First class ‘abteil’ on the ICE
Otherwise known as the ICE, is the national high-speed rail network of Germany with services reaching into neighbouring countries. During my year studying abroad in Berlin, I was able to make day trips to over 100 towns thanks in part to the efficient ICE. With at-seat service, free Wi-Fi, power socketsand private compartments (“abteil”) available in first class. I only traveled by first class because of the enormous discounts for frequent travellers.
Very fast trains
While German efficiency applies to the whole country, the level of punctuality varies from state to state. Every single train I’ve been on in the states bordering France arrived late, but East German trains tend to stick to their timetables. Maybe it’s to do with the heavy privatisation in the Rhine region. I remember being on a train that departed from Köln 56 minutes late but arrived in Berlin on time. Deutsche Bahn times connections precisely so you never have to wait to long to change trains, they really put customer satisfaction in first place!
ÖBB Wien my old friend
After traveling over 12 000km by rain in Germany, my favorite train was the ÖBB Wien ICE train. Its reliability trumps that of air travel; when my parents came to visit me in Berlin, the airports were on strike, so my mother flew to Frankfurt and my father flew to Hamburg from Paris. On both occasions, I took the early morning ÖBB Wien to meet them at Frankfurt and Hamburg airports respectively. I took the train four times that week and even the staff onboard recognised me!
DB Lounge in Dresden Hbf
The lounges, though basic in design, offers many comforts for the premium traveller. While all lounges have free international newspapers, magazines, and complimentary drinks service, some lounges offer table food service, too. It’s a relaxing place to sit down and unwind after a long business trip or fuel up and recharge before exploring a brand new destination.
If you can, go first class, it’s worth every pfenning.
