Germany Guide
Getting around
By train
The much-lauded national rail system operated by Deutsche Bahn ( 
www.bahn.de , available in English) is the most extensive in Europe, Trains are frequent – generally hourly, with more services scheduled for rush hours – invariably clean, and prices, if not a bargain, are at least fair thanks to a fixed per-kilometre pricing system.
Kings of the rails are the flagship Intercity-Express (ICE) trains, which travel at speeds up to 300km/hr and offer the most comfort on board, including a bistro carriage and refreshments trolley-service. Not as fast at 200km/hr nor as flash are Intercity (IC) and international Eurocity (EC) trains, though these still have electricity terminals in both classes and a buffet carriage. Local trains come as swift intercity InterRegio-Express (IRE), below which are Regional-Express (RE) trains then the local Regionalbahn (RB), which tend to stop at every station en route. Within the environs of a city, you're usually on Stadt-Express (SE) trains or the commuter S-Bahn trains.
The Deutsche Bahn website is a mine of information for planning, with an online timetable.