S-Bahn Berlin

[reb0118]

Does Deutsch Bahn operate the S-Bahn in Berlin. If so do they accept rail passes eg interrail or eurail & FIP free coupons for railway staff?

 

[gordonthemoron]

DB do still operate S-Bahn in Berlin, for the time being, however the fares are set by BVG (Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe), so I doubt that passes would be accepted

 

[northwichcat]

The ticket machines are all yellow BVG ones at stations with only a S or/and U-bahn services. You need to go to a station like Zoological Garten that has DB Regio services to get DB ticket machines. I've used the yellow ticket machines very recently and didn't notice any ticket options for outside of the Berlin zones*, but saying that I didn't have any intention of travelling beyond Berlin zone C.

*At some S-bahn stations a yellow ticket machine would be your only payment option.

 

[gordonthemoron]

all S-Bahn stations should have the new Red/Grey DB ticket machines which can sell tickets to destinations throughout Germany

 

[northwichcat]

Interesting as I didn't notice any when I was there recently - not that I would have gone around stations where I was changing looking for ticket machines. However, I have remembered that some s-bahn stations had BVG machines by the entrances and blue and grey ones on platforms, but they were like these: http://www.berlin101.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/ticket-machine.jpg and not red DB ones.

 

[gordonthemoron]

DB have said that they've finished replacing the old ticket machines, but perhaps that's only in some parts fo germany

 

[northwichcat]

Or could it be that some of the Berlin ones are VBB's responability opposed to DB's?

 

[gordonthemoron]

possibly, but the picture you posted looks like one of the old DB machines

 

[northwichcat]

Well I'm not an expert on German ticket machines. However, the BVG ones really stand out being yellow and the English language option actually working - something I don't find often with the DB ones.

Going back to the original post is there not an inclusion or exclusion in the general T&Cs for the ticket type. For British National Rail ones it excludes London Underground, Manchester Metrolink and DLR unless otherwise stated.

 

[33056]

Inter Rails (and Eurail) are valid on the Berlin S Bahn, see this document on the Inter Rail site (PDF reader needed).

 

[gordonthemoron]

Nice to see the address of DB long distance services is Stephensonstrasse 1, 60326 Frankfurt

 

[reb0118]

FIP International rail coupons ARE valid on the Berlin S-Bahn however you can't purchase FIP discounted tickets.

I had this confirmed by DBUK and by contacting DB direct.


However I only received this information after returning back from Germany. At the DB ticket counter at Schoeneberg Airport I was advised that FIP coupons are not valid and was offered a "Berlin Welcome Card" instead.

To be fair as we mainly used U-bahn, trams, & buses and got discounts in museums, boat trips, &c I found the welcome card good value.

 

[northwichcat]

However I only received this information after returning back from Germany. At the DB ticket counter at Schoeneberg Airport I was advised that FIP coupons are not valid and was offered a "Berlin Welcome Card" instead.

To be fair as we mainly used U-bahn, trams, & buses and got discounts in museums, boat trips, &c I found the welcome card good value.

If you get the Berlin Welcome Card you need to make sure you check what's the best option for your trip. For example, a 5 day one may be poor value for money if you're there for five days but the day your arrive you just travel to your hotel and the day you leave you just travel to the airport as a 3 day one with two ABC singles will be cheaper. There's also a Berlin City Tour Card that's very slightly cheaper than a Berlin Welcome Card but covers less attractions e.g. it doesn't include Checkpoint Charlie museum while the Welcome Card does.

In Berlin in general I found the single tickets for within the city centre more expensive than singles in other European cities. However, the daytickets are better value for money. Although saying that I do think the single fares you pay to reach the Airports are really good value for money.

 

[reb0118]

That would explain why it was sightly dearer than expected. I was after the "City Tour Card" but got the "Welcome" one instead. However we got slightly bigger discounts on the tours/museums though so probably broke even.

Used a 48hr card which covered us for the three days spent there as opposed to 3x day tickets.

I agree individual tickets from the airport do seem good value.

Thanks for replies.

 

[4SRKT]

Does anyone have mileages for the S- and U-Bahn lines in Hamburg? I went on some recently, but can't enter them in my mileage log because I don't have the details.

 

[33056]

Does anyone have mileages for the S- and U-Bahn lines in Hamburg? I went on some recently, but can't enter them in my mileage log because I don't have the details.

The S bahn distances are in the Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland , an excellent publication - I would love a UK version.
There are some line details on Wikipedia , but you will have to go fishing for the lines that you require.