Munich S/U Bahn

[Kryten2340]

Hi,

I'm off to Munich on Friday and I'm wondering if anyone has used this before and could tell me what is the system like and what the fares/ticketing is like (I.e. Are all machines in German or will English be an option) and what hours the services run to and from. I'm on a stag weekend and looks like most if not all of hour journeys will be between Donnesbergerbrücke and Marienplatz stations.

 

[317666]

From my experience (last October) Munich has a very good public transport system. The fares are pretty reasonable, all the machines I used had an English option too. There's information about fares and services on their website: http://www.mvg-mobil.de/en/ The U-Bahn stops running at about 01:00, but there are night buses, which are half-hourly at weekends: http://www.mvg-mobil.de/en/nightlines.html

The S-Bahn is run by DB, and it seems to run all night through the central tunnel - this includes Donnesbergerbrücke to Marienplatz.

 

[Bald Rick]

Yep, S Bahn runs all night, although frequency drops off considerably in the small hours.

I had my stag night there, one of the party got separated, got the s bahn back at about 0400 ohne karte, got nabbed by the Obergrippenfürhers, then spent most of Sunday morning in a ditch. Happy Days!

 

[Thewanderer]

I was there last November for a weekend away with work mates.

Picts at http://www.thewandererphotos.com/International/2014/Munich-7th-9th-November-2014/i-BgpdHrK

Great system and great fares. I brought a online ticket which you printed off (A4 sheet) and that was my ticket for the weekend. No ticket barriers at all.

I got the 3 day ticket €32.90 http://www.mvv-muenchen.de/en/tickets-fares/tickets/day-tickets/citytourcard/index.html

 

[gordonthemoron]

from donnersburgerbruecke to karlsplatz (stachus) you can also get the tram 16/17 from north side and 18/19 from southside. these run all night. same tickets are valid.

stachus is at the western end of the central pedestrian zone. 19 also stops at marienhof which is round the back of the rathaus which is round the back from marienplatz.

 

[WestCoast]

from donnersburgerbruecke to karlsplatz (stachus) you can also get the tram 16/17 from north side and 18/19 from southside. these run all night. same tickets are valid.

stachus is at the western end of the central pedestrian zone. 19 also stops at marienhof which is round the back of the rathaus which is round the back from marienplatz.

Indeed, just worth pointing out that it's only the N16 and N19 trams after 1am-ish. The S-Bahn should however be quicker but less scenic for most journeys along the Stammstrecke (core central corridor where most S-Bahn lines cross the city centre). It usually runs more often than the trams or U-Bahn along this section, up to about every 2-3 minutes with all the lines combined. Just watch out that you're catching an S-Bahn (multiple lines) in the right direction, it can be a little ambigious (especially for new users or after a few ) as the electronic boards don't list all stops and Marienplatz has an 'interesting' layout.

The tickets are fairly simple to understand, and all the machines can be switched to English. If you buy a ticket from a red DB machine (on the S-Bahn / mainline trains) then it usually doesn't have to be stamped, from a blue MVG machine (at U-Bahn stations / trams / buses) then it usually does.

 

[Groningen]

Obergrippenfürhers

Do not mention the war! Simply; you have to have a ticket. Not everything in this world is for free!

During the night there is a S8 every 20 minutes between Pasing - Hbf - Ost and Airport. N19 every hour from Pasing to St. Veit Strasse and v.v..

 

[fandroid]

Easy squeezy to use. One of the best public transport systems in the world. The same tickets apply to everything, S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses. Have a great time (I'm sure you will).

 

[Groningen]

Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg can also be trusted to public transport. Think that Frankfurt am Main and Stuttgart are also not bad, but have no experience with those towns at night.

 

[gordonthemoron]

all large cities in Germany have fine public transport. However, the bus services in the sticks (and some train services) can be poor, i.e. not operating in the evening or at weekends

 

[northwichcat]

If you've been to other cities like Berlin you'll consider the Munich zonal tickets for zone A to zone C very expensive.

The DB ticket machines have an English option but if you select it (by default) they assume you don't know what ticket to buy and go through a step by step guide (around 9 steps) before you get your ticket.

One thing to note is for city centre stations on the S-Bahn the doors will open on both sides but you must exit on the right hand side (announcements in both German and English will remind you of that.) Also if you're going from the city centre to the Airport on the S1 line there are portion workings, so make sure you board the correct portion or you'll end up in Freising.

I think the U-Bahn services only have German announcements, although for most people that shouldn't be an issue.

 

[gordonthemoron]

it is also possible to save money on S8 to/from the airport by split ticketing but it adds 40 mins (20 mins if you're lucky) to the journey and you don't save that much

 

[fandroid]

My one big complaint about Munich is that it takes forever to get to/from the airport by S-Bahn, whichever route you use.

 

[WestCoast]

If you've been to other cities like Berlin you'll consider the Munich zonal tickets for zone A to zone C very expensive.

