ICE around Berlin

[mcatts]

Hello,

I'm going to Germany for the first time tomorrow. Can anyone recommend any short trips I could do to get the ICE experience?

Thanks!

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

If you go to the new Berlin Hbf, ICEs from the deep level (Tief) platforms stop within 10km or so in the suburbs at Gesundbrunnen in the north (trains from Hannover direction terminate there after reversing at Hbf), or rather more frequently at Südkreuz (Leipzig/Halle direction).
Both stations are on the Ringbahn in Zone A.
Hannover trains also stop at Spandau which is a bit further out in Zone B.
I think Berlin Day zonal tickets are valid, but not entirely sure.
Generally DB likes to keep local passengers off long distance trains.
You won't get up any significant speed on these legs, of course.
IC/EC trains towards Dresden and Hamburg also use these routes, but are not usually ICEs.

 

[Segedunum]

Refer to my last post in this thread.

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/berlin-abc-ticket.170211/

Zonal tickets are generally, as a rule, NOT valid on IC and ICE, except for those mentioned in the link.

 

[30907]

Lutherstadt Wittenberg is the nearest town with a regular ICE service and of great historic interest (If you're not into the history, then it's a pleasant, fairly sleepy, ex-DDR town).
You can still get Sparpreis tickets for Tuesday for EUR19.90 each way.
BTW Wednesday is a public holiday.

 

[cactustwirly]

If you go to the new Berlin Hbf, ICEs from the deep level (Tief) platforms stop within 10km or so in the suburbs at Gesundbrunnen in the north (trains from Hannover direction terminate there after reversing at Hbf), or rather more frequently at Südkreuz (Leipzig/Halle direction).
Both stations are on the Ringbahn in Zone A.
Hannover trains also stop at Spandau which is a bit further out in Zone B.
I think Berlin Day zonal tickets are valid, but not entirely sure.
Generally DB likes to keep local passengers off long distance trains.
You won't get up any significant speed on these legs, of course.
IC/EC trains towards Dresden and Hamburg also use these routes, but are not usually ICEs.

You can't use an ICE on those tickets.
Anyway they are pick up/set down only at Berlin Hbf (towards Gesundbrunnen) and at Suedkruez.

Just book some Sparpreis tickets to Leipzig etc

 

[Groningen]

Shortest (one of) trip is Berlin Hbf - Berlin Spandau and v.v.. 8 minutes for 8 euro. Hannover Hbf is the speedline, but is one way from 45 euro for a little more of 90 minutes of travel.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

The nearest proper high speed line to Berlin (new build 300km/h+) is that between Leipzig/Halle and Erfurt (and on towards Nürnberg) which is spectacular.
Nearer to Berlin they are upgraded classic lines at 200-250km/h max (and not all that scenic).

 

[gordonthemoron]

The nearest proper high speed line to Berlin (new build 300km/h+) is that between Leipzig/Halle and Erfurt (and on towards Nürnberg) which is spectacular.
Nearer to Berlin they are upgraded classic lines at 200-250km/h max (and not all that scenic).

Most of the line between Berlin and Hanover is a new build, but only 250-280 km/h, and as you say not scenic at all