European Rail Travel - Questions Regarding German Rail @ Frankfurt Airport

I am traveling from Frankfurt Airport to Stuttgart (Central Station, the main one) on Jan 10th.

I got totally confused my last trip to Europe in AMS. I couldn't understand the ticket purchase machine. It wasn't in English. A kind sole helped me but I got on the train going the wrong direction.

I was afraid to purchase my ticket in advance this trip in case my flight from USA to Frankfurt was delayed. I believe I arrive at the Frankfurt airport around 8am.

I have read there are two stations in the airport. I want the one with the fastest time to Stuttgart. I believe that is the second station? The de.Bahn?

I just checked the Bah.de web page. The ticket shows Frankfurt (Main) HBF to Stuttgart (HBF). Is that the Frankfurt Airport station and the main terminal in Stuttgart?

Will the machines be in English too? If not, can you tell me which buttons to press? Unnecessary if I purchase online today.

Thx

Your train to Stuttgart should leave from the station that is across the street from the airport. You will be able to get there without going outside.
The difference in price between the discounted ticket and the last minute ticket can be huge, so it might be worth taking your chance and buy the cheap ticket.
I have never heard of a sold out train in Germany. People can stand or sit in the isles on their bags if all the seats are full.

a) There should be a button with the Union Jack on the screen when you walk to the machine. Hit that and you'll get English.

b) Alternatively, I believe there's a ticket office in this station. You can buy your ticket there (likely from an English speaker).

c) Alternatively, you can buy a ticket online without it being tied to a specific train, although you will pay full-fare.

The Frankfurt Airport train station shows up on bahn.de as Frankfurt(M)Flughafen.

The fast train (ICE) takes 1:14 for this journey and full-fare is 59 euros.

The IC takes 1:17 for this journey and full-fare is 43 euros.

Appreciated. Thanks. I see I had the wrong station at the Frankfurt airport according to your post.

Sorry, I see adventureadam has already covered most of my response. The ICE trains tend to leave at 54 minutes past the hours, e.g. 8:54, 9:54, etc., although some require a change in Mannheim (but do not increase the total time required.

There is indeed a ticket office in this station, and I find that although the attendants are sometimes shy about the amount of English they speak, if you are direct about what you want, they can understand you perfectly well, and respond in English as well.

So one should say: "I want to take the ICE train leaving at 9:54 to stuttgart hauptbahnhof in second class",

not

"You know, I was thinking about maybe taking the train and I want to be comfortable, but I need a goood price so we should probably get a reservation in regular class - oh and where are I going, Stuttgart, but the main station, not any other station like the trains sometimes stop at that are in the middle of nowhere, because it is incredibly cold today and I don't want to get stuck in . . ."

I am not suggesting that the OP would be so elliptical, but I have seen travellers assume that because someone speaks a little English that they don't need to modify their normal conversational style to something more appropriate for the situation.

Appreciated. Thanks. I see I had the wrong station at the Frankfurt airport according to your post.

The station name on the DB website is different. You need to follow the signs for "long-distance trains" when at the airport. (You won't see a sign for Frankfurt(M)Flughafen station).

This is to differentiate it from the underground S-bahn (local trains) platforms.

I have seen travellers assume that because someone speaks a little English that they don't need to modify their normal conversational style to something more appropriate for the situation.

That made me laugh...particularly your example because it's spot-on. After living abroad for a while, you kind of get used to speaking "English for foreigners." Very clearly pronounced, simple sentences, easy vocabulary.


OP: yes, the Frankfurt station you listed in your first post is the main station in the city of Frankfurt.

Also, to avoid getting on the wrong train: look at departure boards, they will tell you the platform and track number. And jutting out almost to the edge of the track (once on the platform) will be a sign indicating where the next train is heading, and when it will be there.

Thanks again to all who responded. I went ahead and bought the ticket online so there would be no hassle at a window. Before I purchased I emailed Bahn.de and ask to confirm the station. They said the same as you have posted except when I went to book I was offered three choices.

Flughafen
Flughafen Fernl
and Flughafen Regionalbf.

The person responding that the ICE left at :54 iced it for me.:D When I booked the departure was for 12:54 so I'm sure I did it correctly thanks to your assistance.

Now, finding the platform will be fun. This gives me four hours if the Lufthansa is on time so there should be no rush.

Thanks again to all who responded. I went ahead and bought the ticket online so there would be no hassle at a window. Before I purchased I emailed Bahn.de and ask to confirm the station. They said the same as you have posted except when I went to book I was offered three choices.

Flughafen
Flughafen Fernl
and Flughafen Regionalbf.

The person responding that the ICE left at :54 iced it for me.:D When I booked the departure was for 12:54 so I'm sure I did it correctly thanks to your assistance.

Now, finding the platform will be fun. This gives me four hours if the Lufthansa is on time so there should be no rush.

It's not difficult - you want the "Fernbahnhof", also signposted "long-distance trains". The "Regionalbahnhof", which is underground, is for the local trains. There's nothing else.