The DB ticket machines have an English option but if you select it (by default) they assume you don't know what ticket to buy and go through a step by step guide (around 9 steps) before you get your ticket.

One thing to note is for city centre stations on the S-Bahn the doors will open on both sides but you must exit on the right hand side (announcements in both German and English will remind you of that.) Also if you're going from the city centre to the Airport on the S1 line there are portion workings, so make sure you board the correct portion or you'll end up in Freising.

I think the U-Bahn services only have German announcements, although for most people that shouldn't be an issue.

Almost everything is more expensive in Munich than Berlin The city is on a price league with Vienna and even Zurich. Even so, while the fares for the further zones including the airport are rather pricey by German standards, I'd argue against "very expensive" for the central zones. A Innenraum day ticket at €6.30 (£4.55) covering all the transport you'd need to the main sights and 3 day group ticket for up to 5 at €27 (about €1.80 p.p a day if there's five of you!). I was in Amsterdam recently and a 24 hour central ticket was €7.50 for the bus, tram and metro (no trains or private bus to the airport etc). Dublin Bus Leap Card Cap is €6.90.

Announcements on the older U-Bahn trains, with the pull handles at the doors, are mostly done manually by the driver (there are a few units fitted with a new audio-visual information system), so in German (not always very clear though!) only. On the newer units, with walk-through coaches, there's automated announcements which repeat in English for all the central stops. Almost all trams and buses, as well as the S-Bahn, have clear automated announcements.

 

[northwichcat]

I'd argue against "very expensive" for the central zones. A Innenraum day ticket at €6.30 (£4.55) covering all the transport you'd need to the main sights and 3 day group ticket for up to 5 at €27 (about €1.80 p.p a day if there's five of you!). I was in Amsterdam recently and a 24 hour central ticket was €7.50 for the bus, tram and metro (no trains or private bus to the airport etc). Dublin Bus Leap Card Cap is €6.90.

I was only arguing that zone A to zone C is very expensive. The other type of ticket which can be expensive is when the Bayern ticket is the cheapest option and you're travelling by yourself. OK you can still get as far as Salzburg on it on regional trains for much less than on Railjet but you're paying a very high price compared to two or more people travelling together.

 

[WestCoast]

I was only arguing that zone A to zone C is very expensive.

Sorry, I misunderstood, they don't tend to refer to the zones by letters anymore. For the shorter time tickets, there's Innenraum, München XXL and Gesamtnetz (Entire Network). Annoyingly they've placed the airport just inside the Gesamntnetz which pushes up the price considerably. For longer term tickets it's done by rings and is better value, a rings 1-13 week ticket covers the airport and works out around €6.40 a day. If you're in the area again, consider the IsarCard week tickets.
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The other type of ticket which can be expensive is when the Bayern ticket is the cheapest option and you're travelling by yourself. OK you can still get as far as Salzburg on it on regional trains for much less than on Railjet but you're paying a very high price compared to two or more people travelling together.

Yes, true, but then again pretty much all the Länder tickets and special offers on regional trains are like that in Germany! Loads of people hang around the ticket machines looking to share tickets!

There's also a few other special offers in Bavaria like the Werdenfels Ticket, Servus Ticket and the BOB ticket, that don't always show up on DBs booking engine (especially not the private operators tickets!) and often beat the Bavaria ticket on price if you travel alone!

 

[theageofthetra]

Do they still have that airport train that not only takes ages but splits on the way? Saw some last minute panicking a few years back when a kindly local advised what were clearly tourists with luggage that they were in the wrong half!

 

[gordonthemoron]

Do they still have that airport train that not only takes ages but splits on the way? Saw some last minute panicking a few years back when a kindly local advised what were clearly tourists with luggage that they were in the wrong half!

Yes, that's the S1 which splits/joins at Neufahrn

zone A-C is Berlin not Munich

 

[sarahj]

I found it odd that while in the UK, 7 days tickets are exactly that, valid the 7 days from whatever day you buy, in Munich, and many other cities, they are valid mon-sun, and thats it. So if your there say wed-mon, you have to buy mon-sun and on the monday either buy single/day tickets or avoid the local PT.

I still have my photocard from when I last lived there somewhere in a drawer.

Ex commuter: Putzbrunn to M Freiheit and Impler Str to Ostbahnhof.

 

[gordonthemoron]

I found it odd that while in the UK, 7 days tickets are exactly that, valid the 7 days from whatever day you buy, in Munich, and many other cities, they are valid mon-sun, and thats it. So if your there say wed-mon, you have to buy mon-sun and on the monday either buy single/day tickets or avoid the local PT.

I still have my photocard from when I last lived there somewhere in a drawer.

Ex commuter: Putzbrunn to M Freiheit and Impler Str to Ostbahnhof.

I think they've stopped doing that, I used to live in Ludwigsvorstadt

 

[sarahj]

I think they've stopped doing that, I used to live in Ludwigsvorstadt

When I was in Koeln last November for the model show, the online weekly ticket was valid, Mon to Sun. I was there Wed to Mon, so on the Monday it was a case of check out and and drive to Aachen and spend what was left of my money in the great model shop there.

