Since arriving in Berlin, I’ve been comparing it a lot to New York City, where I have been living and working for the past three years. Something these cities have in common is their extensive public transportation systems. In New York, I often used trains, the Subway, buses, and occasionally a bike to get to where I needed to go. Although I’m grateful these options were available to me, there were constant issues and interruptions to service. You may have heard that Europe has a reputation for clean, efficient and well-connected public transit; and I’m here to tell you that this has been absolutely true. Compared to the United States, a lot more people rely on public transit in Europe, and as a result, these systems are a lot more extensive and well-maintained.
Trains are by far the most common way people get around in Germany. Throughout the country, regional trains (RE) connect even the most remote towns with frequent service. The Inter-City Express (ICE), a high-speed train that can reach a speed of 190mph, runs between larger towns and cities and is a more sustainable (and convenient) alternative to flying. Within cities, there are often two types of metro systems, the U-Bahn (Underground metro) and S-Bahn (Surface metro). Further connecting these systems is an extensive network of buses and trams.
