train help in Germany
 

Hey Guys!
I have my german rail pass now its a 5 day pass.

I have been to Europe alot but really have never done the train except for a one way trip and there was no train changes envolved and that was about 15 years ago.I usually just drive.

Back to my question whne you find your train platform how do you know if you have to change trains and where to change?
Any help would be appreciated.

Thank YOU!!

Itineraries with changes of train can be found here:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

In Germany, DB ticket machines can give you the same information and will print it out for you; there's an English option to make it easy.

For an intro to riding the trains in Europe see http://tinyurl.com/eym5b. For scheduling information you can use the German rail site at http://tinyurl.com/c9jp54. Once in Germany ask at the information booths which are prominent in the halls of major stations. When on the train ask the conductor. If you want to do it yourself get a recent copy of the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable.

For track info, the following is the order of up-to-date track info I use:

1. Digital displays at platform/waiting area. You need to know the train # or the final destination and scheduled departure time. This is not an option at small stations. You need to know the track (Gleis). Platform can have several tracks. You wait train at the right track and Sektor (mark) if you have a seat reservation and need to hop on a particular car. Some trains are SO LONG you don't have time to find your car after the train pulls into the station. In this case, hop onto any car and make you wait to your car. This is not recommended with luggage.
2. PA telling you any changes to schedule and the track #. You must understand German.
3. Yellow departure schedule sheets posted at platform and all over the station. These are the defaults, so the actual time and the track can change at the last minutes.

You may want to read some tips on train travel that I wrote on my Germany page over on Virtualtourist, together with some photos: http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/f86bd/b/9/

Hope this helps!

This information will be on your ticket. Just like Russ said - you can print it out in english. Very easy and clear. And if for some reason it isn't clear, you can ask. People working in train stations in Germany are very helpful.

Thank you all for your help.

book marking