticket will probably cost more, but if the regional train is late getting you to the long distance train, the Bahn will accept responsibility for your missing the long distance train and put you on the next available long distance train, gratis. (I inadvertently tested this in 2008.)

But if you ticketed the regional train separately with your D-Ticket, I don't think you will have that protection. I don't think the Bahn will consider your missing a connection from a regional train that you ticketed separately as any different than getting caught in traffic getting to the station.

However, it the regional train is after the long distance train, you can use the D-Ticket on any regional train, so missing the connection doesn't matter.

Posted by
6923 posts

I think Lee has made a good case for a) Sparpreis (saver fare) for the entire journey vs. b) Sparpreis IC/ICE only + D-ticket for regional connecting trains.

An additional point: the regional connecting trains, when included on a Sparpreis ticket, often cost very little or nothing.
Example...

Tu Dec. 3... Heidelberg > Haslach (on the Black Forest Railway)... 8:13 - 9:33, using 3 trains. Flexpreis ticket = €47.30 ea.; Current Sparpreis offer = €21.99 ea.

Individual train segments:

  • 1) S-Bahn, 8:13 - 8:29 for H'berg > Mannheim
  • 2) ICE, 8:35 - 9:33 for Mannheim > Offenburg
  • 3) SWE, 9:41 - 10:01 for Offenburg > Haslach

Pricing:

2) ONLY = €14.99 ea. (and use the D-Ticket for the 2 regional trains)
1) +2) = €21.99 ea. (which insures your use of any ICE train to Offenburg in case of delay; use D-Ticket for last segment)
1) + 2) + 3) = €21.99 ea. (same insurance; no charge at all for the 3rd regional train segment, normally priced at €3.40)

I would additionally point out that it's worth checking journeys like this using Regional trains only and the D-TICKET ONLY.

  • Heidelberg 8:18 > Karlsruhe 9:00
  • Karlsruhe 9:07 > Haslach 10:14

The additional cost for this journey is €0.00 with the D-Ticket in hand (vs. €30 - €42 for 2 adults with the ICE included.) You will have to spend only a few minutes longer to reach your destination. And you have only ONE change of train. You risk ZERO € loss if you are unable to travel as planned. And your trip will be entirely time-flexible (use any regional trains for the same trip at any time.) And you have ZERO additional tickets to purchase.

Posted by
558 posts

On https://int.bahn.de/en/ there is a Mode of Travel drop-down. Select Local. That's the D-Ticket. You'll see its trains, S & U Bahns, and busses.

If you want to take a route with both ICE and local, purchase just the ICE ticket needed. The D-Ticket will cover the rest.

Three trips to Germany so far using the D-Ticket. Works great.

Add Reply

Please do not reply to violations of our Community Guidelines.