Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
bloomberg.com
Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
1–10 of 113 posts
Re: Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
#2This should be a standard scheme all across Europe. Given the high population density and relatively short distances - such a scheme would greatly reduce congestion and provide a cheaper way of transport (apart from reducing dependency). This scheme should be made permanent.
The lack of access to high speed ICE trains is a hinderance. There should be a way a 9Euro ticket allows access to ICE trains twice a week with advanced booking.
Re: Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
#3This should be a standard scheme all across Europe. Given the high population density and relatively short distances - such a scheme would greatly reduce congestion and provide a cheaper way of transport (apart from reducing dependency). This scheme should be made permanent. The lack of access to high speed ICE trains is a hinderance. There should be a way a 9Euro ticket allows access to ICE trains twice a week with…
> The lack of access to high speed ICE trains is a hinderance.
The ICEs are already quite overcrowded without the 9 Euro ticket though, at least during "prime time" (weekdays in the mornings and early evenings, and at the start and end of weekends). Adding more trains may also be problematic because (1) those trains probably don't exist yet, and (2) the trains are mostly already on 1hr interval which is probaly hard to increase.
Re: Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
#4Re: Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
#5As someone using the German railway for a large distance destination couple a weeks ago it was a total disaster, we got stranded in a unfamiliar German city. Deutsche bahn told us they didn’t have any of their (partner) hotel rooms left. Just arrange something yourself. That was very nice because all the hotels were full anyway. It took us another 2 hours of calling to find something. I was exhausted when I finally checked in somewhere at 1 am.
I try to avoid flying, but the German railway is giving me nightmares. I frequently travel through Germany and it is the exception if there aren’t any large issues.
The article itself is very thin when giving its reasons. I’m sure it’s oké for people without the money to spend, but I would rather pay more for increased reliability. If the German summers are similar to how the Dutch maintains their railways, I’m sure they will plan a ton of construction while the masses of people that usually take the trains for work are on holiday. So I’m inclined to see this promotional as compensation for bad summer train service.
Re: Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
#6This should be a standard scheme all across Europe. Given the high population density and relatively short distances - such a scheme would greatly reduce congestion and provide a cheaper way of transport (apart from reducing dependency). This scheme should be made permanent. The lack of access to high speed ICE trains is a hinderance. There should be a way a 9Euro ticket allows access to ICE trains twice a week with…
As someone who just made the switch from planes to trains (I regularly travel on an inner-german route where planes do make sense): If the hordes would invade ICEs, I would go back to the airport. Long-distance rail is over-encumbered as it stands, and more people means less reliability.
Re: Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
#7This should be a standard scheme all across Europe. Given the high population density and relatively short distances - such a scheme would greatly reduce congestion and provide a cheaper way of transport (apart from reducing dependency). This scheme should be made permanent. The lack of access to high speed ICE trains is a hinderance. There should be a way a 9Euro ticket allows access to ICE trains twice a week with…
Even regional trains are often crowded at regular prices, which is particularly problematic given there's still a pandemic and noncompliance with the mask rules on trains is high. I don't imagine wanting to take advantage of the almost-free travel except at odd times of day when demand is low.
Re: Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
#8This is first and foremost a subsidy scheme to give public transit providers some more money - many people will buy the 9 euro ticket which before did not buy monthly tickets - and for each such ticket, the state will give the public transit provider the difference to a full month ticket, up to 200 Euros.
1. The casual public transit rider will get one of these tickets: 9 Euros is like three rides on the Berlin subway ... they ride cheaper beginning with the fourth.
2. The commuter will save some money on the monthly ticket for three month.
3. Because of the media frenzy about these 9 Euro tickets, many non-users will buy it with plans to go sightseeing, as this ticket still is cheaper than most individual routes. Not all of them will actually use it.
4. Sylt (think 'the German version of Nantucket/Martha's Vineyard') will burn to the ground.
Re: Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
#9As someone using the German railway for a large distance destination couple a weeks ago it was a total disaster, we got stranded in a unfamiliar German city. Deutsche bahn told us they didn’t have any of their (partner) hotel rooms left. Just arrange something yourself. That was very nice because all the hotels were full anyway. It took us another 2 hours of calling to find something. I was exhausted when I finally c…
Okay, but when you compare to the US, it's still amazing.
Re: Germany is offering a summer of cheap trains
#10This should be a standard scheme all across Europe. Given the high population density and relatively short distances - such a scheme would greatly reduce congestion and provide a cheaper way of transport (apart from reducing dependency). This scheme should be made permanent. The lack of access to high speed ICE trains is a hinderance. There should be a way a 9Euro ticket allows access to ICE trains twice a week with…
I appreciate the submission but can you please pick a different username? Celebrity names are a variant of trollish usernames [1], and we don't allow those on HN [2] because they subtly troll every thread they post to. Inevitably this leads to low-value off-topic stuff.
We've learned from experience to just deal with the problem early, so I've temporarily banned this account. If you'd like to pick a neutral, non-trollish username, we can change it for you and unban it.
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