Trains in Germany

[1stReal6String]

We'll be in Germany this summer with kids under 10, and planning to visit a city that will involve a train journey of a couple of hours.

It's been years since I've used the trains abroad, so am a bit apprehensive about booking tickets because I'm not familiar enough with the system to know how to avoid the most expensive tickets or any other pitfalls. I seem to vaguely remember being careful about ICE trains as they don't all accept certain tickets, and I don't want to get it wrong with something like that with the kids in tow.

Any advice on whether to book in advance or wait until nearer the time/on the day? Any advice gratefully received!

The Deutsche bahn app is good, works in English perfectly well. Also machines in railway stations will also go into English - if you put your destination and time it will say which trains are ice etc.

We did find trains very busy and a bit crap last summer but that's coming from France not the UK!

German trains are having a tiny bit of a moment just now and having issues with unreliability etc. but if you're used to UK trains it will be fine.

I second just using Deutsche Bahn to book the tickets ahead of time. They have a barcode on them and you don't need to pass through any ticket barriers to get on trains in Germany.

If you're only going for one day, and depending how far you're travelling, it might be worth looking at the Deutschland Day Ticket.

https://int.bahn.de/en/offers/regional/day-ticket-germany

Only valid on regional services, not e.g. ICE - but punctuality on regional trains is better anyway.

For more details, including free travel for children, see also Seat 61
https://www.seat61.com/train-travel-in-germany.htm

Also try reading around on website The Man In Seat 61.
Agree with pp that punctuality not what it used to be. But no worse than UK.

German trains have special areas for children and can be great. Book ahead though for seats. Man in Seat 61 very helpful

Book ahead if you can't/don't want to use a regional train. The system will give you the best prices, and a 1st class upgrade often doesn't cost too much. In 2nd class you can book seats in 'family areas' (usually just a couple of tables but sometimes fancy compartments with play areas).

I've just looked on the English site, which isn't bad. Couldn't find any information about construction works on regional lines, but they had a list of current works on long-distance ones.

Book ahead, it is easy, in fact I find it easier than for trains in the UK. Choose a specific train, there are some which have compartments, which your DC might enjoy.

Book ahead because yes, ICE trains have special carriages for kids under 5 with extra space for strollers/separate lighting/doors that you can close which are BRILLIANT but will also be booked out early.

If you book an ICE, I'd recommend you buy both the ticket and the seat reservation for a specific seat (ideally the -5 kids carriage, if traveling with kids, but even if not the reservations are great to have the entire family sit together and for everyone to have a seat if the train gets busy).

In case it's relevant: there are different types of tickets that will tie you to a fixed train/give you some flexibity/give you maximum flexibity. Even if you book a flexible ticket, you can buy seat tickets for the train you are most likely to take. The seat reservations are non refundable (but only like €5-10) but you might like this compromise between flexibility and good seating.

And if you change trains later, remember you can always buy (new) seat reservations for the different train as well. The seat reservations work independently of the tickets themselves.

Last tip: sometimes when a train is delayed, it says it's delayed X minutes, but then the train will actually turn up earlier after all. The app notifications are really good though.