Some hints on railroading in Germany

You don't need the all-German timetable ('Kursbuch') to get along quite well if you follow these simple basic rules:

• The service in the West is better than in the East.
• You can rely on the backbone of the ICE/EC/IC/IR inner net with trains running at least every other hour, usually every one! (In some highly frequented areas three times an hour.)
• Some ICE/EC/IC/IR may also connect to less important cities (outer net).
• They always run at the same minute after the hour and they are very punctual.
• On more than 90 percent of the railway lines there are more than just a few trains every day. Almost certainly there is a service of at least one train every other hour, usually there's better service.
• Missed a train? You may or may not be well-advised to take the very next. On many lines there are different trains stopping not at the same stations. (Typically one train may stop at many stations and an hour later the next train stops at fewer stations and the next train after that one stops again everywhere... Because of this mixed service it is good advice to check if using a short-distance train is an option when you missed a long-distance train. Check first! Many short-distance trains stop at rural stations and wait to let a long- distance train pass. In that case it would be better to wait for the faster long-distance train....
• Short-distance service is somewhat limited on Saturdays and Sundays and public holidays (no rush hour back-up trains; usual trains run less frequently.) Nevertheless, nearly all long-distance trains usually do run on these days. heck before traveling on less important lines on weekends!

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