Part II: Planning Your Trip to Germany in Visual Studio .NET

Printer Denso QR Bar Code in Visual Studio .NET Part II: Planning Your Trip to Germany

car in scenic areas, such as the Schwarzwald (Black Forest; 17) or the Romantic Road in Bavaria ( 16), enables you to explore the countryside more easily

In Germany, a train is called an Eisenbahn (eye-sen-bawn) or a Zug (zoog) I recommend traveling by train above all other forms of transportation especially if you re a first-time visitor to Germany Traveling by train is fast, fun, and convenient The railway system in Germany is operated by Deutsche Bahn (DB; German Rail) If you need any kind of train-related information while you re in Germany from timetables to fares and special services call DB s general information number at % 11861 (From outside Germany, call % 49-1805-996633; regular calling charges apply for both numbers) Someone who speaks English will be available to help you You also can access train information online, in English, at DB s Web site (wwwbahnde)

A German city s Hauptbahnhof (howpt-bahn-hof), or main train station, rarely is more than a few minutes walk from the historic town center and all the main attractions The station always serves as a main link in the city s public transportation system, so you can continue your local explorations by subway, light-rail, tram, or bus from there German train stations in major cities offer all kinds of services, including currency exchange, food and beverages, newsstands, and usually a tourist information office Hotels are always close at hand If you re arriving in a city for sightseeing only, and not spending the night, you can check your Gep ck (geh-peck; luggage) at a luggage checkroom At larger stations, porters (recognized by their red or blue uniforms) can transport your luggage, or you can use self-service luggage trolleys

Throughout Germany, long-distance and local train timetables are coordinated to minimize waiting for connections And, yes, German trains almost always run on time they re among the most reliable trains in Europe Like other European trains, the German train system works on a 24-hour clock Midnight always is listed as 0:00 hours and noon is 12:00 Therefore, train times can be 13:00 (1 pm), 14:00 (2 pm), 15:00 (3 pm), and so on, up to 23:59 (11:59 pm) If your train leaves at 4:20 pm, the time on the schedule reads 16:20; if it leaves at 8:20 am, the schedule reads 08:20 The federally owned and operated Deutsche Bahn has been modernizing and upgrading its trains steadily while integrating two different systems

(Deutsche Bundesbahn in western Germany and Deutsche Reichsbahn in eastern Germany) into a single network You may be surprised by the bright-red, high-tech look of the newest trains Here s a rundown of the trains that you find within Germany: InterCity (IC) passenger trains offer express service between all major German cities at intervals of one or two hours IC trains have adjustable cushioned seats, individual reading lights, and telephone service Speisewagen (shpy-zuh-vahg-en; dining cars) and cafe or bistro cars (for lighter snacks) are on all trains On IC trains, you can choose whether to sit in a compartment with six seats or in an open saloon coach InterCity Express (ICE) trains, which connect major cities on heavily traveled routes, are among the fastest in Europe, reaching speeds of 300kmph (186 mph) ICE trains run from Hamburg to Munich, from Frankfurt to Munich, and from Berlin to Munich Each train makes stops at cities along the way ICE significantly reduces travel time, enabling passengers to cross the entire country in only a few hours ICE trains have telephones, a restaurant, and a high standard of comfort in both first and second classes If you re traveling on Friday or Sunday or during German holidays (for a list, see 3), it s a good idea to reserve a seat on long-distance ICE trains, even if you have a Eurail Pass The CityNightLine (CNL) is one of the most comfortable night trains in Europe This train operates between Berlin and Zurich (stopping at Frankfurt, Baden-Baden, and Freiburg, among other towns), Berlin and Dresden, Hamburg and Zurich, and Dortmund and Vienna The CNL offers four different categories Sleeping accommodations in Deluxe include compartments with a shower and toilet, key cards, phones for wake-up service, and a panoramic window with blinds Comfort Single or Double gives you a singleor double-bed compartment with washing facilities Economy provides a four-bed compartment with washing facilities; you can book this class as a single or double The Ruhesessel (sleeper chair) category offers open saloon seating with reclining seats The CNL includes a restaurant and cafe car Advance reservations are mandatory for all sleeping accommodations Eurail and German Rail pass holders are accepted on this train but have to pay extra for the seat or sleeper reservation DB Nachtzug (Night Train) service is available between many cities in Germany and continues on to Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris, Prague, and Copenhagen The night trains have comfortable couchettes (basic sleeping compartments) and some more deluxe sleeping compartments with showers Couchettes must be reserved, even if you re traveling with a Eurail Pass For shorter local trips, usually within a suburban area around a large town, S-Bahn (urban light-rail) trains are used For some