Train from Berlin to Rothenburg; car rental in Koblenz

Posted by Laurie (Kyle, TX, USA) on 05/23/10 07:56 PM

Well, after reviewing our trip itinerary, we've canceled the rental car and are taking the train from Berlin to Rothenburg ob der Tauber and on to Koblenz two days later. I see a Spar-Preiss fare of 209euros (for the 5 of us) to Ansbach and then I think we can hop on a train to Rothenburg. It's on a Saturday but the Schones-Wochenende route takes 9 hours, and this is quite a bit shorter. Do these fares go up? Should we buy them now?

Also does anyone know which train station in Koblenz is closest to the SIXT car rental location on Friedrich-Mohr Strasse? Thanks for your help.

Posted by Lee

Lakewood, Colorado

05/24/10 07:21 AM

19274 posts

1) Yes, the Sparpreis fares are tiered, and the lowest priced fares sell out leaving only more expensive fares. In this case, the Sparpreis fare probably started at €109 for all five (?) of you, but what you see now is what's left. You'd better get it while you can.

2) That fare should also be available all the way to Rothenburg, since it's only regional trains from Ansbach to Rothenburg and regional trains to and from the express trains are just kind of "thrown in", and not part of the price "tiering".

3) Is everyone in you party over 14?

Posted by Laurie OP

Kyle, TX, USA

05/24/10 07:58 AM

92 posts

It is the same price to Rothenburg, but the routing takes 9 hours, whereas it seems to be only 5 hours to Ansbach and then there are hourly trains to Rothenburg which are only 38". Maybe I'm reading it wrong?

Posted by Lee

Lakewood, Colorado

05/24/10 08:46 AM

19274 posts

I just found a connection for Su, 7/25 (5h56m). Leave Berlin Hbf at 7:52, Arr Ansbach 13:06, Lv Ansbach 13:10 (cross platform change), Arr Rothenburg odT Bhf 13:48. Lowest fare for 5 adults still available for this date and train was €259.

If you'll PM me with your date and time, I check for you.

Update: I don't believe it. When I make that Berlin to Ansbach I get €209! I didn't think the regional trains made a difference on the price tiering, but apparenly they do. In this case, then, you're better off using a €28 Bayern-Ticket for Ansbach to Rothenburg. Actually, a VGN (Verkehrsverbund Greater Nuernberg) TagesTicket Plus would cover all 5 of you from Nürnberg to Rothenburg via regional trains, but but only if three are under 18. You'd have to take time in Nürnberg to buy it. You could buy the Bayern-Ticket from a red DB automat in Berlin.

When you go to purchase the online ticket, remember, the part from Nürnberg to Ansbach is via Regional Express (RE, a regional train), so a Bayern-Ticket would cover the same travel from Nürnberg (just in case there is a price difference between the Sparpreis from Berlin to Nürnberg or Ansbach).