German transport. Air and land transport in Germany What is the public transport system in Germany

The main factor in the steady economic growth of Germany is the intensification and modernization of production, which requires not only the introduction of new technologies and scientific developments, but also the development of transport and related infrastructure.

Transport system in Germany

The market and market relations are unthinkable without the interaction of producers and consumers of goods and services. Development is inextricably linked with an increase in the scale of domestic and foreign trade. The times when the leisurely Rhine was the only trade route are long gone. Today the transport system is one of the leading in the world. For 1 km 2 of German land, there are about two kilometers of various roads and communications. Main modes of transport in Germany:

  • Railway.
  • Automotive.
  • Air.
  • Water.

Separately, it is worth mentioning the slow transport - pipeline, which accounts for about 4% of the total cargo turnover of the republic.

Railways

The first regular railway service was opened in Bavaria in the winter of 1835. The locomotive train ran between Nuremberg and Fürth twice a day, delivering cargo and passengers.

Today, in terms of the length of railways (44 thousand km), Germany ranks sixth, and in terms of concentration - first place in the world. Almost half of them are electrified. The main cargo carrier is the DB concern (Deutsche Bundesbahn), which united the rail lines of the western and eastern lands, includes three divisions: Mobility, in charge of passenger traffic, Logistic (cargo flow and logistics) and Networks (maintenance of the service sector and infrastructure). Despite the improvement of the rolling stock and the efforts of the government, the volume of cargo turnover is gradually declining.

Railway transport in Germany is focused more on the transport of passengers. The fleet of high-speed express trains (ICE) is being developed, the route speed is increasing (average - 240 km / h, maximum on the route Berlin - Hannover - up to 450 km / h). The basic fare is quite high: for first class cars - 0.41 euros / km, second - 0.27.

IN mountainous areas countries operate rack railways. For the entertainment of tourists, several routes with steam locomotives and retro cars have been preserved.

Motor transport

At the end of the twentieth century, thanks to a developed network of roads, including more than 40 thousand km of federal highways and almost 13 thousand km of autobahns (multi-lane highways with a constructive separation of flows in the opposite direction), automobile transport Germany provided more than 60% of cargo transportation and up to 90% of the country's passenger traffic. According to the Federal Motor Transport Office, the total number of vehicles in the country is approaching 60 million, with a density of 640 vehicles per thousand inhabitants.

Although in many major cities entrance to central regions transport is prohibited, problems with parking are very relevant. In addition to specially designated areas for cars of disabled drivers, there are separate parking spaces for cars driven by representatives of the beautiful half of humanity.

Germany is the only European country with no speed limits on the autobahns. Permitted on other roads maximum speed 100 km/h, in settlements- 50 km/h.

Air communication

Air transport in Germany can be briefly described by the advertising slogan of the largest air carrier Lufthansa - The best way fly!

The heavenly paths for cargo and passengers were blazed in 1909 by the German airship company. The most famous "Graf Zeppelin" made 590 commercial flights to various parts of the world, covering more than one and a half million kilometers. The development of domestic and foreign airlines was promoted by the Junkers company, which began mass production of passenger aircraft in the first half of the 20th century.

Today Germany binds major centers republics with other countries of the world (the share of domestic flights is very small). The largest of 16 international airports, which occupies the first place in Europe in terms of cargo turnover, is located in Frankfurt am Main.

waterways

Shipping routes on the territory of the republic have a total length of about 7 thousand km. The volume of cargo transported through them reaches 260 million tons per year. Only a third part is accounted for by domestic transportation. The Rhine is an important transport artery. Regular steamship traffic along it was established in the late 90s of the century before last. Currently, up to 120 ships ply the Rhine daily. with complex lock systems connect it with the Danube, Elbe, Rhone and Weser.

Seaports in Germany have a very disadvantageous geographical position and are far removed from the main industrial regions. Therefore, the main international trade is conducted through the Dutch harbors at the mouth of the Rhine, whose share in Germany's foreign trade cargo turnover is greater than that of all ports of the republic.

