What does I.C.E, I.C. and the other train terms mean?

Question

When going to Bahn.com it shows ICE, and other kinds, what are the differences?

Answer 1

To answer your question you have a great answer and explanation from Alwin. I would take his advice.

I could simply tell you the same thing as he is, so his answer is correct hence all the thumbs up for him.

Answer 2

ICE means "Intercity Express", the fastest and most expensive one. IC just means "Intercity", less fast, but also expensive. EC sometimes is met, meaning "Eurocity", a train connecting towns in different European countries.

The slower trains run as RE, "Regionalexpress" or as RB, "Regionalbahn". ("Bahn" means rail, and "regional" means exactly that: They stop at every village and are really slow, but the least expensive.) Finally, an S-Bahn is a "Stadtbahn" (city rail); they run in larger cities and connect them to their surroundings.

There also exists an IRE meaning "Interregio Express". It basically is a fast RE and only found in the southern states.

These were the most important ones. Sometimes you'll find a train marked with a (mostly) three letter abbreviation. This usually means that it's a local train (like an RB)  not run by Deutsche Bahn, but by a private company. You can use the Bahn tickets on them, too.

Here's a hint to save money:

When using the travel planner on Deutsche Bahn's website, uncheck "Prefer fast connections" and in the select box right above it select "without ICE/IC/EC". This will put you on slow trains which will make your journey longer, but sometimes considerably cheaper. Compare the "standard search" result to the one you get for the slow trains and then decide.

Also think of Deutsche Bahn's special offer, the "Schönes Wochenende" (happy weekend) ticket which will get you or a group of up to five persons anywhere in Germany on a Saturday or Sunday for only 35 euros. You're only allowed to use RE/RB, but you can make it from Bavaria to Berlin in a little more than eight hours. Did that myself.