German
and Austrian Train Vocabulary
Ermäßigungen discounts
Gibt es welche Ermäßigungen? Are there any discounted fares?
Ist hier noch frei? You
enter a compartment without a reservation and ask this EVEN IF you see
a free space
Wann fährt der nächste / erste / letzte Zug nach ___________? When is the next / first / last train to X?
Wann sind wir in_____________________? When do we arrive in X?
Geht das direkt oder muß ich umsteigen? Is it a through train or do I have to transfer?
| Types of trains | ||
| Intercity Express | ICE | "Mit Geschwindigkeiten von bis zu 280 km/h" |
| Intercity | IC | "Mit Tempo 200 fahren Sie in die großen Zentren Deutschlands " |
| Eurocity | EC | same as IC but "in Städte des benachbarten Auslands" |
| Interregio | IR | "direkt in größere und mittlere Städte Deutschlands" |
| Metropolitan | day trains for businessmen and tourists "Der Metropolitan denkt nicht in Klassen, sondern in Komfort" | |
| Nachtzug | D
DB Nacht |
overnight train with sleepers |
| Stadtschnellbahn | S | commuter / subway |
| Diagram of a 2nd Class "Großraum" coach |  |
|
| Train Car Types for Reservations | |
| der Sitzwagen | coach |
| der Speisewagen | dining car "Bordrestaurant" |
| der Schlafwagen | sleeper |
| der Liegewagen |  couchette;
"stretch out and sleep with your clothes on with people
of the opposite sex" car |
| Important train vocabulary that has no English equivalent | |
| der Kurswagen | car that goes through from one city to another, perhaps being moved from train to train |
| das Wagenlaufschild | sign on the outside of the car telling what route the car takes; many trains split apart |
| der Wagenstandanzeiger | notice board located on the platform showing the spot where each car of a train stops at that station; gives car numbers and destinations for reserved seats |
| das Wagennummerschild | sign on the car with the car number; for locating reserved seats |
| Signage in train stations and airports | |
| das Reisegepäck | luggage |
| die Schließfächer | lock boxes |
| die Gepäckaufbewahrung | baggage room - for baggage you're storing |
| die Gepäckabgabe/ausgabe | baggage room - for baggage you're checking onto or off of a train |
| Gepäckträgerservice | porters |
| Fahrkarten inland | counter to buy tickets for domestic destinations |
| Fahrkarten ausland | counter to buy tickets for foreign destinations |