Will be going to Germany in December and would like to know if anyone has experience using the German railway system. Will arrive Frankfurt and plan to go to Wiesbaden, Nuremberg, and Heidelberg. Should I get my tickets at airport on arrival or at each city?

You should have no problem getting tickets at each individual train station. The people are very helpful and there will be several lines that say 'English spoken.'

Cheryl, You might want to try the DeutschBahn page to calculate the point-to-point cost of your trip then go to Rick Steves to find the cost of a German Flexi-pass. We've found the Flexi-pass to be cheaper and more convenient, in most cases. The Deutsch Bahn site is http://bahn.hafas.de.

Sounds like fun Cheryl. Richard and Katie both have good advice. I have purchased tickets in Frankfurt at the train station and it worked well. The sight Richard mentioned is great, you can actually print timetables and destinations out to take along. I have also reserved tickets by fax (this gets a little confusing) but I don't think you will need to.

Train travel was very easy this past summer in Germany, so hopefully not much has changed. The only red flag that I saw in an earlier post talks about the "English Spoken" lines at the individuals train stations. I did see these signs, but 4 out of 5 of the people inside the booths at the stations I went to spoke very poor English. I am in no way, knocking the culture or people of Germany.., most were very helpful. I just think it might be a good idea to know some key phrases for train travel. <BR> <BR>Have fun!

The stations you mentioned should have enough people to help you. All Germans I had to deal with spoke VERY GOOD English. In smaller towns, however, there seemed to be no one readily available (German or Enlish) and would have to use the ticket vending machine. The ones I have seen had dauting array of buttons and the instructions were only in German. We had a rail pass so we did not have to worry about punching the right buttons. The trains schedules are "coordinated" so train changes tended to be quite rushed, especially when the train arrives late, which was quite often. While the http://bahn.hafas.de site gives track numbers, there can be temporary changes due to constructions, so need to consult the yellow departure sheet on the platform to make sure which is your next track. These sheets sometimes have yet another amendament sheet next to it which you must consult to get the up to date info. Of course, the ticket areas at the large stations have digital display showing the correct info, but you do not always have time to go back to the ticket counter area to change the train. Some platforms have digital display allowing you to verify your next train, but in smaller stations, you have to listen to German only arrival info. <BR> <BR>After while, we have learned to ask the on board ticket checker about the next train. They ALWAYS check the tickets (except if you happened to be on for just one station.) so we always had a chance to talk to someone on train.

Good suggestion already to check on the railpass... <BR>If you do go with point to point tickets and your schedule is set, you could purchase all of your tickets at the first train station.

Cheryl: I am a big fan of the German rail system. Unless your schedule has you short on time (or if you are traveling during a holiday or major event), just plan on purchasing tickets as you go. At major stations you can charge the tickets. Learn a little German just in case and be aware of the German names/spellings for the cities! Smaller stations may not have anyone there that you can work with. Never fear, they have vending machines. We were able to practice punching up routes before buying. However, my understanding (from my own mistake) is that vending machine tickets are only good on the day purchased. Also, you can typically purchase tickets on board the trains themselves. <BR>

As mentioned above, you can buy tickets on the (major) trains with the conductor - and you can also pay with a credit card. It's a little more expensive though. <BR>If you have a set route, then I see no problem in buying all your tickets at once at the airport. They are usually valid for a month or so. <BR>Cheers! <BR>

We're gonna be traveling by train for the first time in Germany the end of December also. Good Luck!!

Fodors <BR> <BR>I join the chorus of admirers of German Rail. A few details. The only non-German city name you've used so far is Nuremberg, which is Nurnberg in German(with two dots on the "u") . Ticket sales offices at Frankfurt Airport railway stations, Frankfurt main station, Weisbaden, Nurnberg and Heidelberg are all likely to have English speakers, and all take credit cards. I suggest you book second class, and take to booking first class only if you find any reason to do so: I know none. When you leave Frankfurt airport you want the railway station for local services towards Frankfurt or towards Weisbaden, under the airport building. Trains there run every twenty or thirty minutes to either city. <BR> <BR>You can take that same local train from Weisbaden to Mainz, and then any restaurant car express at 45 minutes past each hour that reaches Nurnberg in 2 hours 37 minutes. <BR> <BR>Restaurant car expresses back leave Nurnberg at 37 minutes past each hour and take 2 hours 4 minutes to Frankfurt. There you change, leave at 54 minutes past each hour by restaurant car express, and take 50 minutes to Heidelberg. Total journey 3 hours. <BR> <BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome to Europe. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

For the Wiesbaden-Heidelberg route, you can make this trip with up to 4 others on weekdays after 9 a.m. with the "Rheinland-Pfalz" Ticket, a one-day pass for travel on local (RE, RB, S designations) trains that costs $14 total. Travel through Mainz and Mannheim to get to Heidelberg along the west side of the Rhine to take advantage of this deal. <BR> <BR>Also, travel on these same trains anywhere in the country on Sat or Sun at any hour on the "Schoenes Wochenende" Ticket, another one-day pass for up to 5 travelling together, for about $16. <BR> <BR>Be sure to ask the DB information desk for a printed itinerary that includes train changes, and tell them what pass you're using so they don't put you on a train that you'd have to pay extra for. <BR> <BR>You can buy 2nd class point-to-point tickets that are reasonably priced if you are travelling where/when these deals aren't available. <BR> <BR>I can't imagine needing a flexipass for the very limited distances you'll be travelling in Germany, especially with the passes that are available there.

Thanks everyone! You gave me courage and a lot of useful tips. Will relay my experience when I get back!