German Passes Helpful to Travelers in Training

GermanRail has joined other rail companies in offering passes to travelers on a non-consecutive-day basis. Such passes provide travelers with much more flexibility in arranging itineraries.

Starting Jan. 2, GermanRail will offer passengers unlimited rail travel for 4, 5 or 16 days that can be scheduled at random during a 21-day period. This makes it possible to travel by train one day, spend some time in a city without that time counting against the pass, then resume the rail journey.

The new Flexipass will cost $120, coach, for four days; $180 for first-class. A nine-day version is priced at $180 coach, $270 first-class. Rates for the 16-day pass are $250 coach, $375 first-class.

Travelers under 26 can get the Junior Flexipass, which is available in coach class only. The prices are $65 for four days, $100 for nine days and $135 for 16 days.

Meanwhile, GermanRail will continue selling consecutive-day passes in 1990. The four-day pass will cost $90 coach, $135 first-class. A nine-day pass is $135 coach, $202 first-class. The 16-day pass is $190 coach, $285 first-class. The four-, nine- or 16-day periods start with the first use of the pass.

The Junior Railpass, available only in coach, will cost $85 for nine days and $110 for 16 days.

All of the passes, whether on a consecutive- or non-consecutive-day basis, also include transportation on some buses and Rhine River cruises.

The nine- and 16-day passes, both on a consecutive- and non-consecutive-day basis, come with a voucher that can be used in West Germany to buy discounted rail travel to and from West Berlin. Passes can be bought in the United States and West Germany.

If you’re planning to travel in West Germany in the early part of 1990 you can buy consecutive-day passes at the lower 1989 rates this year and use them next year, because passes are good for six months. The new Flexipass, however, won’t be sold until the beginning of next year.

For more information, contact travel agents or GermanRail toll-free at (800) 223-6036.