Bicycles, Tandems and Recumbent Trikes on Trains in Germany and Neighbouring Countries Part 1. Overnight sleeper trains

Rail services in Germany are divided into two groups: Long distance (Fernverkehr) - non subsidized provided by an operator and regional trains (Nahverkehr) - local services provided by an operator and subsidized by a regional transport authority but ultimately by the provincial government. The long distance services are there to make a profit. If these services don't pay their way they will sooner or later no longer appear in the timetables. All of these services co-operate to some extent. Deutsche Bahn (DB) long distance trains mesh together with the various regional services as if they were only one operator. Journeys involving travel on both long distance DB services and regional services can be booked on the DB website (https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml). Both long distance and regional services can have capacity to carry bicycles and even tandems and trikes.

However although the DB website shows other companies' night train operations, it is necessary in the case of Alpen-Sylt-Nachtexpress, BTE and Urlaubs-Express to book using the company websites shown. After a period of decline overnight trains offering sleeping accommodation are returning to the rails in Germany.

Sleeper Services  

Services at present (Summer 2020) are restricted. 

Deutsche Bahn (DB) Deutsche Bahn operates the majority of long distance passenger trains in Germany (https://www.bahn.com/en/view/index.shtml), but although the operator does run some overnight trains in Germany, it no longer offers sleeper train services. Its rolling stock was sold off to among others Austrian Railways (ÖBB). The DB daytime services will be covered in another chapter. 

Austrian Railways (ÖBB) operates long distance sleeper trains in Europe (https://www.nightjet.com/en/) under the name "nightjet". The site offers a download showing the routes taken (shorturl.at/clETU). ÖBB took over some of the DB rolling stock when DB stopped operating sleeper trains. One can travel with a bicycle, tandem or trike on the following ÖBB overnight trains. The slots need to be reserved:

• NJ 466 Vienna - Linz - Zurich 
• NJ 467 Zurich - Linz - Vienna
• NJ 490 Vienna - Linz - Hanover - Hamburg
• NJ 491 Hamburg - Hanover - Linz - Vienna
• NJ 40420 Innsbruck - Munich - Hamburg
• NJ 40491 Hamburg - Munich - Innsbruck

"For recumbents, tandems or bicycle trailers, two spaces must be booked. These can only transported  in special luggage compartments."  
(My translation of an email from ÖBB in German.) 

It's not many train pairs but it is a start. It strikes me to charge for two slots is a more sensible solution than a blanket "NO!". I suspect many train operating companies have issues with bicycles.
In addition the nightjet trains running between Hamburg and Zurich in both directions (NJ 401 and NJ 40470) will take a limited number of "normal" bicycles but nothing larger. These  slots need to be reserved.

Unfortunately this photograph (© ÖBB, reproduced with permission) does not show the luxurious accommodation for bicycles and the like, but bicycles travell in carpeted comfort under the Deutsche Bahn flag.

Interior of the bicycle storage space on a DB sleeper train

  





































Although the ÖBB Nightjet trains can be booked using the DB website, my feeling is that it is better to book using the ÖBB website. It is also advisable to book as early as possible as these trains are popular and the number of cut price tickets is capped.

Alpen-Sylt-Nachtexpress The private Alpen-Sylt-Nachtexpress runs overnight twice weekly in each direction in summer from and to Westerland, Sylt via Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich to Salzburg. (https://www.nachtexpress.de in German. Use a translator program.) The Alpen-Sylt-Night Express is made up of 10 couchette carriages (including a special carriage for people with disabilities or reduced mobility) with sufficient room for baggage. A train team  is present on board  for information and service. The list of baggage carried is long and comprehensive: 

Prams, Strollers // yes and free of charge

Wheelchair // yes and free of charge
Rollator (wheeled walking frame)// yes and free of charge
Kiteboard // yes and for a fee
Surfboard // yes and for a fee
Stand Up Paddle Boards// yes, if it is in a bag and for a fee
Foldable canoes // yes and for a fee
Sunshades / beach umbrellas of normal size // yes and for a fee
Bicycle // yes, as long as space is available and for a fee

At present only bicycles can be transported, because of problems of limited space and access through narrow doors. The operator intends to offer a bigger baggage car allowing transport of tandems from September. It still doesn't look good for trike transport, although it might be possible to transport folding trikes. If you are interested in travelling on this train write to the operator in English enclosing details of your folded trike/trikes.

Urlaubs-Express (https://urlaubs-express.de/ in English and German) is run by Trains4you a private charter train group. The car carrying trains run once a week in each direction. Bicycles and tandems can be transported at present in lockers or lashed to supports on the vehicle carriers. Trikes could be secured in the same way and carried on the vehicle carrying rolling stock. This means that bicycles etc can only be transported between the start and end of the journey. However, the company is considering putting bicycles in compartments in one or more passenger carriages which would mean that cyclists with bicycles could join and leave the train at intermediate stations. The company's trains are listed on the DB website, but one needs to book using the Urlaubs-Express website. Beware if using the DB website when travelling von Munich, for example the DB website suggests taking a DB train from Munich Hauptbahnhof (Central Station) and changing in Augsburg whereas as can be seen below the train starts in Munich East station. This year the company is running services between:

Düsseldorf - Innsbruck (- Verona) - Düsseldorf. The service to Verona has been cancelled this year, but it is planned to run it again in 2021.

Düsseldorf (Vehicle loading/unloading) – Köln (Cologne) – Koblenz – Frankfurt/M – München (Munich) – Kufstein – Wörgl – Innsbruck ((Vehicle loading/unloading) (– Bozen (Bolzano) – Verona) until 17 September 2020. Outward Journey: Friday Night/Saturday, Return Saturday Night /Sunday

Düsseldorf - Villach - Düsseldorf

Düsseldorf Hbf (Vehicle loading/unloading) - Cologne - Koblenz - Frankfurt/M - Munich East - Salzburg - Bischofshofen - Bad Gastein -  Mallnitz-Obervellach -  Villach (Vehicle loading/unloading). Outward Journey: Sunday Night/Monday, Return Journey: Monday Night/Tuesday

Hamburg - Innsbruck - (Verona) - Innsbruck - Hamburg
Hamburg-Altona (Vehicle loading/unloading) - Hamburg Hbf - Lüneburg - Hanover Hbf - Göttingen - Fulda - Munich East - Kufstein - Innsbruck Hbf (Vehicle loading/unloading). The service to Verona has been cancelled this year, but it is hoped to run it again in 2021: Bolzano/Bozen - Verona P.N. (Vehicle loading/unloading) 
Hamburg - Villach - Hamburg
Hamburg-Altona (Vehicle loading/unloading) - Hamburg Hbf - Lüneburg - Hanover Hbf - Göttingen - Fulda - Munich East - Salzburg - Bischofshofen - Bad Gastein -  Mallnitz-Obervellach -  Villach (Vehicle loading/unloading) on various dates.
Hamburg – Munich – Hamburg
Hamburg-Altona (vehicle loading/unloading) - Hamburg Hbf - Lüneburg - Hannover Hbf - Göttingen - Würzburg Hbf - Augsburg Hbf - Munich East (vehicle loading/unloading)   

 

Bahntouristikexpress BTE (https://bahntouristikexpress.de/autoreisezug-en.html in Danish, English and German) runs a car sleeper train service directly from Hamburg Altona to Lörrach on the German-Swiss border near Basel in summer most nights of the week. It is not clear whether the company will transport accompanying bicycles, tandems or trikes. We have written to the company, but have yet to receive a reply.