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FlixTrain
Flixtrain is a low-cost operator, so its trains are Second Class / Standard Class only, but despite their retro-appearance, a comfortable experience awaits travellers
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At a Glance
Travel Passes
On Board
Perks
Bar (sandwiches, snacks, salads)
The train has a bar car with a counter at which hot and cold drinks, snacks, salads, sandwiches and confectionary etc can be ordered. These items can then be consumed in the bar car or taken back to your seat.
Trolley Service:
A catering trolley with hot and cold drinks and snacks should be taken through the train at some point during its journey.
Power Socket
The power sockets on this train are compatible with standard E.U. two point plugs.
WiFi
A complimentary WiFi portal is available throughout this train.
Wheelchair Spaces
Dedicated spaces for wheelchairs are available on this train.
Bikes Allowed
Non-folding standard bicycles, can be taken on to this train, but must then be placed in the bike spaces. Check the info below regarding whether bike tickets and/or reservations are required pre-boarding.
Germany
This train operates on routes within Germany
Sweden
This train operates on routes within Sweden
Only one class of seating is available on FlixTrains so it doesn't use First or Second class terminology or its equivalents; though the types of seating available on the train can vary, some are in compartments, but most are in open plan saloons.
So when booking tickets you will be given the option of selecting vaious types of seats including table seats, or window seats, or 'Comfort' seats which have additional leg-room.
There is also the option of paying a slightly more expensive fee to also reserve the adjacent seat, so that you can avoid having somebody occupy the seat next to you.
Another unconventional feature of the the booking is that you will only be offered one available coach when booking seats, so you won't be able to select seats in a compartment, if that would be your preference, if this type of coach isn't presented to you when booking.
Travel Guide:
FlixTrain uses coaches that had been deployed on InterCity trains so they have a somewhat retro aura, but SMTJ doesn't mind this at all, most of the seats line up with the windows and most of the coaches have been updated internally.
Seat Selection:
When booking 2nd class tickets for travel on DB's express trains in Germany, the IC and ICE trains, seat reservations are an optional additional cost.
So a 'selling point' for FlixTrains is that if you travel by its trains, all passengers have guaranteed seats.
Though in actuality seat selection is integral to the ticket booking process, so it's impossible to avoid the additional charges for using this facility.
So the headline ticket prices for FlixTrains aren't the actual costs, as paying to select a seat is also mandatory.
Though a plus of this is that seating plans are integral to the ticket booking process, so it's a simple matter of selecting a window or aisle seats; though ensuring that you will be facing forwards isn't an option.
Look out for the fact that you can pay slightly extra to choose Table seats or 'Comfort' seats (airline style seats with additional leg room), some of the seats on the seating plans have symbols which indicate whether they are the Table or Comfort seats, which can be selected.
You can also pay additional charge, typically slightly less than the seat selection fee, to reserve an 'Extra Seat'.
This isn't for any additional members of your travel party, in effect it means that you can also reserve the seat next to that which you initially selected, so that you can ensure that nobody else will be beside you during the journey.
Using InterRail or Eurail:
Because seat selection is integral to the booking path on FlixTrains it isn't possible to use rail passes on FlixTrains.
Luggage allowances:
FlixTrains are not equipped with luggage racks so bags/suitcases can only be placed under the seats or in luggage racks above the seats.
Hence each ticket only entitles its holder to travel with a maximum of one item of hand luggage and a medium sized suitcase or rucksack.
Taking a maximum of an additional medium sized suitcase / rucksack costs €3.99.
Routes:
All trains call at additional stations to those shown below.
Berlin > Erfurt > Frankfurt (Main)* - Darmstadt > Heidelberg > Stuttgart
- Monday = 1 x train
- Friday = 2 x trains
- Saturday = 1 x train
- Sunday = 2 x trains
*= not the hauptbahnhof central station
Stuttgart > Heidelberg > Frankfurt (Main)* > Erfurt > Berlin
- Thursday = 1 x train
- Friday = 2 x trains
- Saturday = 1 x train
- Sunday = 2 x trains
Hamburg > Bremen > Essen > Dusseldorf - Koln Hbf (and reverse direction)
- Monday = 1 x train
- Thursday = 1 x train
- Friday = 2 x trains
- Saturday = 1 x train
- Sunday = 2 x trains
Berlin > Hannover > Bielefeld > Essen > Dusseldorf - Koln Hbf
- Monday = 1 x train
- Friday = 2 x trains
- Saturday = 1 x train
- Sunday = 2 x trains
1 x train on Friday and Sunday continues beyond Koln to Aachen
1 x train on Friday commences its journey in Leipzig
Koln Hbf > Dusseldorf > Essen > Bielefeld > Hannover - Berlin
- Thursday = 1 x train
- Friday = 2 x trains
- Saturday = 1 x train
- Sunday = 2 x trains
1 x train on Friday continues beyond Berlin to Leipzig
1 x train on Friday and Sunday commences its journey in Aachen
Hamburg > Berlin and Berlin > Hamburg
- Friday = 3 x trains
- Saturday = 1 x train
- Sunday = 3 x trains
1 x train on Friday and Sunday continues to Leipzig
1 x train on Friday and Saturday commences in Leipzig
Stockholm > Goteborg
- Monday = 3 x trains
- Tues/Weds = 2 x trains per day
- Thur/Fri = 3 x trains per day
- Saturday = 2 x trains
- Sunday = 3 x trains
Goteborg > Stockholm
- Monday = 3 x trains
- Tuesday = 1 x train
- Weds to Sun = 3 x trains per day
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