In Baden Württemberg we have a ticket valid (Unsuprisingly called the “Baden Württemberg Ticket” from 0900 on weekdays, for all local trains (trains run by DB Regio: S, RB and RE) in the State, and a lot of bus and city transit services. you can get a €19 version for yourself, or a €28 version for up to five adults and as many children as you can bring along. There’s a similar one in Bavaria (Bayern Ticket) and as far as I know the other states have the same. There is no catch: they are valid on any DB Regional train in the state. If you aren’t sure what that means, there’s usually a network map like this one in the vestibule of regional trains where you can check where the ticket is Gültig (valid) or Ungültig (not valid) Some private companies take them as well, although you’d be advised to check before getting on board. This is pretty handy if you travel by train and you are on a tight budget, like me, or you like exploring. They aren’t so good if you’re in a tearing hurry, but why would you race through the Black Forest anyway?
Until now there’s been a bit of a problem for some of the towns on the Swiss border, specifically for the German towns of Lottstetten und Jestetten, which are on a line run by SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) from Zürich to Schaffhausen wherethe railway map and the politcal map don’t quite coincide. Trouble is that because the BW Ticket is a commercial ticket from DB Regio, and the ticket machines are run by the SBB, they haven’t offered the German ticket (although it is valid on the SBB services which run through Schaffhausen). In Neuhausen am Rheinfall, which has a DB and an SSB station, you could get a BW Ticket at the DB Station (Neuhausen Bad) but not as the SSB one (Neuhausen) Confused?
Fortunately for you, SBB and DB have worked out how to get the Swiss Machines to offer the BW Ticket, from June the 1st 2009 you won’t have to be confused, just look for the “Baden Württemberg ticket” on the SBB machine. Even more fortunate, by being one of the select readers of this blog, you know about it.
Just one request: If you’re travelling, send pictures…
