Stuttgart Train Information
Transportation
Trains
Flights
Driving
Buying a ticket. On each train platform (U-Trains) and each station entrance (S-Trains) is a large, orange ticket vending machine. Here you can buy a multi-day ticket, a one day ticket, or a one trip ticket among other options. The easiest thing, if you are buying a one way ticket, is to look for the destination on the list. Each station has a three digit number. You can punch that three digit number into the number pad and then the cost of your trip will show on the screen. Insert your money and a ticket (and change) will come out.
If you are only going three stations, buy a Kurz Ticket (Short Trip Ticket). Press the orange K, pay one Euro, and you are valid for three stops.
The Stuttgart train system uses a zone system. On the vending machine is a chart of all of the zones. The first zone (10) is the very center of the city; the second zone(20) is the circle around the center of the city. Outside of the second zone are several different zones that surround the second zone. Unless you are going very far out of the city, you will probably not need more than three zones. For example, to get to Ludwigsburg from Stuttgart you travel through zones 10, 20 and 34, only three zones.
Multiple Trips. If you will be traveling several times, through the same number of zones, you can buy a multi-trip ticket. Press the button Mehrfahrtenkarte and then your zone number. If you are going through one zone it is 001, two zones is 002, etc. If you do not know the number of zones, find your destination on the list and put in that number, the price and number of zones will be shown on the screen. Once you have your ticket, you will have to punch it each time you use it. There are four white bars, one for each trip. Inside the trains (U-Trains) or on the platform (S-Trains) is a yellow or orange box that you can stamp your ticket in.
Children are half price. Unless you buy a weekly, monthly, or yearly ticket or another special fare ticket, children will need their own ticket to ride the train. Before buying, make sure you press the child button (there is also a dog on it) to get the lower fare. Children under 6 are free to ride.
Bringing a dog. In Germany your dog also needs a ticket to ride the trains. When purchasing a ticket, before you put in the code for the number of zones, press the orange button with the dog. Dogs are half price.
The VVS, Stuttgart Train Company, has some great user information. You can search specific trips to find out when the trains leave, what trains you have to take, etc. There is also bus information here along with information about the special fares and special tickets.
A ticketing machine on the S-Bahn platform.
Punch your multi-ride and 3-day passes in this punch machine.
