How do I know if my German train seat is reserved?
On board announcements are usually made in both German and English. Small LED displays above each seat show which seats are reserved between which stations, and which seats are free.
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Non reservable trainSome carriers don't provide seat reservations on all or some of their trains. This is common on regional trains, shorter routes and during peak travel times on commuter routes. On these trains you can sit in any vacant seat in the class your ticket is booked for.
Seat reservations aren't guaranteed though and some Train Operating Companies (TOCs) don't offer seat reservations at all. Even without a seat reservation your tickets are still valid, and you can sit in any vacant unreserved seat. Sit in any vacant unreserved seat except First Class.
Seats are allocated automatically when booking your train ticket. You will also be able to change your seat according to your preferences (aisle seats, windows seats…) and subject to availability.
Trains for which you can reserve seats are marked with an R (meaning a reservation is possible) or an R in a rectangular frame (meaning a reservation is compulsory) in the timetable.
Forward facing – You'll be facing the front of the train. You may also be facing another passenger,sometimes with a table between you. Backward facing – You'll be facing the back of the train. You may also be facing another passenger, sometimes with a table between you.
If you are caught with a reserved ticket for another train, you will be treated the same way as travelling without a ticket. A hefty fine will be imposed and the railways may also take legal action. If you miss your train with a reserved ticket, you have no option but to reserve a seat again for the next train.
Seat assignments, no matter the fare class you purchased, aren't guaranteed and could change without notice because of schedule changes, equipment swaps or other unforeseen circumstances.
To find trains that don't require reservations you can use our Rail Planner app on a mobile device. Make sure to tick the 'No reservation needed' box when searching for trains. In some cases, reservations can't be avoided simply because no other options are available.
Answer: The carriages have sensors on them and they know how much they weigh when they're empty. They also know the average weight of a person. This means that as people get on and off they know how full they are.
Seat reservations are optionalIt's not usually necessary to reserve a seat on German trains, you can just get on and sit i9n any empty unreserved seat. However, it's a good idea at busy times such as Fridays.