City messages

Public transport in Germany has the most developed and efficient infrastructure in the European Union. Represented by the following divisions:

  • Metro. Operates in 19 major cities. The most extensive and oldest network, founded in 1902, belongs to the Berlin Underground (10 lines, 173 stations).
  • Overhead suburban trains. Although they form an independent transport network, traffic patterns in many cities are closely linked to the "underground".
  • Buses and trams. Bus traffic is well organized. Stops can be found by the letter "H", green. Most stops are equipped with information screens showing the bus arrival time. Tram communication is most developed in the Eastern lands and in Bavaria. Some routes are laid underground.

Comfort lovers can use the services of numerous taxi companies or rent a car.

There is an alternative!

Inspired by the example of their neighbors - the Danes and the Dutch, the Germans also carried out their "pedal revolution". The starting point in 2002 was the national cycling development plan. Within a decade, an extensive network of D-Netz was created, based on 12 federal cycle roads, with a total length of 10.2 thousand km. Bicycle transport in Germany has become an equal segment of the country's infrastructure.

Constantly improving service on trans-regional cycling routes has made cycling comfortable, and every year the profit from this type of tourism is growing rapidly.

Since 2008, about 3 million euros have been allocated annually from the federal budget for the development of various bicycle projects, and as dividends - positive effects in the areas of public health and the environment, and road safety.

A little about electric vehicles

Characteristic features of the development of transport in Germany and industry as a whole are the minimization, and in the future, the elimination of the dependence of the country's economy on energy imports. That is why Germany is the undisputed leader among European countries for the development of electric vehicles. And if in 2011 the fleet of electric vehicles consisted of only 2.3 thousand cars, then, according to the plans of the authorities, by 2020 their number will reach a million, and over the next decade it will increase by another six times.

The solution promises to be comprehensive: the necessary structure will also be developed in parallel - the allocation of separate lanes for traffic, specialized parking spaces, the creation of a network of points for recharging batteries. Owners of electric vehicles are already exempt from paying transport fees for 5 years, and in the future this period will increase by 2 times.

The German business community and the government plan to allocate 18 billion euros for the implementation of these ambitious plans.

Main directions of development

The industry and transport of Germany make full use of scientific and technological progress to modernize their structures and technologies.

German firms are increasing the production of electric bicycles, in which motor-wheels with a power of up to 300 watts act as propellers. Eliminating the transmission significantly increases the efficiency of the electric drive. The use of nickel-metal hydride batteries will increase the cruising range without recharging up to 50 km.

Improvement continues railway transport top class for international routes. The search for alternatives to trains with distributed traction is being carried out, since the complete maintenance of an entire train of motor cars is associated with certain difficulties.

Despite the diversity, complexity and capital intensity of the processes, German transport strives to meet the promising requirements of the country's industry and society, in compliance with all environmental standards and requirements that are becoming tougher day by day.

The German public transport network is one of the best in Europe. The most convenient way to get around Germany is by car or train, but the bus is also quite good.

Water transport

Two seas, lakes and rivers - this is quite enough for the thorough development of water transport.

The main routes run between

  • the Frisian Islands and Lower Saxony;
  • the North Frisian Islands in Schleswig-Holstein;
  • Helgoland, which also belongs to Schleswig-Holdstein;
  • The islands of Pehl, Rügen and Hiddensee in Western Pomerania.

Vessels move regularly along some sections of the Rhine, Elbe and Danube. There are ferries on lakes such as the Chiemsee and Lake Starnberg in Bavaria and Lake Constance in Baden-Württemberg. From April to October, you can sign up for one of the cruises on the picturesque lakes of Germany. Their duration is from 1 hour to the whole day.

Hitchhiking in Germany

Hitchhiking (in German it sounds like trampen) is not safe, and no one has the right to advise this type of transportation. However, in some rural areas of Germany, public transport is difficult, for example, in the foothills of the Alps and the Bavarian Forest, and residents of these areas often get to the cities by hitchhiking. When deciding to hitchhike, be aware of the risk you are taking. It is safest to travel in pairs and with someone who more or less knows the geography of the surroundings.

