Travel Review: Deutsche Bahn ICE

2009-08-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

I travel quite a lot for work usually via some airline or other but occasionally the train makes more sense. Indeed living in Germany means that I do have access to one of the worlds most comprehensive train networks, so it would be a shame not to waste the chance. For those of you visiting Germany I can recommend the ICE services which operate between most major cities.

Deutsche Bahn (DB) have been operating ICE (Intercity City Express services) for some time, which means that not all the trains are as new as the adverts claim on their website. However in general all ICE trains are fast comfortable and fairly modern, and the really new ones are a pleasure to travel in. If you are new to Germany then it's a good idea to be aware that IC or EC are not the same class of train as ICE!

In general all staff on DB ICE trains are friendly and helpful, indeed they can also often speak pretty ok to sometimes perfect English, which is helpful when problems strike. Although do be aware that any English announcements on the train may not always be as detailed as the German version. However you should not expect the conductors to speak perfect English - after all this is Germany and I doubt ANY conductors on UK trains would ever speak a foreign language!

Standard class on ICE is usually comfortable and the wagons are nicely air conditioned. The trains also often come with power points for laptops etc - although this may not be the case on older trains. There are different types of seating available from the normal rows and table seats to small rooms which sit groups of people. In general through the seating is confortable and space is ample throughout. Rather like the style you find on the trains of the past. Most trains also have a buffet car and a cart based tea and coffee service. Prices are like most rail companies in Europe, i.e. not cheap but are in general ok.

First class is especially good, especially on the newer trains. You get a free coffee and rather than being 4 seats per row across there are only three which makes them much more spacious. Prices are roughly double that of a standard class fare, although you can often find a bargain which means the price can be almost the same. If you get offered one of these cheap tickets take it! The first class service is genuine a pleasure especially as you fly through some of the stunning German countryside.

German trains are NOT cheap, indeed if you travel on normal priced tickets they are often comparable to or worse than similar services in the UK. However if you shop around there are some excellent bargains which can mean you can travel from €19 one-way. These often include tickets which let you travel to countries such as Belgium or Holland - however you must book well in advance and the tickets are for specific trains only. Also if you are prepared to travel on normal regional trains and not the ICE you can get so-called Lander (or regional tickets) from around €25 for five people.

Things to look out for are the seating options, for example do you want a silent carriage or one which allows talking on your mobile? It's worth taking a look at these. Also do you want to reserve a seat? I would usually recommend doing this as on the main routes between airports and cities as seats can quickly fill up - especially in the couple of hours surrounding rush hour. What's more it costs only an additional €2 each way if booked at the same time as your ticket..

In general ICE trains are on time, but punctuality across the German rail network is far from perfect so I would always budget for a 15 minute delay. In general through the ICE trains are a pleasure to travel on from a comfort and facilities perspective.

Routes I have tried:
- Siegburg/Bonn - Frankfurt
- Koln - Amsterdam
- Siegburg/Bonn - Dusseldorf
- Siegburg/Bonn - Brussels
- Siegburg/Bonn - Basel

website: www.bahn.de

The Pinkerton Files

Travel Review: Deutsche Bahn ICE