Hello, We've never been to germany, so having trouble figuring out the rail system. I purchased an online ticket in combination with our germanwings flight that can be used on any of 3 days. We arrive in Frankfurt on Day 1 and fly out of Stuttgart on Day 3. We have now decided to stay in Strasbourg (wasn't original plans).
Can I use my ticket (which reads Frankfurt Flugh - Stuttgart Flugh) to travel by ICE from Frankfurt to Mannhein on day 1 and then Mannheim to Stuttgart on day 3? Or if only 1 time use, can I use it starting in Mannheim? If not, we will probably end up renting a car as there are 4 of us, so additional rail passes cost more than car rental. Any advice is most welcome!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
The first part of this question sound like something you should be asking Germanwings. "so additional rail passes cost more than car rental." If by additional rail passes you mean Eurail passes, of course, because those aren't issued for just one day. However, you have a couple of alternatives for Mannheim to Stuttgart, one of which is less than the cost of a car for a day, and the other is probably less. First, you can buy an all day pass from Baden-Württemberg, called a Baden-Württemberg-Ticket, for €33, for 4 of you. That is an on/off ticket valid on all regional trains in BW for the entire day (after 9 AM workdays). It's always available for that price at a ticket automat in the Bahnhof right up to the time of travel. If you buy it at a ticket counter, it's €2 more. You can make regional connections in about 2 hours with one change of trains. If you purchase online from the Bahn far enough ahead, you can get a Savings Price tickets for €19 for the first adult; €10 more for each additional adult. Children under 15 are free with a parent. With this ticket you can use a highspeed ICE, which goes direct from Mannheim to Stuttgart in about half an hour.
Posted by
OP
Napa, CA, US
2 posts
Hi Lee, Thanks for the help. One other question. Do you know if an online ticket that reads Frankfurt to Stuttgart on an ICE train can be picked up in Mannheim (looks like some of the ICE trains stop there)? I think I read on a blog that it has to validated at the starting point on ticket, so maybe not.
Thanks!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Normally, when I purchase an online ticket from the Bahn, I have them send the ticket as a PDF file that I can print out. Validation is never required (like it is with a rail pass); you just show the conductor the ticket along with the required ID (the credit card you used for the purchase). I understand that you can pick up prepurchased tickets from Bahn ticket machines, but I think they would just be like a regular ticket. Those don't require validation. As long as the ticket includes the route Mannheim to Stuttgart, it should be usable. I would try to verify that for you but, even though I'm in Germany right now, the small station doesn't have a manned counter and I am headed for the Czech Republic.