Changes

[[File:Regionalbahn.jpeg|right|thumb|250px|RegionalExpress]]''' Deutsche Bahn AG ''' (DB) is the [[Germany|German ]] national railway company. Virtually all active train stations, most interall long-city distance trains and and many regional trains and also ''S-Bahn'' city trains are under it's controlrun by them. == Pricing ==Most regions of Germany now offer some kind of transportation network, local DB trains are usually included and tickets from both of them are valid, although the network's rules applypricing might be very different.

In generalThe normal fares are very expensive and usually not used by locals. The DB is actualy the 2nd most expensive railroad in Europe after the Norwegian. There is a wide range of special offers and rebate systems, but they are rather difficult to use for single spontaneous trips. Some exceptions are the [http://www.bahn.de/i/view/DEU/en/prices/germany/happy_weekend_ticket.shtml ''Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket'' (Happy-Weekend-Ticket)], the [http://www.bahn.de/i/view/DEU/en/prices/germany/quer-durchs-land-ticket.shtml ''Quer-durchs-Land Ticket''] and the [http://www.bahn.de/i/view/DEU/en/prices/germany/laender-ticket.shtml regional day ticket ''Länderticket'']. The ''Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket'' is valid for a whole Saturday '''or''' Sunday for up to 5 persons in all regional trains in all of Germany. It used to be possible to "hitchhike" this ticket because it was valid for up to 5 people for a flat cost of 40 Euro. Because it was so cheap, many people bought it even though they provide were alone or in groups smaller than 5, so it was possible to join a group for free. Now, the ticket costs 40€ for one person and 4 Euro more for each additional person. Since you have to select the number of passengers beforehand, joining existing groups isn't possible anymore, and you will likely have to pay a share of the price.  The ''Quer-durchs-Land Ticket'' does the most same on weekdays, but is slightly more expensive public transport Iat 42 Euro for the first person and 6 Euro more for each subsequent. On weekdays you can use the ''Länderticket''ve seen , which is about 20 Euro for one person or 30 Euro for 5 persons in all regional trains from 9:00 unto 3:00 the next day in a certain Federal State (sometimes several count as one). == Train hitchhiking ==The golden days of the weekend ticket are, sadly, over. The so far -called ''Schönes-Wochenende-Ticket'' still exists, but you now have to select the number of passengers at the time of buying, and each additional person (up to 5), costs 4 Euro. This means that you might still be able to spontaneously find people to share a ticket with, but you will have to approach them before they buy the ticket (so no asking around when you're already in the train), and are often you will likely have to pay at least some minutes late11 Euro (per-person price in a group of 5). Use alternative means Theoretically, though, people might let you join their ticket for 4 Euro, or even pay the 4 Euro for you, but, arguably, neither of transportation whenever those possibilities could be called hitchhiking. It is also possibleto join Ländertickets, but they are not as common and there is a cheaper Single version which is not useful because you cannot join it. In some regions like [[Dresden]], [[Cologne]] and [[Aachen]] people are also allowed to take somebody on their student ticket, job ticket, monthly ticket or year ticket in afternoons and on weekends. This might be noted in the city articles. In [[Berlin]], you can hitchhike public transport with people who have monthly tickets, but only on weekdays from 8 pm - 3 am, and the whole day on Saturdays and Sundays. People might be confused if you ask them about it, since it's not very common, but finding someone with a monthly ticket shouldn't be a problem since they are very widespread. Ask people if they have a so-called "Umweltkarte", the most common ticket with the possibility to hitchhike, or see [http://nomadwiki.org/en/Berlin nomadwiki] for more details.

Blackriding On long distance trains (IC and ICE) you can buy a ticket from the conductor (the fare being 10% higher), which can make blackriding difficult. If you cannot pay on the spot (or at least say so), the conductor will print a fine if you present ID. Many conductors will issue a fine that serves as a valid ticket to your declared destination, and provided you're not a German citizen or resident, you can disregard this penalty. This is not a foolproof method, however, as certain conductors will only issue a fine valid as a ticket to the next station, and force you to get off the train there. For example, I myself went on an ICE from Siegburg/Bonn to Basel ticket-less, getting caught before Frankfurt airport. Showed the conductor my ID, provided a fake German address (I live elsewhere) and was given a fine valid as a ticket all the way to Basel. Another time I boarded a Hamburg-bound ICE in DB Freiburg wanting to go to Hamburg. Made the mistake of sitting in a compartment, where I was successfully identified as a new passenger. Despite insisting I could pay a fine all the way to Hamburg, the conductor only gave me a fine to the next stop, Baden-Baden, where I was then kicked off. Boarding a train at an intermediate stop ticket-less works well in busy long-distance trains generally doesn. If there are many passengers on the train, your appearance is normal and you don't stick out in the eyes of the staff, you're unlikely to be identified as a new passenger. They will walk through the train asking who is new ("Neu zugestiegene Fahrgäste?"), and if you don't make react, they'll normally keep walking. For this purpose, however, always sit in the open salon, where you'll blend in much senseeasier, because chances and not in a compartment.  If you fall asleep (or pretend to), there is a chance that the conductor doesn't want to wake you reach up. Wearing headphones might help. Check the fares beforehand anyway, because they are pretty high. The short-distance ticket trick works well on long-distance trains, at least busy ones. Even if sitting in a compartment, once the staff has seen your ticket and stamped it, they will rarely remember the stated destination without getting into of each passenger. In some kind of trouble regional trains (''S-Bahn'', ''RegionalBahn'' or ''RegionalExpress''), such as from Singen to Schaffhausen (Switzerland) ticket checks are rather lowfairly common, while on others they're the exception and thus a great way to blackride across the country. The same instructions apply regarding fines. On some regional trains, there is a ticket machine. This varies from region to region, so you should check it before.If there really is no way , you could try checking if there actually is a conductor on the train before buying a ticket. Multi-wagon trains and conductors joining the train at a later stop make this somewhat risky though. You're obligated to hitchhike, see below:posses a valid ticket as soon as you join the train so you can get fined even in the process of buying if you're considered a blackrider.

