Getting around in Frankfurt

(Oberursel-Bommersheim - my U-bahn stop. Notice the rainbow this morning)

Frankfurt is probably one of the smallest global cities. The city's population is only 600,000 people and the surrounding area has about 1.9 million people. Despite it's relative small size, it's very easy to get around. Today I was thinking how awesome it would be for the US to these type of public transportation networks.

Frankfurt has Germany's largest airport, Frankfurt (FRA) which handles about 55 million passengers per year.

Frankfurt also has Germany's largest railstation in Germany with the most platforms. It's positioned like a hub due to it's central location in Germany. From here, you can get anywhere in Germany in about 4 hours.

Then the city of Frankfurt has a subway (U-bahn), suburban train network (S-bahn), trams, buses, and regional Deutsche Bahn trains. All this is seamlessly integrated and all you need is one ticket. Since I'm studying this semester at University, I can travel on any transportation in all of southern Hessen for free using my Student-ID, however to get the student ID, it's 227,- €.

(The U-bahn trains. They're above ground in the outskirts but underground in the center)

From Oberursel it takes me about 25 minutes to get into downtown Frankfurt. I usually take the U-bahn as it goes straight downtown and the station is closer. But Oberursel also has a train station, which has regional trains and the S-bahn which takes me directly to the Frankfurt Main Railway Station, also 25 minutes away. From there I can go anywhere in Germany, as well as connect to ever other single mode of transport to get anywhere in the Frankfurt area.

(The farmland between Oberursel and Frankfurt)

Also, when traveling on public transportation in Germany, there are no turn-aisles. Instead, everything is done on the honor system. However, people may come on the trains (in normal clothing) and then once the train doors are closed, check your ticket. If you don't have one, you pay a fine of 40,- €.

(Frankfurt from the train near Oberursel. See the silhouettes of the skyline?)