Talk:Deutsche Bahn

I'm rewriting and removing a lot from the Getting Caught, because I think this doesn't apply everywhere:

• • • MrTweek: first of all: thanks for improving the readability of my article! Atopia 22:35, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
• When getting caught, refuse to give your ID and just argue with the conductor until they kick you out of the train. This has happened to me twice (unintentionally) and I think it is a standard policy
  • If you have no ticket and no ID, they actually do call the police to the next station. I never heard of someone just being kicked out. That might apply for more rural regions, but definitely not in general.
    • On what do you base this statement? I think this is works in small stations for the following reason: if a controller calls the police for the next station, (s)he will actually need to leave the train there as well, because police won't just abandon the car and ride the train. And since DB controllers (as opposed to city train control teams) do have a fixed schedule, they probably won't just leave at some small village (a big station might be somewhat different). Which I guess is why I was kicked out of the train twice instead. I totally agree this is based on very limited personal experience and the "standard policy" thing should keep droppped, do you have more sources? Also, train security is a BGS task in Germany, it would be interesting if this has an impact. A friend of my parents is a controller, I might be able to do some research on the policies. Atopia 22:35, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
• On small RegionalBahn or RegionalExpress regional trains (see picture, not the loco+waggon setup!), there usually is a ticket machine
  • This varies a lot from region to region. I've never seen a ticket machine inside the train in NRW. In BW it seems usual though.
    • Okay, looks like my personal experience was too limited. Atopia 22:35, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
• You might be able to quickly check if there's a conductor on the train (which is not always the case) before you buy a ticket. be careful on multi-wagon trains
  • I think that's too difficult or often even impossible. Often the conductors just jump into the train at some bigger station.
    • ... so this strategy still makes sense if only the train stops are rural enough or you pay extra attention. And very "regional" trains is what hitchhikers most probably need since hitchhiking might be too difficult for the last miles. No need to drop this strategy altogether!? Atopia 22:35, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
• the conductor can't force you out of the train.
  • They definitely can, and usually they don't hesitate to do that (or just call the police).
    • My point was that the average controller (especially women) won't risk being hurt by a freaked-out blackrider. But sure you should be leaving the train and be happy they didn't call the police. Atopia 22:35, 22 January 2009 (UTC)
• but AFAIK DB conductors are even obligated to sell you a ticket, albeit for a higher price
  • That's definitely wrong. Actually, they are obliged to NOT sell you a ticket, but many of them are quite friendly and do it anyway.
    • Okay. I recently went to a "city train party" in Berlin and was informing myself about the transportation rules at work. My (~40y old) co-worker was pretty sure they have to and just nobody knows they have and he seemed to know his stuff. But it's too much of a urban legend to be included here. My original article was bad on that, I agree. Atopia 22:35, 22 January 2009 (UTC)