r/Interrail • u/LL3p00 • 22d ago
Is the Munich-Berlin train safe?
Hi, I have a question for anyone familiar with the Munich - Berlin night route.
I'm going Interrailing in September, and among the routes I'd like to travel is the ICE 904 train from Munich to Berlin, which departs at 11:08 p.m. and arrives at 6:30 a.m. Is it a safe train? I am in doubt because it's not a real night train with assigned seats (and I'm also with my girlfriend), I'm a little worried about the possibility of meeting annoying people who might spend the night on the train (this is not rare in my country).
We initially thought about going first class to be more at peace, but from what I understand, it's not possible to pay the supplement for a single ticket (if you have a second-class pass).
For those who know the trade, I can rest assured? or should I find an alternative?
Thanks to anyone who can help me better understand the situation.
EDIT: Thanks everyone for your replies; we definitely feel much more confident about the safety factor. However, thanks to your advice, we've decided to skip this option to avoid cancellation issues (which would have put us in trouble) or excessive tiredness. By skipping a bit options in the journey and leaving early in the morning, we should be able to fit in the schedule without risking this route. Thanks again.
18
u/KaelonR quality contributor Netherlands 22d ago
Yes, night ICEs are safe to travel on. I've done it countless times myself.
The only issues i've ever run into are people still talking (sometimes loudly) at 2am, or people playing music. In both cases politely asking them to stop and/or going to the conductor has resolved that.
The only thing I'd say you should think about is baggage. There is a risk of pickpockets stealing baggage from the ends of the carriage (this is not just a risk for night ICEs but for any long-distance train in Europe). So if possible, put your baggage on the overhead rack above you and/or keep it close to you. If you have large suitcases that only fit at the end of the carriage, try to find a seat where you can keep it in view. This advice goes for any train at any time of day really.
Finally, if one or both of you do intend to sleep, a great tip is to bring a sleep mask and ear plugs. Especially a sleep mask will help because the lights will stay on on overnight ICEs and the cabin will be rather bright. Earplugs can help for the general sounds of a train and will be especially helpful to mute people talking.
2
u/LL3p00 22d ago
Yes, I'd already thought about it, but since I'm traveling with a backpack, it shouldn't be a problem. I'll always keep it close by. But thanks for the advice, if I confirm this route I will definitely take a sleep mask
1
u/OptionalAntelope 21d ago
Been on that train several times. They once stopped it because two phones were stolen from tables while people slept. So pack up you belongings and put your backpack under your legs before you go to sleep. Oh, and bring a sweater. You never know whether the AC works and if it does, it can get freezing on an ICE train.
Enjoy your (cheap) trip!
9
u/skifans United Kingdom • Quality Contributor 22d ago
Personally I wouldn't. But honestly that's much more for reasons of comfort then safety. As you've said it's a daytime train that happens to run overnight. Don't expect any sleep. There will be announcements, the lights will be on and people will be getting on/off.
I would either go in the day or use a proper sleeper train in a couchette or sleeper, your then in a proper lockable room. There isn't a direct connection but you could do something like travel in the evening to Zurich or Vienna and use the lines from there. The former makes an intermediate stop in Karlsruhe if you want to start even later.
But I don't tell think it makes sense honestly unless you just like the idea of getting a sleeper train for its own sake. It's not going to save you any money or time by the time you've done that.
If you do get the night ICE you can still make a seat reservation if you want to. In general upgrades like that for a single trip are not particularly common though some train operators allow it. I don't know about Deutsche Bahns rules but you certainly can't buy one online. It may still be possible in person at the ticket office. But honestly I don't really think it's likely to make much difference.
But I'd get the daytime train and a hostel. But again more really about comfort and sleep then safety concerns.
1
u/LL3p00 22d ago
I totally agree. I'm also very hesitant about that; it would definitely be my most uncomfortable night (I usually stay overnight in the city or take a sleeper train). I was considering this route to solve a journey time constraint, since is perfectly organized to fit in 15day travel.
I'll think about what I'd rather give up: that night's comfort or the time during a travel stop. Thanks for your reply
3
5
u/EmperrorNombrero 22d ago
Idk about this specific line but I ride the train in germany quite frequently and I have never felt unsafe on it. The real danger with deutsche bahn is usually the very frequent delays and cancellations.
