German InterCity stock

[Mike395]

Hi,

I'm going to Germany over the New Year period and was wondering if anyone knows what the German InterCity stock is like (travelling Offenburg-Frankfurt with one change if that makes any difference?)

Also - none of us have travelled on DB's long distance services before so any more general advice would also be welcome! (we've got through 'Advance' tickets in both directions - travelling ICE one way and InterCity the other - so sorted ticket-wise )

 

[317666]

I imagine you'll find the following link useful:

http://www.grahnert.de/fernbahn/reihung/reih0040.html

You can find your train number and look at the consist. Use the second set of diagrams on that page, marked 'Jahresfahrplan 2014'. There's a mix of newer, air-conditioned coaches which are slowly being refurbished with ICE-style interiors ('Bpmz', 'Bvmz' or similar in the above link), or some older coaches with dropdown windows (should be 'Bimz' or similar in the above link) which are now rather tatty with a bit of an odd layout inside. Travelling long-distance with DB is generally an enjoyable experience, but I really wouldn't count on your train being on time.

 

[30907]

Personally I quite like the Bimz which were reconstructed for the Inter-Regio network in the 90's, because they have compartments at each end.

The other think to note is that DB are rather short of IC stock at the moment owing to having to cover for problems on the ICE fleet (or owing to cutting too far, too soon - choose your explanation), and it is quite usual for trains to be a coach or two short. Or, if you are very lucky, to get a declassified first.

 

[317666]

Personally I quite like the Bimz which were reconstructed for the Inter-Regio network in the 90's, because they have compartments at each end.

Yeah the compartments are a nice touch on them, but I think the layout in the middle with groups of five and six to the side with those folding seats is very strange.

 

[30907]

Yes - it was done to keep the seating capacity reasonably high, I think