Buses and trams are popular public transport in Germany

The bus is the most common type of public transport, which has a wide network throughout the country. Buses run at regular intervals, less frequently on holidays and weekends. Some cities have night routes.

The tram network is also well developed. It is popular because they drive faster because of the dedicated dedicated lane. Travel cards for buses and trams are only for one day.

If there is a train station nearby, it is better to take the train. As a rule, buses are slower and much less reliable, but in some rural areas this form of public transport is the only lifeline, as other forms are not available. This is especially true for the Harz mountains, the Bavarian forest and the foothills of the Alps. IN different areas separate bus companies operate, each with its own fares and routes.

The frequency of maintenance ranges from "rarely" to "always". suburban routes limited traffic is typical, in the evenings and on weekends there are often no buses at all. Keep this in mind when heading to remote areas.

In cities, all buses converge at the central bus station (Busbahnhof or Zentraler Omnibus Bahnhof/ZOB), which is often close to the railway station. Tickets are sold at kiosks on bus stations or drivers. Travel and special tourist tickets are on sale.

Deutsche Touring

Deutsche Bahn's subsidiary, Deutsche Touring (069-790 350; www.deutsche-touring.com) operates three tourist destinations:

Romantische Strasse is a popular tourist tour

This is the most popular tour that runs between Würzburg and Füssen from April to October. There are also branches from Würzburg to Frankfurt and from Füssen to Munich. Fares: Frankfurt-Munich - 99 euros one way / 138 euros - return, - Füssen - 59 euros / 81 euros, Rothenburg ob der Tower - Füssen, 46 euros / 64 euros.

Burgenstrasse - palaces and castles are waiting for you!

Dozens of castles and palaces await you along the route from Mannheim to through Rothenburg ob der Tauer. The tour operates from May to September. Prices: - , 48 euros one way / 66 euros return. - Heidelberg, €32/€45.

Strasbourg - Reutlingen

Year-round tour from Strasbourg, to Reutlingen via the Black Forest, Freudenstadt and. Prices: Reutlingen - €25 one way, €35 return. Freudenstadt - , 13 euros.

According to the route, you can stop in any of the cities as much as you want, and then take the next bus of this tour. Tickets can be booked by phone or bought online. Those with Eurail and German Rail passes get a 60% discount, people under 25 and over 60 get a 10% discount, and children aged 4 to 12 pay half the ticket price.

You can carry bicycles with you, but for this you need to buy a ticket three days in advance. The fee for its transportation is from 3 to 15 euros, depending on the distance traveled.

Cars and motorcycles

German roads are of excellent quality, driving on them is a pleasure. The length of the route is 11 thousand kilometers, plus an extensive network of secondary and country roads. There is no charge for travel.

Along every highway you will find gas stations, toilets, cafes every 40-60 km, many of them are open around the clock. Between them are rest stops (Rastplatz) - these are picnic tables and toilets. Points for emergency calls to rescue services are located at a distance of 2 km from each other. Just open the metal shutter of the machine and follow the instructions.

Always fasten your seat belt while driving. The fine for this violation is 30 euros. In the event of an accident, an unfastened seat belt is deprived of insurance. Children under 12 must ride in a special car seat, under 13 they are not allowed to ride in the front. Motorcyclists must wear helmets. enjoy mobile phone while driving is prohibited.

Parking in the center is limited and costs between 0.5 and 2 euros per hour. Many cities have electronic parking management systems that will tell you where to park. Parking on the street is paid and short-term - you can leave the car for an hour or two. For longer periods, parking is available outside the city center and in Park & ​​Ride areas.

Car rental

A person who is at least 25 years of age has the right to rent a car, with driving license and credit card. Some agencies provide this service to younger drivers as well, but at an additional cost. The least fortunate are those under 25 and without a credit card, although some companies accept cash or travelers checks.

All major international car rental companies have their branches in cities. Here are their contact details:

order can be placed by phone. Be sure to ask about discounts and promotions.

Car rental prices vary by brand, rental time and location. On average, this is about 35 euros per day, plus insurance and taxes. You will have to pay extra for rent at the airport and at the train station. Child seats are rented for about 5 euros per day. When booking, you need to order them.

