Userpic

Maksaust
Traveller
10 comments

Posted 5 years ago

Have purchased a DB train ticket from Koln to Heidelberg HBF. I was wanting to go The West Rhine Railway, but didn\'t follow your instructions closely OOPS my bad and now want to know if I am able to just get on the other train to rectify my error. I will hopefully be able to explain the mistake.

Have booked Brussels HBF departing 8.10am arriving in Koln HBF at 10.15am IC aa ICE connections and the ticket I can use.
I then booked, Koln HBF to Koblenz to Hochspeyer to Heidelberg these are RE and S2 trains

I should have booked Koblenz to Mainz, Bingen, Mainz, Mannheim, and Heidelberg.
These stops are EC 9, RB26, RE2, IC 2313. and S3 trains

Am I just able to use these tickets as asked previous, or do I have to rebook the tickets?
I have contacted DB and they say that regional trains last 24 hours and you can just hop on and hop off.
How do I get a valid ticket or are these tickets I have already purchase okay to use.
I\'m not sure if these trains are all regional. Hope this is clear.

Follow this topic
Userpic

Quenzon
Traveller
97 comments

replied 5 years ago

Hi Maksaust,

your original connection does go via the West Rhine Railway, the most scenic section is between Koblenz and Hochspeyer. Your train will divert off the West Rhine mainline at Bingen, which is the southern end of the scenic section of the West Rhine Railway anyway. I\'ve never been to Hochspeyer, but it\'s in the middle of the Palatinate Forest, a beautiful hilly woodland area, which you\'ll get to see as an added bonus after going through the Rhine valley. My advice is to stick to your booked schedule, you\'ll have a nice trip!

Without knowing which tariff you booked and what\'s printed on your ticket, I can\'t tell you if it\'s a flexible ticket, whether it\'s refundable or what diversionary routes are allowed.

Best,

Quenzon

Userpic

Maksaust
Traveller
10 comments

replied 5 years ago

Thankyou for this information
Can you clarify if you have the regional train ticket booked 1. does the any train mean only that particular regional railway line booked anytime on the booked day or 2. You can change to any other regional train # along the route? 3 Meaning if I stay with the original ticket I can get on and off as I please. 4. If I decide to detour and take another regional train to another area I can use the same ticket?
Hope that is clear ????

Userpic

Quenzon
Traveller
97 comments

replied 5 years ago

Hi Maksaust,

well, as I said, that depends on what kind of ticket you have. I can only answer your questions if I can determine that, for which I would need the answers to the following questions:

1. Does it say "Normalpreis" or "Flexpreis" anythere on your ticket?
2. Does it say "Sparpreis" or "Super Sparpreis" anythere on your ticket?
3. Is it one ticket all the way through from Brussels to Heidelberg, or do you have two separate tickets for Brussels-Cologne and Cologne-Heidelberg?
4. How much did your ticket cost (if you have several tickets, how much did each of them cost)? Did you book any seat reservations?

Best,

Quenzon

Userpic

Maksaust
Traveller
10 comments

replied 5 years ago

Have two tickets,
1. Brussells to Koln cost €39.80 Sparpriese Europe on ticket. IC3605 and ICE13. No seat reservation, booked on DB
2. Koln to Heidelberg via Kobllen, cost €50.00, no sort of ticket mentioned, RE10511, RE29655, S2. No seat reservation, booked on DB
I thankyou for your help...


Userpic

Quenzon
Traveller
97 comments

replied 5 years ago

Hi Maksaust,

your ticket from Cologne to Heidelberg is a Flexpreis, which has the following conditions:

1. You may take any trains on the day of validity and on the specified route. You can step off and get on a later train at any time.
2. You are NOT allowed to divert from your prescribed route (Köln - Koblenz - Hochspeyer - Heidelberg). You MUST follow this route.
3. You may only take local trains (IRE, RE, RB, and S trains), you are NOT allowed to take long-distance trains (ICE, IC, EC).
4. Your ticket is fully refundable until one day before departure.

Between Brussels and Cologne, you have a Sparpreis Europa, which means you MUST travel on the trains specified on the ticket ( IC3605 and ICE13).

Have a nice trip!

Quenzon

Userpic

Maksaust
Traveller
10 comments

replied 5 years ago

Thank you that is great information and gives me a better understanding of European tickets. You explained well and will now do as you suggested in your reply and use these tickets.
These tickets were purchased when they first were released to change now and repurchase is so much more expensive also.
Thanks again.

Userpic

Quenzon
Traveller
97 comments

replied 5 years ago

You\'re very welcome :)