German train glossary

Zugbindung (Train-specific ticket)

Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis tickets are valid only on the travel days, in the ICE or IC/EC trains and in the class printed on the ticket. In regional trains (product class C) they are valid before and after the booked trains on the booked day and until 10:00 the next day. BB 3.3.1.2, bahn.de

Flexpreis (Flexible fare)

The price set for a particular connection depending on the long-distance product class, the car class, the booking day and the travel day. BB 3.2.1, bahn.de

Sparpreis / Super Sparpreis (Saver fare)

Cheaper tickets issued only as digital tickets. A Sparpreis can be exchanged or refunded only before its first day, for a voucher minus a 10 euro fee; a Super Sparpreis cannot be refunded or exchanged. BB 3.3.1.4, 4.3, bahn.de

Sparpreis Young / Sparpreis Senior (Young and Senior saver fares)

The Young versions are offered for people up to and including 26 years, the Senior versions from the 65th birthday. The age on the day travel starts counts, and staff may ask for official photo ID. BB 3.3.1.1, bahn.de

Produktklasse (Product class)

DB groups trains into the classes ICE (ICE, ICE Sprinter, TGV, Railjet and similar), IC/EC (InterCity, EuroCity) and C for local transport (IRE, RE, RB, S-Bahn and similar). BB 1.4, bahn.de

City-Ticket (City ticket)

Local public transport at the start or end city of a long-distance ticket. It is issued free with a Flexpreis ticket to or from the listed cities and for a fee with saver fares if the journey includes a change within the city area. It is marked "+City" on the ticket. BB 3.5, bahn.de

Fahrpreisnacherhebung (Fare demand notice)

The notice staff issue when you travel without a valid ticket or cannot show one. It cannot be paid on the train. BB 3.8.1, bahn.de

Erhöhtes Beförderungsentgelt (Increased fare)

The penalty for travelling without a valid ticket: twice the normal fare for the distance travelled, at least 60 euros. It drops to 7 euros if you had a valid ticket and prove it within the deadline. EVO section 6, gesetze-im-internet.de

Komfort Check-in (Comfort check-in)

An optional service for digital tickets in selected trains: after boarding you confirm in the DB Navigator app that you are travelling, which normally makes a ticket check at your seat unnecessary. Eligible trains are marked "Komfort Check-in möglich". BB 3.9.2, bahn.de

Wagenreihung (Car sequence)

The order of the cars in a train. On the travel day the DB Navigator shows it under "Fahrtinformationen", including where first and second class, the bistro, the family area and the quiet zone are. 9 tips, no. 6, bahn.de

Gleisabschnitt / Bahnsteigabschnitt (Platform section)

Platforms are divided into sections marked A to F in large letters, so you can wait where your car will stop. 9 tips, no. 6, bahn.de

Ruhebereich (Quiet zone)

Compartments, ICE Lounges or whole cars where mobile calls, ringtones, loud music (including through headphones) and other noisy activities are not welcome. bahn.de Handy- und Ruhebereiche, bahn.de

Handybereich (Phone zone)

Areas marked with a mobile phone symbol that have signal amplifiers, so you can make calls at your seat. bahn.de Handy- und Ruhebereiche, bahn.de

Familienbereich / Kleinkindabteil (Family area)

A reserved seating area in ICE trains for families with children, mainly kindergarten and primary-school age. Families with toddlers are directed to the separate, specially equipped Kleinkindabteil. bahn.de Familienbereich, bahn.de

Handgepäck / Traglast (Hand luggage)

Hand luggage is easily portable items you may carry free of charge and store above or below your seat or on luggage racks. One additional load (Traglast) may be carried if there is enough space in the racks. BB 7.1 and 7.2, bahn.de

BB means the Beförderungsbedingungen der DB AG (terms of carriage), state 7 October 2026. For a vocabulary list with pronunciation see the German train vocabulary guide.