If you pre-order and pay in advance in your country, you will get much cheaper. Visit the websites of major travel agencies and car rental companies such as Auto Europe or UK-based Holiday Autos.

Car insurance

According to German law, all vehicles subject to compulsory insurance. The Germans are quite fussy, your car may well be pushed a little to get through in case of a difficult parking situation, and in the absence of insurance, you will have to pay the cost of the entire car.

When renting a car, make sure that the documents include liability insurance as a minimum. A contract with a rental agency will never include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) or Loss Damage Waiver (LDW). This type of insurance is optional, but recommended. pass through credit card.

German trains are the best transport not only in Germany but also in Europe

The German railway system is considered one of the best in Europe. Railways cover 41,000 km - it is also the most extensive network serving over 7 thousand cities. For your convenience, provided wide range services and opportunities.

Virtually all trains are owned by Deutsche Bahn (DB; book by calling 118 61, Additional Information By free phone 0800-150 7090, website: www.bahn.de), but there are also private lines, such as the LausitzBahn in Saxony and the Bayerische Oberlandbahn in Bavaria.

The Deutsche Bahn website has been translated into English. You can find out all the information about buying tickets, types of trains and movements along the lines, see route maps, etc.

On many railway stations there are tourist centers (Reisezentrum), where you can not only buy tickets, but also plan your travel route. If the station is small, there may not be such a center, in which case you will have to buy a ticket from a machine. There are quite a few of them, they are convenient to use and save time on standing in line at the checkout. There are instructions for English language. AND tourist centers, and ticket machines accept credit cards.

You can buy a ticket directly on the train, but in this case a service fee of 2-7 euros is charged (this happens if the machines do not work due to emergency).

A ticket for a trip over 50 km can be purchased online 10 minutes before departure without extra charge. The conductor will need to provide a credit card and a printout of the ticket.

The cost per cell in the storage locker is from 0.5 to 3 euros per day. Large stations are equipped with lockers (Gepäckaufbewahrung), they cost more than lockers. If you leave your luggage for one night, you will be charged for two full days.

Travel expenses

The cost of a standard train ticket is quite expensive. Savings will help promotions, discounts and Special offers which are constantly changing. To find out detailed information about current promotions, go to the website of the railway company or ask at the ticket office of the station. A one-way ticket from Munich to, for example, costs 115 euros for a seat in second class and 175 euros for a seat in first class.

Depending on how much you plan to travel by train, you can cut costs by purchasing a rail pass or using special promotion. Always be up to date with all the offers - all the information is on the website www.bahn.de

"Nice-Weekend-Ticket" is the best railway promotion in Europe. Thanks to it, the four of you can go anywhere in Germany in one day from 00:00 Saturday or Sunday until 03:00 the next day for only 30 euros. You can only travel on IRE, RE, RB and S-Bahn trains in second class.

Ländertickets are essentially a variation of the "Nice-Weekend-Ticket", but they are valid on any day of the week and are limited to travel within certain German states. Prices differ slightly - from 22 to 27 euros. Some areas offer cheaper options for single passengers, priced at 17-21 euros per ticket. Ländertickets are valid from 19:00 to 06:00 and are available in Berlin, Brandenburg and Munich.

Ticket booking

Long-distance travel tickets are recommended to be booked in advance, especially if you plan to travel on Sunday afternoons, public holidays and summer. The reservation fee is from 3 to 6 euros for a group of up to 5 people. If you book a seat at the time of ticket purchase, then the price will drop to 1.5 - 3 euros. Tickets can be booked online.

Local public transport in German cities

Most German cities have a well-developed public transport network that is particularly punctual. In large cities such as and, comprehensive transport networks have been created that combine buses, trams, subways and suburban trains.

Prices depend on the area and travel time. Sometimes a ticket needs to be stamped for it to be valid. For travel "hare" a fine is charged.

Developed networks in metropolitan areas suburban trains called S-bahn. It is a fast mode of transport covering a wider area than buses and trams, but trains are less frequent than other forms of public transport. Often S-bahn lines link up with the national road network, connecting major cities. Rail passes can generally be used on local rail lines as well.

