Here you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Urlaubs-Express. We want to help you find the information you need quickly and easily. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. You can reach us around the clock at info@urlaubs-express.de.
Bicycles can be transported for an additional fee. If the bicycle is mounted on a rear rack on the car, bicycle transport is free of charge. Please note: The total length of the loaded vehicle, i.e. including the bicycles on the rear carrier, must not exceed the length of 5.35m. The bike rack must be approved for the weight (no homemade). When transporting e-bikes, please make sure that you use a suitable and approved carrier due to the higher weight of the e-bikes. Due to height restrictions, it is not possible to transport your bike on the roof of your vehicle. Height restrictions also apply in the case of bicycles transported on rear racks. Cars with rear bike racks are loaded on top or bottom. Please be sure to specify the entrainment when booking and to transmit the total length of the vehicle incl. bike rear rack. Bringing the batteries of e-bikes into the compartment is not allowed for safety reasons (fire protection).
Please be sure to inform us of any changes to the licence plate number before you start your journey in order to avoid delays in loading. We will charge a processing fee for this.
Changes to the vehicle or vehicle dimensions must always be agreed with us in advance. We can refuse a change if there are no more quotas available for the new vehicle category. In this case, only a chargeable cancellation is possible. If you turn up for loading with a vehicle other than the one booked, Train4you Vertriebs GmbH may refuse to transport you.
Any difference in price between the old and new vehicle category must be paid.
There is a children’s price for children aged 4-14. Children under the age of four travel free of charge, provided they do not occupy their own seat, couch or bed. For safety reasons, babies and small children are not allowed to travel in the luggage compartment.
Your vehicle must be registered and roadworthy. Please refer to the vehicle documents for the information on dimensions and weights that we require for the booking. The maximum vehicle height is different on the various UEX relations because of the tunnels and will be shown to you when booking. Please note that incorrect information about the vehicle can lead to the fact that we are not allowed to transport it. As the vehicles have to be transported backwards on parts of the journey due to operational reasons, the customer is obliged to ensure that the vehicle is suitable for backwards transport up to 140 km/h.
No! Due to legal requirements, all UEX trains are non-smoking trains. For violations of the smoking ban that trigger an alarm from the fire alarm system, we charge a fee of € 200.00.
Please allow approximately 45 minutes for the first vehicle to begin unloading. At most UEX terminals, after the stated arrival time of the train, the car transport cars must first be uncoupled from the passenger cars and shunted to the loading ramp. After that, the vehicles leave in order.
It is not possible to complete the journey completely forward for operational reasons. Route closures due to road works may lead to a change in the direction of travel. As the vehicles have to be transported backwards on parts of the journey due to operational reasons, the customer is obliged to ensure that the vehicle is suitable for backwards transport up to 140 km/h. Train4you Vertriebs GmbH does not assume liability for damages caused by wind events.
We ask for your understanding that we cannot assume liability for your luggage and valuables. Therefore, please take great care of your property and do not leave it unattended.
Of course, you can use our trains without booking a vehicle. They have more entry and exit stations available for this purpose than for transportation by cars or motorcycles.
Yes. Almost all our compartments are equipped with a 220 V socket. In some vehicles, power outlets are only available in the aisles.
Disabled and wheelchair accessible seats and WC’s are unfortunately not available on our trains.
With the exception of dogs and cats, animals are not allowed. Dogs and cats can be carried if they do not suffer from contagious diseases, you have booked a compartment for their sole use and have registered the animal at the time of booking. A maximum of two animals can be registered per compartment. The statutory animal husbandry obligations apply. For hygienic reasons, animals are not allowed to use the bed, couch and sitting areas. Animals are not allowed in the onboard restaurant. Guide dogs for the blind are excluded from this. You are responsible for compliance with official requirements, for example when traveling across national borders.
Please note that the train does not stop for long periods of time during the journey. A deposit of € 150,00 per animal is to be paid on board, which will be refunded at the end of the trip, provided that no damage caused by the animal has occurred. Train4you Vertriebs GmbH reserves the right to claim any higher damage caused by the animal. A fee may be charged for increased cleaning efforts in addition to the ticket price for the animal.
On trains without a restaurant, breakfast can be booked on the spot. In addition, our UEX service staff provides seat service with snacks and beverages on all trains.
Please take only so much luggage that you can carry yourself and that no other guests are hindered by it. In particular, it is not permitted to leave luggage in the aisles and platforms, as these must be kept clear as escape routes.
At Urlaubs-Express we use a flexible pricing system, as you know it from many airlines, for example. Prices vary depending on the destination, day, route and the load already reached on the day of booking. Unfortunately, it is not possible to reserve a specific daily rate for a later booking time. With the Urlaubs-Express, it always pays to book early!
No. This is technically and for security reasons not possible. Please take all personal items you need for the trip into the compartment before departure. Plan in principle as if you were traveling by air: There her suitcase is also not accessible. Only with us there is no hand luggage restriction.
Roof racks or roof boxes are only permitted if they are commercially available (not homemade), permanently mounted roof boxes or roof racks and the total height of the passenger car permitted on the car carrier is not exceeded as a result. The same applies to rear carriers (including load). For vehicles with roof racks – and/or roof box, the height including the roof superstructure must be specified. This applies analogously to the length and height of rear carriers. It is recommended to contact our ServiceCenter (info@train4you.de, 0221-80020820) when booking roof or rear racks. Irrespective of the booking, the loadmaster may in exceptional cases order at the terminal that roof or rear superstructures be removed by the vehicle driver for safety reasons or for the purpose of optimum load distribution. In this case, boxes/carriers are secured separately from the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle is obliged to carry any special tools necessary for mounting the boxes/carriers.
