Accidentally Schwarzfahren-ing

[Merseysider]

I went for a trip from Germersheim to Karlsruhe and back today. Germersheim had a ticket machine, so no problem there.

But on the way back, I had to take the S1 (tram/train) from Marktplatz to Hauptbahnhof to change for a long-distance RE4 service. I couldn't find a ticket machine on either platform at Marktplatz and there wasn't a conductor on the train. I did find that weird. When I alighted, I noticed a little yellow box with a sign about Schwarzfahren costing the industry so many Euros and the penalty was €40 or something like that.

So did I accidentally fare dodge?

 

[30907]

Looks like you did.

Bit of research says not all tram stops are equipped yet, but there are certainly machines at Hbf where you had to change.

However, a DB train where tickets are not sold on board - and that includes many REs - should have a warning Einstieg nur mit gültige Fahrkarte.

 

[dutchflyer]

Yes, you did. And the fine has gone up to 60 eur.
BUT: a DAYticket in that region/Verbund cost roughly the same as 2 singles. Even less (p.p.) if traveling with more people.
AFAIK nearly all tramstops in central KA have ticket machiens, and they dispense tickets for the whole Verbund area. Maybe due to the long works there for the tunnels, they were situated a little further.
DB trains in ANY Verbund are always without on-board sales (for local traffic that is, but then Verbundtickets are generally not valid on Fernverkehr-trains).

 

[317666]

DB trains in ANY Verbund are always without on-board sales (for local traffic that is, but then Verbundtickets are generally not valid on Fernverkehr-trains).

Exception to that is on some rural lines where trains have an on-board ticket machine, in which case you have to buy a ticket as soon as you board.

 

[Merseysider]

Thanks for all the feedback

I'll hunt that little bit further for a ticket machine next time I'm out and about then - €60 would be rather painful. I don't fancy ending up in a German Disputes and Prosecutions forum either!

I'll look into the DayTicket option too.

If only everything, everywhere was in English

 

[Bletchleyite]

If only everything, everywhere was in English

"Sänk yu vor träweling wiv Deutsche Bahn"?

They actually started to back off this sort of thing, and I was sort of reassured to note that last time I travelled from Schönefeld to Berlin announcements were in German only

OTOH, the pathetic lack of passenger information (and ticket machines that take credit cards[1], actually ticket machines in general, the queues are usually 10-15 deep) at the absolute rat-infested dump that is Schönefeld station is an utter disgrace. Loads of threatening looking security guards, no staff to actually help you.

Willkommen in Berlin. Or something.

[1] The two nearest the airport do, but there is nothing whatsoever indicating this.

 

[30907]

I'll look into the DayTicket option too.

If only everything, everywhere was in English

Tageskarten in Verkehrsverbunde are consistently priced at not much more than 2 single journeys.

Sorry about the German - it's a good thing the KVV website has the basics in English.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

, actually ticket machines in general, the queues are usually 10-15 deep) at the absolute rat-infested dump that is Schönefeld station is an utter disgrace. Loads of threatening looking security guards, no staff to actually help you.

Willkommen in Berlin. Or something.

[1] The two nearest the airport do, but there is nothing whatsoever indicating this.

To be fair, Schönefeld is several years past its use-by date - but most VVB tickets can't be bought with a CC.

 

[Bletchleyite]

To be fair, Schönefeld is several years past its use-by date - but most VVB tickets can't be bought with a CC.

They can if you buy them from a proper DB ticket machine (the ones offering both Verbund and IC tickets), and I did the next day on the way back to the airport. Just not from the Regio/Verbund only machines.

Schönefeld as an airport station is indeed a bit past its use-by date, but as it isn't closing (though AIUI it will just be S-Bahn once the new airport opens, if it ever does) they could really do with tidying it up, as it is a disgrace.

 

[30907]

They can if you buy them from a proper DB ticket machine (the ones offering both Verbund and IC tickets), and I did the next day on the way back to the airport. Just not from the Regio/Verbund only machines.

Apologies, I'm out of date then - the IC machines used to grey out cards if you selected Verbund tickets. And I've only seen/used VBB machines in Arrivals.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Apologies, I'm out of date then - the IC machines used to grey out cards if you selected Verbund tickets. And I've only seen/used VBB machines in Arrivals.

Yes, I've heard of this in the past - previously even ticket offices couldn't take cards for Verbund tickets in some areas. I think the machines concerned now just aren't set up for credit cards, they only do Maestro (and even then only German Maestro, as that isn't the same as UK ex-Switch Maestro, not that many banks issue that any more!).

 

[WestCoast]

However, a DB train where tickets are not sold on board - and that includes many REs - should have a warning Einstieg nur mit gültige Fahrkarte.

Yes "Einstieg nur mit gültiger Fahrkarte" or sometimes "Einstieg/Beförderung nur mit gültigem Fahrausweis" are commonly seen on local trains/trams. As a general rule though, anything below an IC (so RE/R/S/U/trams/buses) in the scale is a "penalty fare" mode of transport. On some urban networks, you are also required to have a ticket to enter the platform area (usually a painted line denotes where the compulsory ticket area begins).

Conductors can and will issue the €60 penalty and will also want a form of ID to back it up. Some private regional operators permit onboard sales, but it's better to assume not. ALEX operate a perculiar system where you can buy all tickets onboard if you approach the ticket counter onboard (and they give you around 15 minutes) but otherwise you have to pay the penalty if you are caught ticketless when they come around.

 

[Merseysider]

Yes, I've heard of this in the past - previously even ticket offices couldn't take cards for Verbund tickets in some areas. I think the machines concerned now just aren't set up for credit cards, they only do Maestro (and even then only German Maestro, as that isn't the same as UK ex-Switch Maestro, not that many banks issue that any more!).

Is this a railway-specific problem (and one that could easily be sorted out) or is it part and parcel of the more general reluctance in Germany to switch from using cash?

 

[WestCoast]

Yes, I've heard of this in the past - previously even ticket offices couldn't take cards for Verbund tickets in some areas. I think the machines concerned now just aren't set up for credit cards, they only do Maestro (and even then only German Maestro, as that isn't the same as UK ex-Switch Maestro, not that many banks issue that any more!).

Is this a railway-specific problem (and one that could easily be sorted out) or is it part and parcel of the more general reluctance in Germany to switch from using cash?

In my experience, a lot of German ticket machines only accept (or want to accept) the "GeldKarte", which is a (declining in use) function of most local EC (debit) cards. You have to load money onto the card, like a pre-pay function. So the ticket machines just debits the money from the card without linking to other systems.

Germany is still a very cash centric culture, although almost all people have an EC card and many have a credit card (students get them free with certain bank accounts actually). Chain stores will almost always accept cards (maybe not credit though), but smaller outlets often only deal in cash. I think many people like to actually see the money, athough I've noticed younger people seem to use cards more. Free banking is quite limited in Germany, if it costs them money to process then the bank will charge you for it. This is probably why DB don't take certain cards for smaller transactions.

In complete contrast to Scandinavia, where they use contactless cards everywhere, even at vending machines.