[pixel3234]

Stuff like this is why I prefer to take a bus in Germany.

Trains are overbooked with free tickets and promotions (free pass for entire summer for 50 euro). While underlying infrastructure is not ready for such load. It leads to delays and mistakes. Plus railway stations in Germany look like homeless shelters!

On other side Germany has excellent motorway network. Flixbus is very cheap, quite comfortable, goes all the way to airport, and always on time!

[sc11]

Let's see. Cologne to Berlin takes ~4:40 hours by train. Flixbus takes 9-10 hours, not counting the time it takes to get to their departure station which would involve a train journey as it's not actually in the city centre.

Flixbus is 50€ cheaper when traveling that route tomorrow but that's about all it has going for it.

[HPsquared]

1 hour by plane (+ time hanging around the airport, but train/bus has the same issue there)

[klausa]

The 50eur pass doesn't include the trains you'd use for the trips you'd use Flixbus for.