The vehicles are transported as far as possible below. When traveling abroad, trikes are always on the lower level. Trikes must not exceed a maximum height of 155 cm. Classic cars and convertibles must not be covered with protective tarpaulins. However, the use of a tarpaulin belonging to the vehicle and specially adapted is allowed.
If your vehicle is not approved for a speed of 160 km/h (for example vintage cars), please inform the loading staff. Textile roofs are then additionally secured by a belt. If transport takes place against the direction of travel, secure fastening of the textile roofs for transport must be ensured.
Your motorcycle will be tightly lashed with straps at the front and back by the loading staff. We will be happy to receive your personal tips for securing your motorcycle. Motorcycles are often loaded in front of cars at the terminal. Therefore, it is important that you arrive early for check-in (about two to three hours before departure). This means that any necessary adjustments to the luggage and machine can still be made in good time.
The maximum height including superstructures must not exceed 155 cm. Please be sure to specify – if available – the carriage of a sidecar when booking.
If possible, windshields should be dismantled and taken into the compartment.
The motorail train transports vehicles that are licensed for road transport and do not exceed certain dimensions. Provided that the minimum or maximum dimensions are observed, the following types of vehicles can be transported:
- Passenger cars (passenger cars according to StVO) with and without trailers (up to ten meters length of the trailer combination)
- Vans
- Motorcycles with and without sidecar
- Trikes and Quads
Scooters (motor scooters) can unfortunately not be transported, as they cannot be adequately secured due to their construction.
Luggage may be left on motorcycles as long as it is stored in the saddlebags or motorcycle cases attached to the motorcycle. Additionally attached luggage can remain on the motorcycle if the luggage forms a solid compact unit, the luggage is firmly attached to the motorcycle, lashing straps (no rubber spiders or rubber ropes) are used for lashing, no attachment points required for lashing are covered, the luggage can withstand a driving speed of the motorail of 160 km/h as well as additional lateral wind gusts, the luggage can withstand transport on the entire route or on partial routes against the direction of travel (reverse transport). Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version) Loose luggage (e.g. pots) must be removed in all cases and taken onto the train by the motorcyclist. This also applies to pieces of luggage that cover anchorage points required for transport fastening. Due to the limited space on the vehicle transport vehicle, these pieces of luggage must always be removed from the motorcycle before loading onto the vehicle transport vehicle. Motorcycle helmets must not remain on the motorcycle during the train ride.
Yes. Single-axle and double-axle trailers are allowed. However, the combined length of the vehicle and trailer must not exceed 10 meters. Cars with trailers can only be transported on the lower loading deck. Therefore, both must not be higher than 155 cm. Without a fixed connection to a towing vehicle, trailers cannot be adequately secured, so transport without a towing vehicle is not possible. Caravans and motor homes can not be transported because of their large dimensions.
No. Deflating would mean that your vehicle would no longer comply with the Road Traffic Regulations (StVO) and would therefore no longer be roadworthy. Otherwise, your car would no longer have sufficient support on the vehicle transport trolley and safe transport would no longer be guaranteed.
The ground clearance of the vehicle must still be at least 11 cm even when loaded.
Only cars up to a height of 205 cm and a width (folded outside mirrors) of 190 cm can be booked online. If your car is higher or wider, please let us know your booking request by phone or e-mail. We will then check the promotion possibilities for you. Different restrictions apply to the carriage of vehicles on the vehicle transport wagons for the individual destinations. For details, please refer to the descriptions of the individual relations. Please have the vehicle details ready when booking.
We can resend lost or misplaced transport documents to you by e-mail at any time. Our entitlement to the transportation fee does not lapse. We will be happy to check in individual cases whether promotion is possible on the basis of other evidence. However, we reserve the right to refuse carriage without valid transport documents.
Yes. In both Hamburg and Düsseldorf, an environmental badge on your vehicle is mandatory.
This is legally possible – the legal guardians can decide when their children are mature enough to travel alone. Children need a travel authorisation and their ID to travel with us. Train4you Vertriebs GmbH cannot offer special childcare. Please note: Our trains may have longer intermediate stops at stations at night – the doors are open during these stops. Train4you Vertriebs GmbH accepts no liability if the children get off without authorisation. Further information on the required documents can be found here.
Payments for tickets are to be made by bank transfer to the account specified in the invoice after receipt of the booking confirmation before the start of the journey. If the amount is paid to someone else, the payment is made at your own risk. On the train you can pay for food and drinks by credit or debit card.
Train4You GmbH is an independent, private company and does not cooperate with Deutsche Bahn. Therefore, we cannot accept the Bahncard!
The prerequisite for a rebooking is always that the requested service is still available.
A change of accommodation on the train to a higher category (sleeper instead of couchette or compartment booking instead of single seat booking) as well as a change of vehicle is possible for a processing fee of € 35.00 per transaction. In addition, the difference between the original price and the new, daily price must be paid.
Rebooking of the travel day or route can be made once up to 14 days before the departure of the train, if seats are available on the alternative travel date. The new travel date may not be more than four weeks before or after the original travel date. It is imperative to note that there must be at least seven days between the day of the rebooking and the new travel day. For such a rebooking, a handling fee of € 35.00 per route will be charged. In addition, the original travel price will be refunded and the new, daily travel price will be charged in addition to the processing fee. Other changes as well as not starting the trip or withdrawal are considered as cancellation. For details please also refer to the General Terms and Conditions of Train4you Vertriebs GmbH on this page.
Train4you is liable for damage to the vehicle in cases of negligent or culpable behavior of its employees and agents during loading and unloading. In addition, we recommend that you take out supplementary insurance. Our partner HanseMerkur offers special insurance for motorail transport starting at a premium of only € 18.00 per direction. HanseMerkur also offers other important insurance products for your travels. For more information please ask us or
Photo: Adobe Stock/patpitchaya