German Rail Info

[AGF Aarhus]

Important announcement from the German railways here regarding tickets and passes for the WC (sorry, it's in German and they don't have an English page up yet):

http://www.db.de/site/bahn/de/reisen/angebote/fifa__wm/fifa__wm.html

Basically, they will sell individual one way tickets between host cities for 54, 74 or 90 Euro depending on the distance (notice that the prices coincide with the years Germany won the WC). This offer is only valid if you have a ticket for a game in the city you are travelling to, though.

Additionally, you will be able to buy a pass good for unlimited travel on the entire network for 349 Euro (second class) and 549 Euro (first class) for the duration of the tournament.

Your game ticket can also be used as a pass on local mass transit on the day of the match.

Here's where it gets confusing. The website says that these tickets will be on sale from 11 December to 11 July, but my newspaper this morning says that they will only be on sale until 31 March. Who is correct, I don't know, but I tend to believe the newspaper because it makes no sense to sell tickets after the final has already been played.

This means that if you want cheap rail tickets you probably need to buy them before 31 March. Also keep in mind that most rail offers in Germany are limited in number on a first come first served basis. There is nothing to suggest this on the website, but I would not be surprised if they limit the number of cheap tickets and passes. So again, buying early is a good idea.

[BuffloSoldier]

The "all you can ride" option--does that include outside of Germany?

[AGF Aarhus]

The "all you can ride" option--does that include outside of Germany?

"Die nicht übertragbare Netzkarte gilt deutschlandweit vom 7. Juni bis zum 11. Juli 2006 im gesamten Nah- und Fernverkehr der DB"

Only good on the DB network, so only in Germany.

[BuffloSoldier]

Damn. Oh well.

[Ultra Peanut]

Additionally, you will be able to buy a pass good for unlimited travel on the entire network for 349 Euro (second class) and 549 Euro (first class) for the duration of the tournament.

I wasn't aware of such an option--certainly answers the question I had about buying a five day pass and trying to decide when to activate it and when to buy seperate tickets. Even for those like me who're just going for the group stage, this will be a good deal. Thanks!

[goussoccer]

OK...FIFA will only deliver tickets to German addresses as I understand it, otherwise you pick them up at the venue. So how the heck can we buy these passes, dependent upon us having a ticket, if we aren't going to get the tickets until June?

I do like the unlimited pass deal though. Hope we get a chance to buy that early.

[AGF Aarhus]

OK...FIFA will only deliver tickets to German addresses as I understand it, otherwise you pick them up at the venue. So how the heck can we buy these passes, dependent upon us having a ticket, if we aren't going to get the tickets until June?

I do like the unlimited pass deal though. Hope we get a chance to buy that early.
Just a hunch, but I'm guessing that the DB will let you buy as many train tickets as you want, but if you get on the train without a game ticket the conductor will tell you that your ticket is no good.

As far as I can tell, the unlimited pass is good whether you have tickets or not,though.

I'll post more info as it becomes (hopefully in English) available.

[Bigdog]

Just a hunch, but I'm guessing that the DB will let you buy as many train tickets as you want, but if you get on the train without a game ticket the conductor will tell you that your ticket is no good.

As far as I can tell, the unlimited pass is good whether you have tickets or not,though.

I'll post more info as it becomes (hopefully in English) available.

Those prices for the passes are wicked! and very similiar to what it would would of cost for a 10 day travel pass previously.

We will need to know if there will be options for outside of Germany available on top of that price.

Thanks for the tip!

[striker]

Important announcement from the German railways here regarding tickets and passes for the WC (sorry, it's in German and they don't have an English page up yet):

http://www.db.de/site/bahn/de/reisen/angebote/fifa__wm/fifa__wm.html

Basically, they will sell individual one way tickets between host cities for 54, 74 or 90 Euro depending on the distance (notice that the prices coincide with the years Germany won the WC). This offer is only valid if you have a ticket for a game in the city you are travelling to, though.

Additionally, you will be able to buy a pass good for unlimited travel on the entire network for 349 Euro (second class) and 549 Euro (first class) for the duration of the tournament.

Your game ticket can also be used as a pass on local mass transit on the day of the match.

Here's where it gets confusing. The website says that these tickets will be on sale from 11 December to 11 July, but my newspaper this morning says that they will only be on sale until 31 March. Who is correct, I don't know, but I tend to believe the newspaper because it makes no sense to sell tickets after the final has already been played.

