When you want to travel between cities in Germany your best option could be going by train. Usually this is a great cost effective alternative to using the Autobahn. Especially if you are heading to a large city where parking can be at a premium. Although sometimes using the public transportation system does have its disadvantages.
Traveling by Train
Before coming to Europe I only used public transit once while visiting Washington D.C. We used the subway and bus system to move around the city. Every other city I have visited outside of Europe was just easier to see by car.
One of the first things I wanted to do in Europe was ride the train. I am trying to recall why I was so excited about using the trains. Just yesterday I ran into a group of Americans and I suggested they should ride the trains if they get a chance. It is an exciting experience the first couple of times, but after the new wears off it just becomes another way of getting around.
Riding the train does not come without its problems though. It seems like every third trip I take something happens which delays or postpones my trip. Missing a connection is the common culprit. I am not sure how many times I have missed connecting trains forcing me to wait 20-60 minutes before the next connection. Especially when riding the cheaper regional trains.
I was recently in Hamburg and the last thing I needed was to have problems with my trip. Unfortunately, luck was not on my side. On my way to Hamburg my regional train was delayed and I missed a connection by a couple minutes. Forcing me to wait an hour for the next train to come along. Then, when I made it to Hamburg I misunderstood my friends direction and ended up turning a 20 minute subway trip into a 60 minute tour of the city. A pretty minor problem to have and is a lot better than being suck in a traffic jam on the Autobahn. I just wish my return home had went at least that well.
Traveling by Bus
When I tried to come home everything seemed to be going fine at first. That is until I found out I would have to ride the bus because the tracks were being worked on. The first bus trip was not that bad actually. Everyone moved from the train to the bus relatively quickly and I did not have to wait very long before we were on our way again. The problem came when we reached the next station. I waited over 30 minutes for the regional train to get going. I had already missed my next train and as the day progresses the fewer options there are for later connections. Overall it took me an extra two hours to get home. After riding five trains and two buses I was pretty tired of using the public rail system.
Fortunately my experience that day was a bit unusual. Even though the “new” has worn off from riding the train I still enjoy it. Especially the InterCity and InterCity Express connections. Cursing down the tracks well in excess of 200 kph (125 mph) is a quick way of getting to where you want to go.
