The Regiobahn, or regional rail, can take you to cities even farther away than the S-Bahn can. It doesn't make as many stops as the S-Bahn, and it is usually a much bigger train. Sometimes they even have an upstairs with more seating! The biggest and fastest train is called the ICE, which stands for Inter City Express. It is a high-speed train that can take you across the country, or even into other countries. This train only stops at the central stations of major cities.
In addition to trains, there are other methods of getting around Germany. Trams are a great way of getting around downtown. They run on metal tracks that are built right into the streets. There are also lots of bus lines that connect places that the trams and trains don't reach. Buses usually run until the early hours of the morning, so that you are always able to get home at night.
I love using the German railway system because it is unlike anything I have at home. In most of Indiana, the only way to get around is by car. In Germany, I don't have the need for a car at all. I simply go to the station around the corner from where I live, hop on a tram or a bus and let it take me to wherever I need to go.
Of course, before hopping on just any train, you have to make sure you know where it's going. Figuring out the system can be a little difficult at first. On my first day in Mainz, I got on a tram that I thought was going to take me straight to the university, but I ended up traveling in the wrong direction! I didn't realize my mistake until I was several stops away from where I started.
