First Class on ICE 2

[ModernRailways]

Hello!
Could anyone tell me what you get in First Class on the ICE 2?
It's currently €30 more (DB London Spezial) to go 1st over 2nd but all I've found is that you get a larger, reclining, leather seat. Is this it or do you get any free food?
Does the London Spezial also get first class on the Eurostar as I am not sure if Eurostar has 1st class.
Would you recommend it for €30 more?
Thanks in advance!

 

[starrymarkb]

Continental First Class is a bigger seat (on ICEs this is usually wide Leather) and that's about it. You can order food/drinks and have them brought to your seat but food/drink are chargable extras.

 

[Mike395]

ICE2's are also fitted with WIFI - which I presume would be free in 1st. That said, it's not exactly expensive in Standard (less than €5 IIRC) so may not be worth it, as ICE standard class is excellent anyway

 

[lemonic]

If you get a First Class DB London Spezial then this allows you to travel in Standard Premier on Eurostar which has First Class seats and a light meal included in the price.

Personally, I think that the accommodation in 2nd class is very good on ICE trains and is pretty good on Eurostar too, so I guess it's up to you if you think the extra £25 or so is worth it for a special treat.

 

[Gordon]

.

Personally I always go first class (in all countries) if I can get a good fare deal.

The main advantage for me is simply the extra general space and elbow room, especially in French TGVs and British trains

The disadvantages are:

doesn't necessarily mean quieter - I always hope it will be quieter due to the fewer people in the coach itself, but as I have found to my cost, there is no guarantee that small children etc will not also be in your coach

nowadays, potentially all comers can get advanced first class for not much more than second class so the exclusivity is being eroded

 

[MCR247]

Personally, I'd go for it

 

[30907]

The real advantage of First on DB (and OeBB) is access to the Lounge at main stations before, during and after travel. Some have specific First areas which are less crowded than the Frequent Traveller section.

As well as the obvious tea, coffee and wifi, the freebies include a reasonable sandwich or cake, beer, wine, soft drinks (not sure alcohol is available everywhere...).

On-train, it's free papers (German!) and maybe a little bar of chocolate.

 

[gordonthemoron]

or peanuts/mini pretzels

 

[ModernRailways]

Thanks for the help!

Since it's only £25 extra I think it may well be worth spending that little extra since it's a holiday and we will be travelling all day (10:58 E* to Brussels then onwards to Berlin via Köln) so I guess comfort will be best.

Also since we will get some food on Eurostar for free I guess it makes it worth it.

 

[IKBrunel]

I just came back from a trip on ICE & TGV, we had a noisy toddler behind & bickering teenagers in front for 3 hours. My partner wasn't keen on the included food. ICE/TGV seating is more spacious than UK anyway, almost equivalent to UK 1st class in some cases. We would have been better off in a std class quiet coach.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

On ES, you would get a light meal and drinks, probably worth c.£15, and on ICE-2 essentially it comes down to wider seats. The Wifi is not free and costs the same as 2nd class: plus it's only available on a few routes, not the whole network. So if you were going to, say, at least Hannover/Kassel/Frankfurt or further, the fare differential is probably worth it. If you are going on ES on the weekend, be aware the trains do get pretty full so you might want the first class just to get away from the crowds.

 

[shx]

ICE2's are also fitted with WIFI - which I presume would be free in 1st.

Nope. Wifi in German trains is chargeable, but significantly faster than any other european on-vehicle wifi. Some (german) T-Mobile/T-Online cellphone/landline subscriptions include free wifi, though.
You'll get a mini bag of Haribo every 4-5 stops, larger seats and (usually - beware: some Cologne-Frankfort services are more crowded in 1st than in 2nd) less people.
Any sort of free food/drinks is restricted to 'Sprinter' services (reservation compulsory; fee 16.50€) and DB Lounges (caution: DB Lounge and ICE Lounge isn't the same: DB Lounges are normal on-station lounges, while ICE Lounges are the compartments directly adjacent to the drivers compartment in ICE 3/T/TD). You'll get Eurostar's Standard Premier freebies with a 1st-London-Spezial, though (and Premier Lounge access, if you own a continental frequent traveler card).

 

[Greenback]

Thanks for the help!

Since it's only £25 extra I think it may well be worth spending that little extra since it's a holiday and we will be travelling all day (10:58 E* to Brussels then onwards to Berlin via Köln) so I guess comfort will be best.

Also since we will get some food on Eurostar for free I guess it makes it worth it.

I agree. For only a modest sum of money you will get a much more comfortable journey with more space and some food on Eurostar, which is worth the upgrade on it own in my opinion!

Add in the better quality environment on DB, along with the lounges, and it's an excellent deal.

 

[Goldfish62]

The real advantage of First on DB (and OeBB) is access to the Lounge at main stations before, during and after travel. Some have specific First areas which are less crowded than the Frequent Traveller section.

As well as the obvious tea, coffee and wifi, the freebies include a reasonable sandwich or cake, beer, wine, soft drinks (not sure alcohol is available everywhere...).

On-train, it's free papers (German!) and maybe a little bar of chocolate.

There are no free refreshments in DB 1st Class trains (as opposed to the lounges as mentioned above). However, if it's an ICE2 you're going on the 1st Class seats are really fantastic, so I'd recommend paying the extra. The ICE1 and 3 1st Class seats, while still leather, are barely distinguishable from 2nd Class and, IMO, not worth the extra. The 2nd Class in all the trains is very good - large reclining seats with loads of legroom.

Re the at-seat service in DB 1st Class, it's not wonderful - often one fleeting visit by the staff on the whole journey and it pays if you can speak German. I find it easier going to the buffet counter, although you're likely to get your Weissbier in a plastic glass rather than a proper one.

Oh, and the guard will come round with a basket of boiled sweets just before the terminus!

 

[shx]

although you're likely to get your Weissbier in a plastic glass rather than a proper one.

Specifically tell them you're from first class. You'll usually be allowed to carry proper glasses then.

 

[NL Railways]

German trains standard class are excellent anyway, so for me it is not worth it to pay extra to sit in 1st class. As mentioned above you are not getting any free refreshments as you would in Britain when you are travelling 1st class.