About every two or three years....I write a Bahn-advice essay, and this is one of those. Some advice:
1. Always have a plan 'B' in your mind....if the Bahn (German railway) were to fail in getting you from point 'A' to point 'B'.
2. Dress appropriately. Bundle-up in the winter...as if you got stuck somewhere. Dress ultra-casual in the summer months....expecting the air-conditioning unit to possibly fail on the train.
3. Load the Bahn/local rail App on your smart-phone. You can check schedules, plan trips, and buy tickets.
4. There really isn't much difference between 1st class and 2nd class. More space (bigger seats) on 1st class, but if this were just a hour-long trip....stick with 2nd class.
5. ICE train (the high speed rail) offers a dining car. Don't go expecting anything like they had in the 1970s/1980s. I'd suggest you buy your water or coffee before boarding the train.
6. German train stations have become 'magnets' for nutcases and dopers...so don't linger around the station much (particularly true in Frankfurt).
7. Best ticket, Deutschland Karte....49 Euro. Travel on all train and bus networks for a month....2nd class. NOT for use on high-speed rail.
8. If you ventured out (say 50 km from your house) for some event, and intend to ride the Bahn back home after 11 PM....onboard one of three trains (before they shut down at midnight)....have a plan if all three trains fail to run.
9. Other than local travel....there are various prices for a standard ticket....each coming with a plus-minus.
10. Avoid travel on long-distance trains for Sundays....especially after 12-noon.
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