This means that if you want cheap rail tickets you probably need to buy them before 31 March. Also keep in mind that most rail offers in Germany are limited in number on a first come first served basis. There is nothing to suggest this on the website, but I would not be surprised if they limit the number of cheap tickets and passes. So again, buying early is a good idea.

Are these prices particularly good? How much would I have to pay for the various options listed above if I were to pay regular fare? Thanks.

[REVS FAN 1]

Those prices for the passes are wicked! and very similiar to what it would would of cost for a 10 day travel pass previously.

We will need to know if there will be options for outside of Germany available on top of that price.

Thanks for the tip!

No doubt! Now I just have to learn how to read German so I can buy a couple of these unlimited passes :D

Even if we have to get seperate tickets to leave Germany it's still worth it!

Thanks again AGF

[BuffloSoldier]

Second question--what is the difference between the first and second class tickets?

[REVS FAN 1]

Second question--what is the difference between the first and second class tickets?

If I'm not mistaken, first class guarantees a seat...second class, you might have to stand!

[BuffloSoldier]

If I'm not mistaken, first class guarantees a seat...second class, you might have to stand!
Yeah, trying to convince the wife to stand for 4-6 hours...unlikely.

Rail is gonna cost more than airfare (from here to Europe) at this point by a good third or half.

[REVS FAN 1]

Rail is gonna cost more than airfare (from here to Europe) at this point by a good third or half.

:eek: Where did you find that cheap airfare???

[BuffloSoldier]

:eek: Where did you find that cheap airfare???
Priceline. It's 560-600 US a person, or something like that.

Edited to say $638.

[Bigdog]

Priceline. It's 560-600 US a person, or something like that.

Edited to say $638.

This ones been mentioned several times on BS and the Yanks in Germany List: http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/YanksinGermany/
ltu.com, 570$ RND trip JFK or Orlando to Dusseldorf. $30+ for connections to other cities from dd. This fare is still on orbitz.com apparently or you can call them direct 866-266 5588 only.

[AGF Aarhus]

Still waiting for them to post more info on the site (for those who think Germans are well organized, you've never dealt with the German railways), but I'll try to answer a couple questions now:

The single tickets are apparently round trip, not one way. That means the price is actually really good, but it is also rather pointless. If you are following your team from one group match to the next, you don't need round trip tickets, you need one way tickets from one venue city to the next. No news on the cut off date to purchase yet, but...

You can apparently buy the unlimited travel ticket up until 6 June.

As for 1st vs. 2nd class, I've travelled 1st class once (I bought the wrong ticket after having been up for about 36 hours) and the only differnce I could see was that the seat is a tad more comfy and a woman comes around to take your order from the dining car. No free drinks or anything, you still have to pay her. If you want to be guarenteed a seat, you need a seat reservation regardless of class. With a normal ticket this costs nothing, but sometimes you have to pay a supplement if you are using a pass. For not a lot of difference, it seems like a lot of coin to drop to upgrade to 1st class.

Where it might pay off, though, is if you're traveling on night trains. You appreciate more room when you're trying to sleep on a cot in a room with 5 other people.

[Bigdog]

Here is the news release in English:
http://www.db.de/site/bahn/en/db__group/press/press__information/passenger__transport/fantastic__prices__for__world__cup.html

mentions the tickets going on sale today but no
mention of how to buy them. It aslo says that local
travel is included.

Thank you to Kevin for the info. If anyone finds the method of order these please pass it on. Cheers

[AGF Aarhus]

The DB site has an online oder form in German that's up and running. I'll wait a few days to see if they put up one in English, too. Otherwise I'll translate the German form.

[mpetrik]

Important announcement from the German railways here regarding tickets and passes for the WC (sorry, it's in German and they don't have an English page up yet):

http://www.db.de/site/bahn/de/reisen/angebote/fifa__wm/fifa__wm.html

Basically, they will sell individual one way tickets between host cities for 54, 74 or 90 Euro depending on the distance (notice that the prices coincide with the years Germany won the WC). This offer is only valid if you have a ticket for a game in the city you are travelling to, though.

Additionally, you will be able to buy a pass good for unlimited travel on the entire network for 349 Euro (second class) and 549 Euro (first class) for the duration of the tournament.



Any idea on the cost for kids?

I am starting to wonder if it is better to rent a house in the middle of nowhere, rent a van, drive close to the games, then park the van and take the local transport to the stadium...