Four hours will be more than enough. The station is about a 3-5 min walk from the baggage claim. If you bought the full priced ticket, then there is no need to wait more. If you bought a discounted ticket, then you will be tied to the exact train that you bought.

"You know, I was thinking about maybe taking the train and I want to be comfortable, but I need a goood price so we should probably get a reservation in regular class - oh and where are I going, Stuttgart, but the main station, not any other station like the trains sometimes stop at that are in the middle of nowhere, because it is incredibly cold today and I don't want to get stuck in . . ."
:D!

I recently had a conversation with the CO elite line in a room full of Portuguese, Spanish and Brazilians, 90% of whom speak good English. After telling the CO agent my PNR in phonetic alphabet and going through the process of changing my award rez I hung up. Out of the ten or so people I had maybe five comments that I was speaking extremely quickly. I told them that I normally speak slower and use simpler vocabulary with them and that now they know how their Portuguese sounds to me when they don't do the same :).

You can also do Rail&Fly with your Airlineticket if available or you can purchase the journey via lufthansa.com (FRA -> ZWS) and this way earn miles for it, but the price is higher.

I am traveling from Frankfurt Airport to Stuttgart (Central Station, the main one) on Jan 10th.

I got totally confused my last trip to Europe in AMS. I couldn't understand the ticket purchase machine. It wasn't in English. A kind sole helped me but I got on the train going the wrong direction.

I was afraid to purchase my ticket in advance this trip in case my flight from USA to Frankfurt was delayed. I believe I arrive at the Frankfurt airport around 8am.

I have read there are two stations in the airport. I want the one with the fastest time to Stuttgart. I believe that is the second station? The de.Bahn?

I just checked the Bah.de web page. The ticket shows Frankfurt (Main) HBF to Stuttgart (HBF). Is that the Frankfurt Airport station and the main terminal in Stuttgart?

Will the machines be in English too? If not, can you tell me which buttons to press? Unnecessary if I purchase online today.

Thx

If the ticket shows "Frankfurt (Main) HBF" it is not any of the two airport stations but in fact Frankfurt Central station (downtown)
For departure from the airport the ticket must show Frankfurt Flughafen as origin.
If the ticket you already bought by now is sold as Frankfurt HBF (HBF is literally the abreviation for Central Station - "Hauptbahnhof" in German) to Stuttgart HBF you would need an additional ticket for the local train to the HBF in Frankfurt.

Referring to the departure time you posted I can assure you the ticket is issued for travel from Frankfurt airport "Fernbahnhof" (long distance train station) straight to Stuttgart Hbf - no change of trains required as this train will not go via Frankfurt HBF but straight to it´s next stop in Mannheim (being the only intermediate stop towards Stuttgart).

Btw.: The Fernbahnhof at the airport is about a 10 mins - leisurely - walk from arrivals in terminal 1. It is just neccessary to follow the signage that leads to the Fernbahnhof. The walk involves to go upstairs (2 levels) on the escalators to reach the (covered) bridge that leads to the station.

In addition to the :54 trains there are also :20 ICE trains from Fernbahnhof to Stuttgart, leaving every odd hour (9:20 [this is an IC which is often delayed], 11:20, 13:20 and so on). As those trains terminate in Stuttgart, they are usually less crowded than the :54 trains, so I would recommend you use one of these if you don't have to wait too long.

In addition to the :54 trains there are also :20 ICE trains from Fernbahnhof to Stuttgart, leaving every odd hour (9:20 [this is an IC which is often delayed], 11:20, 13:20 and so on). As those trains terminate in Stuttgart, they are usually less crowded than the :54 trains, so I would recommend you use one of these if you don't have to wait too long.

I think the OP has bought a train-specific ticket for the 12:54 departure.

I think the OP has bought a train-specific ticket for the 12:54 departure.

Correct. And my ticket shows F-Flughafen Fernbf 12:54 to Stuttgard HBF 14.08. :)

All the ticket and "hinweise" is in German lol even though I was on the USA site. I also see Stuttgart, Mit ICE which I believe must be the central station.
Time to learn German! :D

Correct. And my ticket shows F-Flughafen Fernbf 12:54 to Stuttgard HBF 14.08. :)

All the ticket and "hinweise" is in German lol even though I was on the USA site. I also see Stuttgart, Mit ICE which I believe must be the central station.
Time to learn German! :D

You'll be fine, jyh. You're travelling from Frankfurt airport long-distance station [Fernbahnhof] to Stuttgart central [Hbf] station with [mit] the ICE! :p

I made it with only 15 minutes or so to spare. The day of my departure was met with thunderstorms and tornadoes in Houston so flights to my city were delayed or cancelled as a result.

I got rebooked via Houston but missed my first ever LH flight and was fortunate to get on a CO flight at 6:30pm or so. When I arrived in Frankfurt my luggage was not there so it took a few minutes to fill out the missing bag report.

The agent directed me to the station and I enjoyed my first ride on Bahn.de
So nice I'd like to return and travel Germany by both train and drive.