Hi All,
I am back with another Germany train question. I want to travel from Olbernhau-Grunthal to Munchen on Wednesday December 21. Since the schedules are not yet open, I searched on Wednesday December 7, and found these options for 3 people traveling.

Olbernhau-Grünthal 10:38 6:00 3 RB, RE, RE, ICE 67,00 EUR  
282,00 EUR
München Hbf 16:38

Olbernhau-Grünthal 10:38 6:38 2 RB, RE, ALX 60,00 EUR  
220,20 EUR
München Hbf 17:16

Do I understand correctly that I can either book the journey including an ICE train in advance for E67 and be commited to that exact schedule, OR buy the Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket for a weekday, leave anytime after 9am on any local transport for E60.

Are the Quer-durchs-Land-Tickets limited, or may they be bought at the station as you leave?
Do you need to specify the date to be used when purchased, or can a I just buy a ticket and then use any day? I see on the DB webiste that they may be bought in advance, but I am not sure if you need to specify the day to be used at the time of purchase.

Thanks again for your information and expertise!

yes, these are your options. QDL tickets are unlimited and can be bought either at the spot, from ticket machines, or online. you are not bound to the trains shown in your connection and can use any regional train (any that is not a ICE / IC / EC).

Check www.seat61.com for answers to those questions - for general info also www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com. And if your post sinks into Fodor's Black Hole top it until some Fodorite experts on these things see it.

I think you can buy the ticket the day of travel and no reason to buy in advance but let the experts chime in and you'll probably find your answer at the Seat 61 web site.

addendum: you buy the QDL ticket for a specific date.

sla019 is absolutely correct. No need to check these other websites.

You can buy the QDL-Ticket from the ticket machine at stop Olbernhau-Grünthal (it's really just a stop, not a station, but should have a machine - if not, you can buy from the conductor in the train.) Just make sure you fill in your name before departure.

<i> Germany Train Question
Posted by: rebeccaastone on Oct 2, 16 at 3:02pm</i>

The D-Bahn site says "Sparpreis: Specific train(s) i.e. your ticket is only valid on the train(s) specified on your ticket. Can be used in conjunction with BahnCard 25. Exchange/refund up to 1 day before the 1st day of validity for EUR 17.50, not possible after that."

The Quer-durchs-Land Ticket is valid on regional trains only. It looks like a walk-up price. Buy it anytime.

For an illustrated introduction to trains in Europe see http://www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/rail.htm

Thanks again!

You do not need to waste time researching this issue on other websites.

Your two journey choices are so close in terms of total travel time that I would go with the cheaper one that you can buy at the station - the Quer durchs Land ticket.

Why pre-purchase a saver fare ticket? You'll have to pay a penalty if you have to or want to change your travel plans and want a refund. On top of that, the QDL option means only 3 trains instead of 4. Ticket machines at the station offer an English language option.

By the way, the above prices are for 3 ADULTS. If you have kids you'll pay less.

Thanks Fussgaenger, my thoughts exactly. My kids are 16 and 19, so they pay adult fares.

Does the QDL ticket also come in first class - it may and may not be much extra - I would advise it if not much more because regional trains can get very crowded at times IME while first class on those trains remains fairly empty - for three folks finding seats together much better - and easier stowing luggage. Not all regional trains may have first class however so check www.bahn.de/en to see.

No, Pal, not a good idea.

The train Olbernhau - Flöha will be almost empty. The Flöha - Hof leg is served by Abellio since recently, with excellent modern trains that have lots of seats and space, but only very few first class seats. They will board the ALX Hof - Munich right where it starts, meaning that there will still be enough seats/room for them. From my experience it only gets crowded (if at all) closer to Munich.

Yes Ingo - for those trains - I was speaking in generalities and anyway it seems the QDL ticket does not come in first class or at least I could not find it on www.bahn.de.

> Does the QDL ticket also come in first class - it may and may not be much extra - I would advise it if not much more because regional trains can get very crowded at times IME

No, unlike some Laender tickets the QDL ticket is for 2nd class only. Which will be certainly not a problem for the Olbernhau - Munich trip. The two trains in Saxony will be probably almost empty, and even on the ALEX when boarding in Hof you can expect often a car of your own. Well, at least a compartment of your own - ALEX trains consist of refurbished D-train cars with those plushy six-people-compartments that were standard on D-trains back in the 80ties. The train will fill up from Regensburg only, but if you decorate your compartment with your luggage and display an apotropaic face against any would be intruder you will defend it easily till your final destination.

BTW, the price of the QDL ticket for 4 adults is E 68.

QDL tickets are great when there are pretty much only regional trains to take but if traveling long distances in most places in Germany using the regional trains only could mean a trip hours longer and with multiple changes - www.bahn.de/en has fares from 29 euro for long-distance fast trains so if you book really early it may not be all that much more than the QDL - but it depends on what kinds of trains are available. In this case mainly regional trains so QDL is great but for others pondering long trips in Germany by train check out what trains are available.