Non-compulsory ICE reservations

[Robinson]

Hi all.

This summer I'll be making some journeys in Germany on some of the ICE lines using dirt cheap point-to-point fares. My question is: for some of these journeys I have taken up an optional seat reservation - but since the reservation was optional, do I have the freedom to choose a different seat if I find a better one when I get on?

 

[lemonic]

Yes, as long as the seat you wish to take is not reserved.

 

[Robinson]

Excellent. Looking forward to it (it'll be my first rail bash outside the UK)

 

[lemonic]

Enjoy, ICE trains are IMO some of the best trains in Europe. My friend described 2nd class on an ICE3 as comparable to 1st class on many other trains.

 

[Greenback]

Having experienced two rides on ICE3 trains in April, I can happily confirm that they are brilliant trains to travel on!

 

[Robinson]

Enjoy, ICE trains are IMO some of the best trains in Europe. My friend described 2nd class on an ICE3 as comparable to 1st class on many other trains.

You'll just get me thinking what 1st class must be like with that

 

[gordonthemoron]

You'll just get me thinking what 1st class must be like with that

same seats, but leather covered and more leg room. 2+1 seating rather than 2+2 and they have some quasi compartments in some ICEs

 

[WestCoast]

Yes, there's no obligation to sit in your reserved seat, although if the train is busy it is of course a good idea. Reservations on DB trains are always clear (electronic displays on ICEs), and show where the seat is reserved to/from. The reservation usually disappears on the ICEs about 15 minutes after leaving the origin of the reservation (a very good idea!).

 

[30907]

Watch out for seats saying "Gelegentlich Reserviert" which IIRC are available to the equivalent of "frequent flyers" without a reservation. But generally you should have no problem.

You can find coach seating plans here http://kursbuch.bahn.de/hafas-res/img/kbview/ContentPDFs/Wagenskizzen_2010_v2.pdf on the DB website. And www.fernbahn.de gives you the booked formation of all DB InterCity services.

 

[starrymarkb]

Is it me or have the ICE1's had their accommodation downgraded? The one I had last week wasn't as nice as I remember them being (and they didn't compare well with the ICE-T on the return)

 

[gordonthemoron]

ICE1s have been refurbished to the same standard as ICE3, ICE-Ts aren't don't have as nice seats

 

[blackfive460]

Watch out for seats saying "Gelegentlich Reserviert" which IIRC are available to the equivalent of "frequent flyers" without a reservation. But generally you should have no problem.

You should also watch out for displays showing 'ggf. reserviert' (ggf = gegebenenfalls = if required). These indicate seats that may remain free but are those which can be reserved during the journey. Sit in one of those and someone may turn up at a later stop having reserved it while the train was enroute.

 

[cd0282]

living in Germany, I've never had problems sitting in different seats. No one has ever 'compared' seat to what's on my ticket, but like someone said above, if it's a busy service, do sit in it.

 

[Robinson]

Cheers for all the advice, folks

 

[Robinson]

Just one other question actually - on the legs where I wasn't offered a reservation, how easy is it likely to be to get a seat on the ICE (using my get-there-early tactic perfected in Britain)?

The unreserved legs are from Berlin to Copenhagen (ICE 35) and on the return, from Hamburg to Munich (ICE 883)...

 

[starrymarkb]

Just one other question actually - on the legs where I wasn't offered a reservation, how easy is it likely to be to get a seat on the ICE (using my get-there-early tactic perfected in Britain)?

The unreserved legs are from Berlin to Copenhagen (ICE 35) and on the return, from Hamburg to Munich (ICE 883)...

The ICE from Berlin to Copenhagen will be a 4 Car ICE-TD (Think Voyager) to go on the ferry - I believe it runs as a Double set (8 car) to Hamburg but I'd suggest reserving if you can.

 

[30907]

Despite their length (an ICE-1 with 14 cars) trains on the North-south route are pretty well loaded in my experience. I'd guess ICE 883 will be busy to start with but thin out later - but if you are travelling Friday or Sunday I'd get a reservation, simply because it's a long run.

And then there's all the teenage railfans travelling with their summer Deutschlandpasses who won't bother to reserve.... or on the Copenhagen train its Inter-Railers I'd guess

 

[sheff1]

Which day are you travelling ? I would expect ICE883 on a Friday to be absolutely rammed.

 

[Robinson]

ICE883 is on a Tuesday. However, ICE35 is on a Friday. I just tried to reload the bookings on My Bahn but can find no way to retrospectively reserve seats...

 

[sheff1]

Just start a new booking and click 'Reserve a seat only' on the first page.

 

[gordonthemoron]

The ICE35 will be rammed, get a reservation. Also, the buffet on the ICE-TD is quite poor (i.e. really small) with either no or very little seating

 

[30907]

But the ferry has a decent restaurant

 

[blackfive460]

ICE883 is on a Tuesday. However, ICE35 is on a Friday. I just tried to reload the bookings on My Bahn but can find no way to retrospectively reserve seats...

That may be because your journey is 'international'. I've always been told that you can only reserve on-line or at an ticket machine for international journeys if buying a ticket.
You have two options, one is to 'phone DB's UK travel center (0871 880 8066 is the published number but I've used 020 8339 4750 with no problems) but if you are going to be over there for a few days before your journey I'd wait until you get there then call in at a Reisezentrum where you can get a reservation over the counter for any train.

As posted above; while there is a restaurant on the ferry, it isn't cheap and you only have 45 minutes. Buy something before hand would be my preferred option!

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

45 mins is plenty of time to get a decent meal in the restaurant on the ferry: they have a self-service bit and, provided the ferry is fairly full, an at seat section as well. Definitely better than the ICE catering on the TD sets, which is a bit sparse.

 

[Robinson]

I guess I'll be looking out for a Reisezentrum at some stage beforehand in that case...

 

[starrymarkb]

I guess I'll be looking out for a Reisezentrum at some stage beforehand in that case...

Most large stations have one

Also thinking, if you are departing from Berlin it is very hard to get their early with services on the Stadtbahn, the train will be prepped in the depot before entering service at the Ostbahnhof, typical dwell is about 2-3 minutes!

 

[gordonthemoron]

45 mins is plenty of time to get a decent meal in the restaurant on the ferry: they have a self-service bit and, provided the ferry is fairly full, an at seat section as well. Definitely better than the ICE catering on the TD sets, which is a bit sparse.

IIRC the ICE-TD buffet has a stand up table only.

As for the ferry, I was just glad to get off the crowded ICE, The return on an IC3 was even worse. Sleeper from Hamburg or Berlin via Malmo was much better

 

[83G/84D]

Robinson, try www.seat61.com for advice on overseas travel. Excellent site with loads of useful information.

 

[Robinson]

Robinson, try www.seat61.com for advice on overseas travel. Excellent site with loads of useful information.

That's precisely where I've got almost all the info I've used so far

The rest of the info is the advice on this thread that I should get a reservation on the ICE T-D...