Move faster than anyone German city you can take the metro, or U-bahn. Route maps are posted at all stations, and at many of them you can get a printed version of the map. The frequency of train arrivals varies according to demand. For example, there are more trains during peak hours than during the middle of the day. You can buy a ticket for the metro from a special machine at the station.

German air transport

Major cities and most smaller towns have their own airports. Lufthansa has the most extensive network of routes. Other carriers operating in Germany include Air Berlin, Cirrus Air and Germanwings.

Air travel is not faster movement by train, unless you are flying from one end of the country to the other (you also need to take into account the time to get to and from the airport). Major carriers often attracted good prices for domestic flights.

Biking

All Germans love to ride bicycles, and to work, and to fitness, and just for fun. Many cities have cycle paths. Wearing helmets while riding is optional, but recommended, especially for children. Each bicycle must be equipped with a white headlight at the front and a red one at the rear, and yellow reflectors on the wheels and pedals.

Cycling is allowed on main roads, but not on motorways. Every cyclist must follow the same traffic rules as a motorist.

Bicycle rental and purchase

Bicycle rentals can be found near railway stations. The cost per day ranges from 9 to 25 euros per day, and from 35 to 85 euros per week, it all depends on the model of the bike. For rental you need an identity document. Some rentals offer bicycle repair and storage services. Most hotels have bike racks, often free of charge.

If you are planning to travel for several weeks or longer, it is cheaper and easier to buy a used bike than to rent one or bring your own. The simplest "two-wheeled friend" will cost you about 60 euros, and for some refurbished models they will ask for more than 200 euros. You can buy at flea market, or find store addresses through newspapers, magazines, bulletin boards or via the website www.zweitehand.de (only available in German).

Bicycles can be transported on trains, but for this you will need to buy a separate ticket (Fahrradkarte). It costs 8 euros on trains long distance(IC and EC, advance booking required) and €3.5 on regional trains (IRE, RB, RE and S-Bahn). Bicycles are not allowed on ICE high-speed trains. More information can be found at local railway stations, by phone hotline- 01805-151 415 and in the Bahn & Bike brochure (in German).

Many regional companies have buses with dedicated bike racks. Bicycles can be transported on all ferries in Germany.

Data

The whole of Germany is divided into urban transport zones, which are served by one or another company. Each such firm has, so to speak, "subordinate" to many tariff zones, with one zone most often corresponding to one large population and its province. When several adjacent firms decide to merge, there is "Transport Union". In the case of, for example, Halle and Leipzig, this union is MDV.

Therefore, ordinary tickets are sold according to the “one ticket - one zone” system and are valid within this zone for all types of transport: metro, buses, trolleybuses, trams, short-range trains. If you need to get on any transport to another zone, then you need to buy either multi-ticket to several tariff zones, or, when moving outside the first zone, get off at the nearest stop, buy another ticket, and only then continue the journey. Buying multi-tickets is more profitable, as you only need to pay VAT for them once and, as a result, they are cheaper (and yes, due to this we save paper, thereby saving the environment).

Transport types

In Germany, there are absolutely all types of transport, if we take the country as a whole. If we consider each city separately, then

  • Subways are only available in major cities.
  • tram lines - a privilege of East Germany (former GDR) and Bavaria
  • buses - everywhere
  • trolleybuses have almost become obsolete, today cities with trolleybus connections can be counted on the fingers of one hand

Tickets

Tickets can be purchased at three locations:

  • at the branch of the transport company serving this area
  • in vending machines that stand at almost every stop (shown on the line diagram with a special icon)
  • in vending machines inside the vehicle (they accept payment only by credit card and not every car has them. Basically, the presence of such a vending machine is indicated by a special sticker on the front door)

The vending machines on the streets look like this:

You can pay in them both by card and in cash. In the case of the latter, you need to be careful: machines accept almost any bill, but give change exclusively small change! Therefore, I highly do not recommend giving them more than 10 euros :-)

In the first week of my life in Germany, I overpaid a lot for tickets, because I did not know (and there was no one to find out from anyone) how this or that ticket differed from the rest. Therefore, the next part will be of interest to those who do not plan to constantly drive a car. Others can safely scroll the page down to the next section.

