I used the ticket as a cheap way to travel from Austria to Poland via Germany this summer. Overall the experience was great. Using the DB app you just apply the "Regional trains only" setting and it will plan you an itinerary, telling you what stops to switch trains and what platform number to go to.
Ours was 5 trains over the course of 10 hours (Munich to Berlin). Every train was on time. Surprisingly every train was a different model. Most resembled US light rail trains. The Munich train was insanely packed even though we arrived 15 minutes early. The rest we managed to find seats. The vibration and noise were almost non-existent.
I was in Germany earlier this month, and made good use of the ticket going around quite a bit of Germany.
The best part about it as a frugal traveller is not having to think about ticket prices (a local metro ride could cost something like 2 EUR) and buying them. It's quite liberating, and I'd pay (the rumoured) 69 EUR if they brought it back again next year.
Yes, and another aspect of this was it being valid all across Germany - instead of scouring the maps and price lists of various regional providers (for whose fractured approach to public transport I have utter disdain and could insert many expletives here), you could just pay, travel, and forget
To me it's very frustrating that (as it looks like) the ticket will run out this month.
It was one of the best ideas the German government has had in years. This month I've used the ticket a ton, both in rural areas and cities.
It felt like an incredible improvement in the quality of life. It also reduced car traffic by IIRC 2%. While that sounds like a small number, given that the goal is for Europe to go carbon neutral by 2050, this is an instant win. We only need to pass a law to make the subsidies permanent.
I'd even say that, at an annual €10 billion, it's a pretty good deal for the state.
Less sarcastically - this initiative was launched to reduce the fuel usage of German citizens because fuel prices are exploding and reserves are running low. Trains are operated electrically and can use alternate energy sources.
So yes - people were using the train more: Either as an alternative to their personal vehicle (for commuting, visiting friends, going shopping), or as an alternative to taking a plane (going on a holiday, even within Germany).
> By making it cheaper people will consume it more
Yep!
> isn't this counter productive?
Nope!
Increasing the use of the already existing infrastructure (rails & train stations) is not that much more additionally expensive.
While encouraging the use of trains you're also discouraging the use of cars - effectively paying people to not use their car seems pretty sensible in a time in which we really want people to stop using cars.
For additional leisure trips that people wouldn't have made otherwise, it still stimulates economic activity and at the very least general happiness and contentment, which is important anyway, but especially so in times that are likely to become harder in the next few months.
tppiotrowski|3 years ago
Ours was 5 trains over the course of 10 hours (Munich to Berlin). Every train was on time. Surprisingly every train was a different model. Most resembled US light rail trains. The Munich train was insanely packed even though we arrived 15 minutes early. The rest we managed to find seats. The vibration and noise were almost non-existent.
Would recommend.
ValentineC|3 years ago
The best part about it as a frugal traveller is not having to think about ticket prices (a local metro ride could cost something like 2 EUR) and buying them. It's quite liberating, and I'd pay (the rumoured) 69 EUR if they brought it back again next year.
7373737373|3 years ago
junon|3 years ago
loevborg|3 years ago
It was one of the best ideas the German government has had in years. This month I've used the ticket a ton, both in rural areas and cities.
It felt like an incredible improvement in the quality of life. It also reduced car traffic by IIRC 2%. While that sounds like a small number, given that the goal is for Europe to go carbon neutral by 2050, this is an instant win. We only need to pass a law to make the subsidies permanent.
I'd even say that, at an annual €10 billion, it's a pretty good deal for the state.
t6jvcereio|3 years ago
ThePadawan|3 years ago
Less sarcastically - this initiative was launched to reduce the fuel usage of German citizens because fuel prices are exploding and reserves are running low. Trains are operated electrically and can use alternate energy sources.
So yes - people were using the train more: Either as an alternative to their personal vehicle (for commuting, visiting friends, going shopping), or as an alternative to taking a plane (going on a holiday, even within Germany).
solarkraft|3 years ago
Yep!
> isn't this counter productive?
Nope!
Increasing the use of the already existing infrastructure (rails & train stations) is not that much more additionally expensive.
While encouraging the use of trains you're also discouraging the use of cars - effectively paying people to not use their car seems pretty sensible in a time in which we really want people to stop using cars.
For additional leisure trips that people wouldn't have made otherwise, it still stimulates economic activity and at the very least general happiness and contentment, which is important anyway, but especially so in times that are likely to become harder in the next few months.