Germany 2011 Trains

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Types of trains

The DB offers a complete hierarchical assortment of services identified by an alphabet soup of letters.  Here are most of the train types and designations, in descending order of speed and coverage:

ICE (InterCity Express) - The ICE is the flagship of the GermanRail system and provides high-speed connections between the principal metropolitan areas.  Trains usually run every hour or sometimes even more frequently.  There are now several generations of ICE, including new tilting trains which allow for high speed travel on conventional tracks.  (See "High speed trains" below.)

IC/EC (InterCity/EuroCity) - These are high-quality express trains connecting the larger domestic destinations and hubs at speeds sometimes only slightly slower than the ICE.  Trains usually run every hour or two and sometimes share alternating schedules with ICE trains.  Many of these trains travel into adjacent countries as part of the EC (EuroCity) system.

ICN, EN, CNL, NZ (InterCityNight, EuroNight, CityNightLine; Nachtzug) - Various overnight trains providing long-distance sleeping accommodations.

D (Durchgangszug) - The venerable D-Zug is a fairly rapid long-distance train that provides connections on some of the lesser traveled routes or times.  These trains now run almost exclusively overnight.

IRE (InterRegioExpress) - IRE trains are express trains that connect the larger regional cities at regular intervals.

RE (RegionalExpress) - The RE is a regional express train connecting medium-sized towns to the main rail hubs.

RB (RegionalBahn) - The RB is the main local train in the DB arsenal and connects the smallest of towns to the RE system and main rail hubs.

SE (StadtExpress) - A local train that connects medium and large cities to their outlying satellite towns.

S (S-Bahn, Schnellbahn) - Suburban commuter rail service in and around major metropolitan areas.