How to take direct trains from north-west Switzerland to the capital of Germany

Arriving in Berlin:

Final destination of these trains: Berlin Ost

All trains also call at: Berlin-Spandau

Note that these trains also usually call at three different stations in Berlin; Berlin Spandau, Berlin Hbf and Berlin Ost.
So before booking tickets or boarding, work out which of these stations has the optimum access to your final destination in the city.

If your final destination is in West Berlin, the fastest option is usually to leave these trains at Berlin-Spandau and connect there into S-Bahn commuter trains or Regio trains.
The station in the heart of West Berlin is Zoologischer-Garten, but these ICE trains do not call there.

If your final destination is to the east of the city centre, then it's likely that your best option is to take this train to Berlin-Ostbahnhof station.
Check your onward connections in Berlin on this public transport map.

Departing from Basel:

These trains depart from Basel SBB station and then go on to also call at Basel Bad Bf station.

If the starting point for journey is in Basel city centre, the quicker and cheaper option is to opt for Basel Bad Bf as your departure station.

However, board these trains at Basel SBB station, if
(1) you will be making a connection into these trains from elsewhere in Switzerland.
(2) you will be making this journey with a rail pass and want to gamble on not making the optional reservations; you'll be more likely to find the available seats if you board at Basel SBB.

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open: 6 months ahead of the travel date

Choosing your departure station:

This train commences its journey at Basel SBB station and then calls at Basel Bad Bf.
So use Basel Bad Bf as the 'from' station when looking up tickets for this train; they can be much cheaper than journeys from Basel SBB.

A choice of tickets on the DB website

Three types of tickets are always available: Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis and Flexpreis.

A key difference between these types of tickets is refunds:

• Super Sparpreis tickets are cheapest, but they can't be refunded at all.
• Sparpreis tickets can be refunded for a fee, but the refund will be in the form of travel vouchers to be used for alternative / future journeys.
• Flexpreis tickets can be refunded at no additional charge.

The other key difference is that both types of Sparpreis tickets are only valid on the specific departures selected when booking, but the Flexpreis tickets live up to their name, as they can be used on any departure on your travel date.

Note that none of the tickets can be exchanged to a different departure.
There's no need for this to be available for Flexpreis tickets, as they aren't train departure specific.
If you book a Sparpreis ticket and want to travel by a different departure you can refund it and then use the travel voucher towards the cost of the new booking.
Super Sparpreis tickets can't be exchanged or refunded.

Seat reservations

Seat reservations are optional on ICE trains on this route - take note if you will be using a rail pass.
They cost €4.90 when travelling in 2nd Class and €5.90 when travelling in 1st class.
They are included within the cost of booking 1st class Flexpreis tickets and both 1st and 2nd class Flexpreis Plus tickets.
Specific seats can be selected from seating plans - you don't have to accept the seat(s) that you will be automatically offered.

When booking Super Sparpreis, Sparpreis and 2nd class Flexpreis tickets, you have the option of purchasing seat reservations later.
It can be worth re-looking up a journey a week or two ahead of travel, because the DB website will indicate how busy a departure will be.
Although if you do book your reservations later and your journey involves more than one train, you will then have to pay for separate reservations per train.

Booking on the DB website

You can find these direct trains more easily by making a proactive selection of 'Direct Trains Only'.

Or to see all the combinations of trains and journey options, some of which may be cheaper, take off the 'fastest connections' default.

Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so if you can be flexible with your departure time use the 'best prices' tool - at the top right on the list of journey options.

Departing From Basel:

This train is usually scheduled to depart from Basel Bad Bf station at 21:22, but before calling here, it also usually departs from Basel SBB station at 21:13.

If the starting point for journey is in Basel city centre, the quicker and cheaper option is to opt for Basel Bad Bf as your departure station.
However, board these trains at Basel SBB station, if you will be making a connection into this train from elsewhere in Switzerland.

This train is in effect two trains combined into one departure:

1. A Nightjet (NJ) train which conveys the sleeping cabins and couchettes
2. An EC train, which uses the same types of coaches as those used on daytime services.
   When booking tickets if you want to sit in a seat(s) choose the EC options.

Arriving in Berlin:

Final Destination: Berlin Hbf

This trains also calls at: Berlin-Sudkreuz
The daytime ICE trains don't call at this station as they take a different route.

Choosing A Departure Station:

Prior to departing from Basel Bad Bf. station, this train will also call at Basel SBB station.
Though if you will be usually cheaper to book from Basel Bad Bf.

This train is usually scheduled to depart from Basel Bf station at 21:22, so target that departure time when looking up this journey.

Booking Tickets:

Book early and save: Yes

Online bookings open:

6 months ahead of the travel date on OBB*
3 months ahead of the travel date on DB Bahn

Our guide to booking night train tickets on the OBB (Austrian national railways) website is available HERE.

Our guide to booking night train tickets on the DB (German national railways) website is available HERE.

*This train doesn't travel through Austria, but OBB manages the Nightjet trains used on this route.

The first price you will see on the OBB ticketing site will be for the compartment seats.

The train conveys:
- Compartment Seats (Sitzwagen)
- Couchettes (Liegewagen); 4 berths AND 6 berths
- Standard sleeping cars (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins
- Deluxe sleeping cars with showers (Schlafwagen) with 3 bed, 2 bed and 1 cabins

Click the train info button above for more info including the rail pass reservation fees:

Travelling With A Rail Pass:

Rail pass users must reserve before boarding these trains

However, these rail pass reservations can NO longer be booked online the DB website, but you can now book rail pass reservations without paying booking fees on the OBB website (OBB operates these trains).
Though the process for doing so isn't particularly obvious, hence this step-by-step guide.

If you will be travelling with a rail pass, the reservation fees will be the same whether you join the train at Basel Bad Bf station, or at Basel SBB station.