Ticket types

In vending machines you can buy:

  • Single ticket. These tickets needs to be activated breaking them in special machines (available in every tram / bus). The machine puts the date and time on them, the countdown starts after activation. If you bought a ticket, but didn't break through then in case of control you will be forced to pay a fine (40 euros per person). The same applies to old-style train tickets.
  • Ticket for four. With this ticket, either four people can ride once within an hour, or one person can travel four times. For each time / each person, the ticket must be punched from a new side.
  • Day ticket. Well, everything is clear here. You do not need to punch this ticket, it is valid in one zone until four in the morning of the next day after purchase. You can buy a group day ticket that can be used by five people.
  • Weekly ticket. Acts on calendar week, until 4 am Monday next week. This means that if you buy a weekly ticket on Friday, you can only use it three days, not seven.
  • Monthly ticket. Valid from midnight on the first day of the current calendar month until 12:00 on the first day of the next. A cheaper version of the ticket is the "after 9:00" ticket, which on weekdays is valid only after 9:00 in the morning.
  • Ticket for a year. The name speaks for itself. The ticket is very expensive even by German standards. For orientation: its price in Halle is 450 euros. During certain hours, the ticket allows you to bring either one adult, or three children, or a dog with you free of charge.

Almost all of the above tickets fall into three categories:

  • Ticket for one zone. Valid for all modes of transport for one hour for one person.
  • Short distance ticket. Valid for the next four stops in the case of a tram / bus OR four kilometers in the case of a train, and you can only drive with it to the next stop, regardless of whether it is four or two kilometers away.
  • Children's ticket. Children preschool age ride for free. Students under the age of thirteen pay slightly less than adults.

In the office of the transport company you can also order subscription(on the terms of a monthly ticket, only a little cheaper) or student ID(for 6 months). The latter is extremely profitable: it costs the same as 2 tickets for a month for an adult.

Stops

Many stops in Germany, especially in the eastern part, are terribly thought out. An extreme case is the glazed rear side, the side walls are missing (to feel all the charm of the German wind), and the seats are made of iron, which makes them completely useless in the cold season. The next modification of such stops is stops with large gaps between the side and rear walls, to form strong wind aimed at the seat.

However, there are also ideal stops, with a slightly sloping canopy (to allow rainwater to roll off), with plastic seats and sealed walls that are only open on one side.

Almost every stop has an electronic scoreboard, which shows which transport line will arrive next, how long it will take and what is the final stop of this line.

But you and I are interested in a lot of information signs hanging either on separate poles (as in the picture above) or under glass on a special stand near advertising.

signboards

This is how the scheme of daytime tram and bus lines of the city of Halle looks like. Usually there is a diagram with a different color scheme hanging nearby, which shows which lines run at night. The diagram shows the zone number of the given city, neighboring zones are highlighted in light yellow, and stops in which 2 or more tariff plans are in operation are shown in gray. This means that if you do not need to buy any multi-ticket for this zone. Bus lines are shown in dotted lines, tram lines are shown in solid lines. A little man on an orange background means that construction work is going on in this place and transport is forced to move around for a while.

For each route, a leaflet of the following type hangs at a single stop:

In our case, tram line 94 is a night line, so it only runs between nineteen and three o'clock Monday through Friday. The first column is hours. The numbers in the second and third columns indicate the minutes, respectively. The weekday schedule is always different from the weekend schedule, many routes on Saturdays and especially on Sundays do not go in principle. The letters near may indicate that at this time the tram:

  • even goes to sylvester (New Year)
  • does not go to sylvester
  • goes even on holidays
  • will be of the old model, i.e. with steps ( important information for people in wheelchairs, mothers with babies, the elderly)

The stop at which we are standing is circled, the numbers next to each circle indicate the travel time to the next stop in minutes (counting from the current one). Black circles mean that this number of stops can be traveled with a special ticket for a short distance. For the rest, you will need a "single" ticket.

Even at the stops, there may be a scheme of tariff zones, which are assigned to this association, but there is no practical benefit from this scheme for the traveler.

