My husband, FIL and I are taking the train between the two cities in about 2 weeks and I had a few questions I was hoping someone would be able to help me with: 1) we've purchased the tickets on DB's website and made reservations for the seats with table. I believe I remember seeing tags on top of the seats with peoples names before but I'm not sure. Is that what we look for to find our seats? 2) how do we know which car to get into? We do not change trains on the way to Munich but will have to change trains in Nuremburg on the way back. 3) is the Nuremburg station very large? It appears we are arriving on track 6 and then departing for Berlin on track 4. Since we only have 9 minutes between trains I'm wondering if we will have a long way to go between the tracks. We've been in the Munich HBF many times so if its the same size then I know we won't have any problems. 4) I know you can bring food and soda/water on the train for consumption but can you bring beer/wine on there to drink also? 5) I remember reading in the details of each train that at least one had a "bordrestaurant" on it. Is this a seperate dining car? If so what type of food do they serve and is it typically towards the front or back of the train? I know one of the others had a bistro type listed.
6) does each train car have an area at one end where we could place our larger suitcase? We'll have two carry on size that we can put in the rack over head but I think I remember that being to small to put a larger suitcase on. We'll lock the larger suitcase and not have any valuables in it anyway just in case someone wants to walk off with it. Any tips for this type of travel will be greatly appreciated as well. We are really looking forward to this train ride. Karen
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
1. On the printed ticket to the right of the train number if I remember correctly shows the wagon (train car) number and seat number. Last December when we were on Germany trains I didn't seeing any overhead tags. BE SURE to bring the credit card that you used to make the reservation. 2. Same as one. Shows wagon and seat for each leg. 3. It is pretty good size but smaller than Munich. Generally the tracks are in numbered order. 4. We have taken wine and seen others with beer so assume that is not a problem. 5. We didn't use the dinning car but believe it is near the middle between 1st and 2nd class. Generally on the platform there is a sign showing the train make up with the car numbers and location of dinning car. A bistro type will be stand up bar with limited selection. The food is OK but we generally bring our own. 6. Always have luggage storage near one of the entrances to the car, sometimes both. Big storage bins. Probability of someone walking off is low but if it is a concerned use a cable lock to secure the bag to something solid or another bag.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, GA
380 posts
Frank, Thank you for the information. I know it was a long set of questions but I greatly appreciate it. Our ticket has the following to the right of our train number: "3 Sitzplatze, Wg. 22, Pl. 61 62 63, 2 Fenster, 1 Gang, Tisch, Nichtraucher"
Am I correct that its wagon 22, seats 61-63?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
You're in car 22, seat numbers 61, 62, and 63. 2 are by the window ( Fenster), one on the aisle ( Gang). There is a table ( Tisch) and it's a non-smoking car (they all are today). There should be a placard with the coach number on the window by the door. You can also find it on the train "makeup" chart on the board on the platform. You will see where on the platform it's going to stop by the letters over the train on the board and over the track. Every ICE/IC I've been on has had the seat numbers on the edge of the overhead luggage rack with a light to say if the seat is reserved. Nürnberg Hbf is about the size (21 tracks) of Munich Hbf (16 stub tracks in the main shed), except that it's a "thru' station (no end platform). Tracks 4 and 6 will be about as far apart (one platform change) as in Munich, but you'll have to use a tunnel to change platforms. The middle tunnel is almost under the 'D', on the 'C' side. I've only gone to the "Bordrestaurant" car once. There was a snackbar counter on the end I entered from 2nd class. I don't know if there were tables on the 1st class end. All I got was a glass of bier (not the ½L size) for €2,70. Once, at Christmas, I was on an ICE that was SRO. Every other ICE/IC (4) I've been on had enough empty seats that I could put my carryon bag on the seat next to me.
Posted by
Berlin, Germany
337 posts
1) The tags at the seat numbers show the part of the trains journey the seats are reserved. So if someone without reservation sees e.g. " Frankfurt a.M. - München" and they leave the train in or before Frankfurt they can use these seats. To find the seat you've reserved you have to look at the seat number, i.e. in your case seats #61, #62, and #63. 4) Yes, of course. 5) In a Bordrestaurant (in contrast to the more austere Bordbistro) there is some variety of warm meals, and there are tables where you can sit down to eat. Details vary, depending on the exact model and age of the dining car.
The fare itself is industrial catering much like the food on air line flights: prepared meals heated for you. But you have to pay relatively high prices for that "privilege." I just go there for hot beverages or at most a soup (something relatively inexpensive which still tastes decent after getting "nuked") if I really, really want a warm meal now. Bringing your own provisions is much more economical, and in a lot of cases better tasting. The dining car is between the first and the second class cars.
Posted by
OP
Atlanta, GA
380 posts
Thank you everyone! Karen