Getting On a Train In Germany

Factual Questions
1

ALthough I was born there, I have only been on the train as a youngster, and I understand there is a way to line yourself up so that when the train pulls into the station your are standing right in front of the car in which you are seated, eliminating the run. Can someone explain this to me?

Thanks

Quasi

2

I don’t know how it is in Germany, but in several US subway stations I’ve been in there are differently colored areas on the platform that indicate where the doors of the train cars will be positioned when it comes to a stop.

3

For the long haul trains (fernzuege?) they have a little diagram next to the track which shows the layout for the trains that use that track. Hence, if you are taking ICE 234 from Frankfurt to Basel, it will show this train configuration, with certain cars aligned with certain sections, i.e., 1st class cars in section A, dining car and coach class cars #10-15 in section B, maybe sleep cars in section C. IME you probably can’t line up exactly at the right door, but you can be pretty close. If you have a reserved seat, which can be recommended but not required, you will know which car and seat you are in, and from there figure out which section you should wait in.

[sub]hmmm, Quasimodem? That rings a bell…[/sub]

4

Most trains in Germany do not have assigned seats. You are either in a first class or coach car.

Usually, there are only a couple hundred meters of cars that you can board so you will end up having to walk to your cabin anyway. Usually the first class cars load closest to the station so you will have to walk the least. Then come the coach class cars. The sleepers are usually near first class cabins but I have seen them all the way at the end past the coach cabins.

Mind you, if you want to be in a first class coach you have to pay for a 1st class ticket. I accidentally bought a coach ticket when I had thought I had bought one for first. When the offcer came by she made me move to a coach ticket even thought I offered to pay the difference then and there.

5

The shinkansen in Japan also uses a system where you can look to see where you need to stand to get in the proper car.

The BART trains have markings on the platforms where the doors are supposed to open.

6

Would that this be true for Washington…