The railway system Der Zug, the train, is a great way to see the country. The rail network is operated by Deutsche Bahn, which unites the old West and East German networks into one efficient system. The north and south of the country are well served by the network, but travelling from east to west may involve changing trains. The InterCity Express (ICE), InterCity (IC) and EuroCity (EC) trains service the intercity routes. The ICE is the premium service and accordingly charges ein Zuschlag, a supplement, depending on the distance you're travelling. EC trains are fast trains that also cross international borders. There is a range of offers on rail passes worth looking at if you're going to be using the trains a lot. The Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket, literally 'good weekend ticket', enables up to five people unlimited travel at the weekends. There's also the Guten-Abend-Ticket, 'good evening ticket', offering one person unlimited travel between 7pm and 3am any evening. For longer stays you can get a BahnCard, a railcard, giving 50% discount on rail travel for one year, or a Ferienticket, holiday ticket, which makes it cheaper to get around the popular holiday resorts. Whilst travelling on the train around Germany, keep an eye out for some impressive architecture along the way. Most notable is the station at Leipzig, Europe's largest railway terminus. Originally built in 1915, the building was almost completely destroyed during World War II, and reopened in 1965, housing separate entrance halls for both the Prussian and the Saxon State Railways. The whole building was reconstructed during 1996 and 1997 and despite the recent addition of malls and an extensive shopping area, it is still reminiscent of the old East Germany. Links Deutsche Bahn - the official site, in German. Berlin Train Network - a guide to trains and tickets. These links are included for educational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement by the BBC of the products or services featured. |