Trains & Railways in Berlin

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Trains & Railways in Berlin

The German national rail service is operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB).

• Deutsche Bahn
  Tel: 11 861 (24-hour telephone hotline for train times and booking inquiries)

Train categories are denoted by their abbreviations:

• RBP: regional
• RE: regional express
• IRE: interregional express
• ICE: intercity express

Train Services in Berlin

Berlin Transport Authority (BVG) operates an integrated transport service, and up-to-date information on all transport can be found on the BVG website.

• BVG website
• For routes and timetables: Click here

Berlin is home to a number of national and international train terminals. National train services leave from both sides of the city: 

• West: from the Zoological Gardens (Zoologischer Garten)  
• East: from Ostbahnhof 
• Centrally: the main Lehrter train station (Lehrter Stadtbahnhof) operates national and European Services

All train stations in Berlin are linked by the city's underground system, which runs two types of train, the S-Bahn and U-Bahn. Both travel under and over ground.

Buying tickets

Tickets for all train services can be bought online or in the service centres of the main train terminals, the most commonly used being:

• Zoological Gardens (Zoologischer Garten)
• Lehrter Main Station (Lehrter Hauptbahnhof)
• Friedrichsstrasse
• Alexanderplatz
• Ostbahnhof

Train times are displayed in all stations and on each platform in yellow (for departures) and white (for arrivals).

Special Offers

National train services are often quite expensive in Germany, so look out for special offers either online, at service centres in the main train terminals or through local media and television.

The "nice weekend ticket" (Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket) permits a group of up to five people to travel anywhere in the country on RB, IRE and RE services for a much-reduced price on a Saturday or Sunday. A detailed print-out of the journey can be obtained from the ticket salesperson or printed off directly from the website.

BahnCard

For frequent train travellers, DB offers a range of discount cards which allow up to 50 percent reduction on train fares for a year. These cards can be purchased online or from service centres in the main train terminals.

Disabled Passengers

The Deutsch Bahn has exceptional services for the disabled on all train services as well as at all main train stations. For inquiries, the mobility service hotline (Mobilitätsservicezentrale) provides detailed information to make travelling with reduced mobility as easy as possible.

• Deutsch Bahn Mobility Service Hotline
  Tel: 01805 512 512
  Open: Monday-Friday 08:00-20:00 and Saturdays 08:00-16:00

Most railway stations (including local as well as intercity) in have facilities for physically disabled travellers to access the platforms (lifts or ramps). Some regional transport companies offer free or reduced rate transport to disabled passengers and their escorts.

Seriously disabled people may travel on public transport for free, provided they have a dual-coloured disability card (green and orange) and an additional page with a special token (Beiblatt mit Wertmarke). This can obtained from the Pensions and Benefits Office, either against a small payment or for free, depending on the degree and nature of the disability.

• To check the terms of individual transportation companies: Click here (in German)
• See also the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Notes for the Disabled

Bicycles on Trains

Bicycles may be taken on all local trains. It is also possible to phone the Cyclist Hotline (Radfahrer-Hotline) for information on taking a bike aboard.

• Cyclist Hotline
  Tel: 01805 151 415

Animals On Trains in Germany

• Pets travelling in cages or similar transport housing as well as small to medium-sized dogs that can fit on a person's knees or in the luggage compartment may be taken on trains free of charge
• A child ticket (6-15 years old) must be bought for larger dogs, which must also wear a muzzle (except guide dogs)
• For international and overnight journeys, a child ticket must be bought for all dogs
• Seats may not be reserved for dogs

Related Information

• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Bus, Metro & Tram Services in Berlin
• See the AngloINFO INFOrmation Page, Berlin Airport Contacts

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