* if If you're a German citizen/resident and they get your ID, it means you'll be donating from 40 60 EUR to the full ticket price to the DBs DB's shareholders (mostly the German state, if that makes you feel better)− if they don't, you might be tempted to give them a fake name and address, which, while, illegal, will work.

* As a last line of defense, conductors can call the police and legally keep you from leaving to prevent you from "illegally obtaining a service"* I have no idea if there are special rules if you don't possess a German ID ''The following is based on personal experience, your mileage might vary :)'' === Plan A (regional trains only) ===[[image:Regionalbahn.jpeg|right|thumb|200px|RegionalExpress]]* On small ''RegionalBahn'' or ''RegionalExpress'' regional trains (see pictureMost commonly, ''not'' the loco+waggon setup!)however, there usually you can get a fine printed that is valid as a ticket machine* You might to your declared destination, or you may simply be able to quickly check if there's a conductor on kicked out at the train (which is not always the case) before you buy a ticketnext stop. ''be careful on multi-wagon trains''* Sometimes transportation network's rules demand you buy a ticket before getting on For persons neither citizens nor residents of Germany, the trainpenalty cannot and will not be enforced. As mentioned above, but AFAIK DB if given your ID, many conductors are even obligated to sell you will print a fine valid as a ticketto your intended destination, albeit making this a useful method for a higher price''This is risky if there is no working ticket machinevisitors to blackride. Beware, however, because I wouldn't swear that not all conductors will agree to the last part. I also once experienced a conductor actually hiding in the drivers cabin (this, and they are often in there but may insist that you should be able to spot them)get off at the next stop.'' --[[User:atopia|Ben]]

==Action blackriding = Plan B ===''experiences on small-range trains only, differences on long distances and ICEs?''* When getting caught, refuse to give your ID and just argue with the conductor until they kick you out of the trainThis has happened to me twice (unintentionally) and I think it is a standard policy, at least if there is no train station with the ''Bundesgrenzschutz'' (German Border Control, who is also in charge of train security) nearby. Maybe that is because you can't get local police to just jump into a train (how do they get back to their car, after all?) and the conductor can't force you out of the train. You risk getting sued instead of getting fined, but I think the risk is very low. -[[User:atopia|Ben]]

In Germany if you blackride you make basicaly 2 thefts. One is that you don´t have a ticket for which you can get the 60 euros fine and if you don´ t pay couple of fines at some point debt collectors can knock on your door so in case you have no or nearly no propetty it doesn´ t need to worry you. Second theft you make is basicaly cheating. You pretend to have ticket but you don´ t have one. For this if you repeatedly don´ t pay the fine you might get to court and get day penalties which means that you need to pay certain amount of money ( depends on your income) and if you don´t pay it you go for certain amount of days to prison and German prisons are full with people who just blackride trains. To not go to prison there is a trick. When you go blackriding you enter the train with a visible sign saying that you have no ticket and you have to hold this sign visibly especialy when the controler come. IF you have a sign you are not cheating because you are openly saying that you have no ticket. In that case usually controler will write you a fine which works as valid ticket for your destination. If you do this more times at some point a debt collector will knock on your door so if you wanna do this you need to be sure to not have property which could be confiscated and be cool with having debt for next decades. As well they can put you to court and try to force you to pay the money or otherwise put you to jail but in that case you can defend at the court that you had the sign so you haven´ t been cheating. People did and do this courts with succes. It is very annoying to go to your courts and argue with judges but it can offer you free mean of transport all over Germany and if more people would do it we can break down the system of fines and tickets as the process of geting money from you and puting you to court is quite expensive for them.Blackriding with sign works but if you use it often you might need to go often to the court as well. You can be creative and write on your sign more then just I have no ticket. Sign can forexample say Ich habe kein ticket, Nulltarif fur alle, verkehrswende jetzt! ( I have no ticket, Free publick transport for all, Change of traffic concept now!). By having nice sign you can as well start conversation with other passengers and make them aware of how unfair the ticket system is. It´ s good if the controler remembers that you had the sign so that they can´ t deny it at the court then so you can explain them that your blackriding is a politicil action and you can disscus with them that trains should be free for everyone.In Germany you can defend yourself or you can be defended by your friend at court so you don´ t need to pay lawyers i you just learn how to do it by your own.It is unknown how the sign blackriding works for people with german citizenship/residency.{{stubIsIn|Germany}}[[Category: Germany]][[Category: Public transport]][[Category:Trains]]