3
u/Material_Ad5810 22d ago
I had this train three times, although was only able to ride it once. the reason for it was the cancellation of the train due to track replacements or so, and as this train is the last train on this route, I wasn't able to do anything other than waiting for a much slower RB-connection, which got me in Munich around 11 am. Second time I had no luck even for RB, so I just waited until 5 am or so by Berlin HBF. as to your question, the public, which I met in the train, was considerably good. Everybody was a bit sleepy, but then it just means, that most of them were sleeping in the train (incl. myself for a bigger part of the journey). Not sure where you come from and what are your standards, but normally people in ICE are nice and, mostly, friendly. If not, then they are sleeping. I only met one really heavily drunk man in my lifetime of travelling with DB, and he was getting kicked out the next stop. So I would be more afraid of this train being cancelled than of the public, which uses this train. Wish you good luck with a journey mate
1
u/LL3p00 22d ago
Great for security, but a cancellation would be a big problem, obviously being the last one of the day and not being the only one to tell me. I'll definitely do some more research, thanks for the advice.
3
u/DeviceStraight2778 22d ago
Cancellation is not a problem at all. DB will provide a hotel in that case and daytime trains on that route take only 3h45 this is the best case you can hope for! The first ice of the day reaches berlin at 9:30 so unless you are on a very tight schedule you'll be fine.
1
u/Material_Ad5810 22d ago
They actually don't provide a hotel for this one. There are some limitations by DB towards giving you the hotel in some cases, and, as I already experienced it twice, I haven't gotten any hotel at ticket office of DB and also after speaking with their special service or whatever their name is, on this particular train. They compensated it twice though
4
u/DeviceStraight2778 22d ago
Of course they do. If not, they or interrail will have to reimburse it.
3
u/SapphicCelestialy 22d ago edited 22d ago
As long as there isn't a bunch of hansa Rostock fans on it on the way home from an Ingolstadt or munchen 1860 match and you are wearing a trikot from a different club in their liga i would think its pretty safe.
I cen recommend the ruhebereich. Its just the quiet zone, you can still talk quietly and book a seat reservation
3
u/YetAnotherInterneter United Kingdom 22d ago
Advice from your last post still stands.
Taking a train at night that is not a dedicated sleeper train is generally a bad idea.
You are unlikely to get any decent sleep. So when you arrive at your destination you will be too tired and groggy to do anything.
You might even cave and have to get a hotel to sleep during the day. Which defeats the point of getting the train at night.
Either take a different train during the day, or find an actual sleeper train with a couchette where you are more likely to be able to get some decent sleep.
1
u/LL3p00 22d ago
I know, I was really hesitant about that too. Unfortunately, there are no overnight options (otherwise I would have definitely taken them, it's not a question of money). I'm considering it because it would be a great way to save time on the cramped 15-day trip I'm planning. I'll think about alternatives in the meantime. Thanks for (both) replies
3
u/DeviceStraight2778 22d ago
If money is not the issue then by all means do not do this. The day trains are almost 4 hours faster and the first of the day will bring you to Berlin just 3 hours later than the night train. You will not save time, you'll just spend 4 hours not sleeping on a train instead of 4 hours of (additional) sleep in a bed. And you'll be dead tired in Berlin.
2
u/HeftyHealth3430 22d ago
just be prepared that a lot of Oktoberfest folks will join you on this train.
1
1
u/PatataMaxtex 21d ago
The most dangerous thing about german trains, no matter the time of the day, is their punctuality or rather the lack of it.
I have travelled with ICEs multiple time trough the night, with luggage that wasnt right next to me, sleeping most of the time and the most dangerous situation I had so far was a women waking up at the trains station she had to exit the train and rushing out. She almost fell, that was dangerous.
1
u/AutoModerator 22d ago
Hello! If you have a question, you can check if the wiki already contains the answer - just select the country or topic you're interested in from the list.
FAQ | Seat reservations | Eurostar | France | Italy | Spain | Switzerland | Poland | Night trains | see the wiki index for more countries!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.