Lyrics

Personally, I use all forms of transport that my semester ticket allows me to use. During this time, several things became clear to me: firstly, to wash windows in public transport, contrary to the beliefs of our domestic colleagues, not difficult. Proven by the Germans. Secondly, disabled people and children are also people, for them even a series of low-slung trams is not a good thing to release. Speaking for the disabled, for the first time in my life I saw something like this: in Berlin, buses, when stopping, lower the suspension from the side of the stop, thus tilting one side to the ground, so that it would be easier for wheelchairs and their owners to get up.

And there are many such examples. For example, door opening buttons for children, which are slightly lower than the adult button, so that children do not feel infringed on the rights to open the door on their own. Or announcements about nearby attractions before each stop, which in large cities are pronounced at once in several languages. The seats in the transport are upholstered with soft and, most importantly, clean a fabric that is pleasant to sit on. Each tram-bus-metro is video monitored through several cameras located at the exit, so the damage caused by vandals and cattle is minimal.

In conclusion, I will dilute a barrel of honey with the only minus I noticed: the route schedule leaves much to be desired. On weekends, it is almost impossible to move, especially if the route has transfers. Perhaps that is why every German has in his arsenal, if not a car, then a bicycle, but more often both.

Update from 17.05. As Sergej Kukujzev rightly noted, in the case of buses, tickets can be bought directly from the driver. In this case, you will be informed of the ticket price immediately after you name the end point of your route.

The transport system of the newly reunited Germany and the GDR is famous for its reliability and safety. Scrupulous Germans, who try to do any job with high quality and on time, rightfully consider their roads to be the best in the world. Excellent railroads bus routes and the famous autobahns connect the cities of Germany. A trip on any type of transport will not bring the passenger anything but true pleasure.

Public transport in Germany and air travel…

In major cities you will find extensive metro networks which are very convenient to use. If desired, the metro staff will call for you by phone Taxi. Interestingly, for very short trips lasting less than five minutes, there is a special rate.

Some, however, prefer to use exclusively buses . Buses in Germany considered to be the cheapest mode of transport. You can buy a ticket for a long-distance bus directly before the trip at the bus station.

In addition to " Lufthansa", most famous German airline , there are also Air Berlin and Circus Airlines all of them are distinguished by reliability and punctuality. Lufthansa will provide flights to any major German city and transport passengers abroad. If you are going to travel around the country, no matter how much you want to save time, first compare the prices of the train and the plane, as the difference can be quite significant.

Bicycle and water transport in Germany

In Germany paths for cyclists very easy to find - they are marked with red bricks. The authorities, however, do not like it when bicycles ply in the center of big cities. It is more profitable to travel around the surroundings on this type of transport. Almost any travel agency in Germany will offer you free bike path maps.

Water transport has been most developed in Frankfurt, Cologne and Düsseldorf due to the presence of large water arteries. Travelers are in demand one-day and three-day cruises on the Rhine and Moselle. There are several companies offering boat trips with a stop on the beach and wine tasting.

Driving in Germany

It's nice to note that driving on the luxury autobahns of Germany no need to pay extra. True, this only applies to travelers. on cars . In order not to upset the road guardians of the law, it is enough follow a few simple rules :

* seeing blue and white sign, which depicts frolicking children, quickly lose speedup to 5 km/h;

* do not allow the presence of alcohol in the blood, exceeding the value of 0.5 ppm;

* remember that overtaking on the right is classified as a prohibited and dangerous act;

* in case of forced stops outside special areas, install an emergency triangle.

Remember that most German drivers behave quite aggressively on the autobahns. This is especially true for parts of the road where speed is not limited. Change lanes with extreme care - Ge Rman motorcyclists can suddenly pop up out of nowhere. It is also recommended to stay in the middle lane for some time if slow drivers block the right passage.

Nuances associated with the purchase of tickets

By purchasing railway ticket, pay attention to the class and type of train - it can be high-speed or regional. As a rule, single tickets differ enough high cost, so it would be better to pay close attention to discount options. When traveling to nearby cities and towns, be sure to look into the offers of the local transport system, as it will cost you several times less. Children under the age of 6 are admitted to all vehicles without a ticket.

