Trains in Germany

The German railways are run by Deutsche Bahn. You can check train times on the Interrail train timetable or on the DB website.

Regional and intercity trains in Germany

S-Bahn

• Suburban trains that run within most major cities.

• No reservations required.

Regional Express (RE)

• Connections between regional towns and larger cities. Frequent stops.

• No reservations required.

Regional Bahn (RB)

• Connections across all local towns. Slower than Regional Express trains.

• No reservations required.

InterRegional (IR)

• Connections between Germany’s regions.

• No reservations required.

InterCity (IC)

• Domestic and international connections between major cities. Frequent stops.

• No reservations required.

Domestic high-speed trains in Germany

InterCity Express (ICE)

• Connects major cities and travels at speeds of up to 320 km/h (200 mph).

• Includes an on-board restaurant.

• 1^st class may have extra benefits, like newspapers and power sockets.

• Reservations optional (but recommended during busy periods).

International high-speed trains in Germany

ICE

• Connects Frankfurt to Paris (France).

• Reservations are compulsory for this route.

RailJet

• Connects Munich to Vienna, Salzburg (Austria) and Budapest (Hungary).

• Reservations are mostly optional, and compulsory when travelling to Hungary.

TGV

• Connects Munich to Paris (France).

• Reservations are compulsory.

Thalys

• Connects Cologne to Paris (France) and Brussels (Belgium).

• Reservations are compulsory.

Domestic night trains in Germany

ÖBB Nightjet (EN)

• Connects Berlin – Hamburg - Munich and Cologne - Frankfurt - Munich by night.

International night trains in Germany

Scenic train routes in Germany

Black Forest Line

• Offenburg to Konstanz, through the Black Forest and small villages.

Rhine Valley Line

• Koblenz to Mainz, through the German wine country.

Private railway companies in Germany

Your Interrail Pass can also be used on a several private railway companies in Germany.

Which trains in Germany require reservations?

• No reservations: Regional (RE, RB, IR).

• Optional (but recommended during busy periods): InterCity (IC) / ICE / EuroCity (EC).

• Required: All night trains.

Do you plan on booking international trains? Your Interrail Pass needs to be valid in each country that the train goes through. Exceptions are routes from Germany to the train stations of Basel (Switzerland) and Salzburg (Austria) - an Interrail Pass valid in Germany will cover these trips.

The ICE Paris-Frankfurt train has a limited amount of seats for Interrail Pass Holders. Our advice is to book this train well in advance, especially if you plan to travel in high season (May to September).

How can I make reservations for high-speed and night trains in Germany?

• Online through the Reservation Service.

• Online via the Rail Planner App.

• In person at ticket desks or self-service machines in German railway stations.

• By phone through the Deutsche Bahn call center.

What can I expect when calling Deutsche Bahn?

1. Call Deutsche Bahn on +49 1806 996 633 (available 24/7).

2. You'll hear a menu in German.

3. Choose extension "9" for an English menu.

4. Select "1" for bookings and train details.

5. The booking center can deliver your reservations to any country, without charging you a booking fee. The delivery cost is €3.50.

6. You can also pick up your reservations at larger German train stations. Just take the order number you received on the phone to a ticket window or a self-service machine in the station.

For more information about reservations in Germany:

• How to make reservations

• View reservation fees in Germany