And not once in Koeln did anyone look at said ticket. In Munich, all the time I was there, 6 months and 3 months, two checks, one by a set of bag ladies.

Of course not a zillion years am I saying, don't bother buying one. I just find it odd after using PT and of working on PT here in Blighty.

 

[WestCoast]

When I was in Koeln last November for the model show, the online weekly ticket was valid, Mon to Sun.

And not once in Koeln did anyone look at said ticket. In Munich, all the time I was there, 6 months and 3 months, two checks, one by a set of bag ladies

I find checks more regular on the S-Bahn, either by uniformed ticket inspectors or by the tooled-up security teams (DB Sicherheit). Never been checked in a year on a MVG tram or bus, but the occasional undercover inspectors on the U-Bahn are funny. Last time it was three ladies of a certain age at each door with decoy shopping bags, doors closed and ID cards out! Time before three guys (badly) dressed with caps and shorts as American tourists or something.

 

[D365]

Can I just warn that the Schnellbahnnetz map posted earlier by Groningen is of quite some vintage and is therefore no longer relevant, as MVV has a habit of swapping line designations every few years. For the latest and most up-to-date maps please use the one found on the MVV Netzpläne here.

Looks as if electrification to Altomünster (the former A secondary line) is complete

 

[sarahj]

Can I just warn that the Schnellbahnnetz map posted earlier by Groningen is of quite some vintage and is therefore no longer relevant, as MVV has a habit of swapping line designations every few years. For the latest and most up-to-date maps please use the one found on the S-Bahn website here.

Looks as if electrification to Altomünster (the former A secondary line) is complete

nice to see S20 now running. I have a book on the S-bahn and its in the future plans.

 

[D365]

nice to see S20 now running. I have a book on the S-bahn and its in the future plans.

Historically the Sendlinger Spange service dates back to the S12, before the Isartalbahn route was electrified and connected to the Stammstrecke at Donnersbergebrücke circa 1981. Whilst this service was revived in 2001 under the S20 designation, it was cut back to Höllriegelskreuth in 2014 and the Großhesseloher Brücke section (Solln-Deisenhofen) replaced by the 'Meridian' electrics of the Bayerischen Oberlandbahn (BOB) - Halbstundentakt Monday-Friday; 2tph.

The Netzplan posted by Groningen dates back to 1998/99, in fact - see P27-28 of this 'Schnellbahnnetz Zeitreise'. Oh, and if it's this book you are referring to, yes I have it too

 

[sarahj]

Historically the Sendlinger Spanne service dates back to the S12, before the Isartalbahn route was electrified and connected to the Stammstrecke at Donnersbergebrücke circa 1981. Whilst this service was revived in 2001 under the S20 designation, it was cut back to Höllriegelskreuth in 2014 and the Großhesseloher Brücke section (Solln-Deisenhofen) replaced by the 'Meridian' electrics of the Bayerischen Oberlandbahn (BOB) - Halbstundentakt Monday-Friday; 2tph.

The Netzplan posted by Groningen dates back to 1998/99, in fact - see P27-28 of this 'Schnellbahnnetz Zeitreise'. Oh, and if it's this book you are referring to, yes I have it too

Yes, thats the book. I also have another good one on Munich that includes all the scale plans of the North Yard just as it was being built, and the HBF. Etc.

Spent a great summer there, swimming in the lake next to the north yard, then watching the hump shunting. 1995.

 

[D365]

Yes, thats the book. I also have another good one on Munich that includes all the scale plans of the North Yard just as it was being built, and the HBF. Etc.

Spent a great summer there, swimming in the lake next to the north yard, then watching the hump shunting. 1995.

Sounds fantastic Hearing that reminds me of this comprehensive München Gleisplan available readily online.

 

[Groningen]

This PDF is however up to date with price information for 2015 with most (i am not sure) lines and it is in German. The first in the one; say 10 miles around Muenchen center; the second and last link is everything from MVV.

http://www.mvv-muenchen.de/fileadmi...Preise/dokumente/TARIFPLAN_2015-Innenraum.PDF

http://www.mvv-muenchen.de/fileadmi...reise/dokumente/TARIFPLAN_2015-Gesamtnetz.PDF

 

[33Hz]

I found it odd that while in the UK, 7 days tickets are exactly that, valid the 7 days from whatever day you buy, in Munich, and many other cities, they are valid mon-sun, and thats it. So if your there say wed-mon, you have to buy mon-sun and on the monday either buy single/day tickets or avoid the local PT.

I still have my photocard from when I last lived there somewhere in a drawer.

Ex commuter: Putzbrunn to M Freiheit and Impler Str to Ostbahnhof.

This isn't true or perhaps is out of date. On the DB and now MVV machines you can buy a 7 day ticket and nominate the start day in advance.