However, there are circumstances in which a teenager under 14 also does not need a ticket, provided that the accompanying relative has one of the following documents:

* a ticket issued by the feds;

* Sparpreise fare ticket;

* Normalpreis fare ticket.

single tickets travelers can order both on the website of transport companies and purchase them from vending machines. This, of course, requires at least minimal knowledge German language. If you are traveling with a group or family, then it will be more profitable to purchase group ticket. Don't forget also take advantage of special offers high speed trains(you can find it in this link). And also here on the DB website you can find the desired route, station and find out the price of a train ticket (ZHMI). Still, as an option, you can buy tickets immediately at the station in special machines or from railway employees.

Let's take for clarity German trams and travel to them. In Berlin, a one-way tram ride will cost between 1.70 euros and 3.30 euros depending on the zone, while the ticket will be valid for only 2 hours. (prices)

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For the economic development of the country, a high level transport support vital. The roads throughout the country are excellent, the Germans keep them in perfect order. Traffic rules are strictly enforced. Not in Germany toll roads, a certain fee is charged for entering the center of some cities and other fees that may be established by local authorities. Fines for traffic violations are significant, the average amount is several tens of euros, payment can be made by card on the spot.

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For the economic development of the country, a high level of transport provision is vital. After the end of the Second World War, Germany needed to recover quickly, and the authorities paid special attention to the construction of roads. Therefore, now we can say with confidence that in this country the transport system is one of the best in the world and certainly the most developed in Europe.

The roads throughout the country are excellent, the Germans keep them in perfect order. Traffic rules are strictly enforced. There are no toll roads in Germany, a certain fee is charged for entering the center of some cities and other fees that may be established by local authorities. Fines for traffic violations are significant, the average amount is several tens of euros, payment can be made by card on the spot.

Public transport: fares and other rules of use

All types of transport are represented in the cities: buses, trams, trolleybuses, metro, and there are also high-speed trams. The ticket is the same for all types of urban transport, the cost is different in each city. In Berlin, ticket prices are not the highest, perhaps the most expensive public transport in Munich. The ticket price, as a rule, depends on the number of stations and transfers.

It is much more convenient and profitable for tourists to use travel cards for several days or a week, which can be purchased at ticket offices and special machines. The Welcome Card is very popular, it gives a number of advantages to the owner: significant discounts, the right to free admission to museums, etc.

Entrance to the bus or tram is made only through the front door, tickets must be stamped before boarding at a stop in special machines or already on the bus. You can also buy a ticket from the driver, but only for one trip. The fine for traveling without a ticket is an average of 60 euros. The bus follows exactly the route. Metro in large cities exists both underground and surface, it operates from 4-00 am to 1-00 am.

In Germany, both tourists and locals rarely use taxi services, simply because it is expensive. On average, the trip will cost 15 euros, discounts exist when traveling a short distance, less than 2 km, as well as for certain categories of passengers, for example, for women at night. Taxis can be ordered by phone, hailed on the street, or picked up at the parking lot.

In cities and smaller towns, you can rent a bike or car. It is important to follow the rules of the road, the Germans strictly monitor compliance with the speed limit and the implementation of other rules.

Railway

Traveling by rail in Germany is very convenient, an extensive network reaches the most remote corners, this is the main transport artery of the country. Trains are modern, comfortable, equipped with the latest technology, it is possible to access the Internet on the way. The route and the next station are displayed on special boards in the cars. Tickets can be purchased at the box office, on the website of the German railway, buy when landing from the conductor. There are express trains that only stop at major stations. Ticket prices are quite high, getting from Berlin to Dortmund is 3.5 hours on the way - you can train for 87 euros.

River and air communication

The Rhine River is the main artery of river transport, and many channels connected to each other also stretched across the country. By ferry or boat you can get to some major cities, such as Bremen or Hamburg. The ticket price is about 76 euros.

The economical Germans rarely use flights within the country, preferring express trains. However, if you use low-cost airlines, then the flight can cost up to 25 euros.

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