S-Bahn vs U-Bahn vs Stadtbahn: What's the difference? 

"think northern rail but if it was actually good"

Hey! I'm from Germany. The "U-Bahn" is like the underground in London, but in Frankfurt it can also drive above ground. The "S-Bahn" is like a regional train but drives oftener. The "Straßenbahn" is like a tram. In Germany it is also called Tram. The "Stadtbahn" is a mixture of "U-Bahn" and "Straßenbahn". Please excuse my bad English.

So in Germany it’s far more structured and logical... ...and far more random and confusing. 🤔

As a German train fan I can say: Good explainations!

Lol I am literally staying at the station seen at 2:07 right now.

As rewboss one put it: "U-Bahn trains usually run underground, except in those places where they don't; S-Bahn train usually run on main line tracks, except in those places where they don't, and so on..." ^^

I’d love to see a video about the Karlsruhe Stadtbahn. :)

Simply brilliant video for anyone going to Germany and using public transport

The only European mass-transit system I'm familiar with is the Frankfurt U-Bahn, and that's solely from driving on the system in Train Simulator. It's certainly weird seeing the mix of underground and street running in Frankfurt. Heck, there's even an above-ground section out near a university that has rails very sturdily laid on the grass without any sleepers. I think there was also a stand-alone game a few years ago that was focused on one of the U-Bahn lines in Berlin. I didn't really care for it because the route is entirely underground, and I like having short sections above ground on an otherwise underground line.

The basic difference between U-Bahn and S-Bahn systems is that U-Bahn networks belong to the city's public transport networks, where national and multinational rail tickets are not valid. It's like trying to use a BritRail pass or ticket on the London Tube.....2 different companies, and 2 different functions and fares. On the other hand German, Austrian and Swiss S-Bahn trains are owned and operated by the national rail systems of those nations. That means that national and multinational rail tickets and passes are accepted on S-Bahns. It's like taking a BritRail train from London's Victoria station to Gatwick airport. S = national rail, while U = city transport. Strassenbahn, Tram, Trolley, Buses all belong to the city's transport networks, so national rail tickets are not valid on these.

Look at the top left. Same design as the C5000s for Manchester Metrolink. Bombardier Transportation if I’m correct.

Nice video explaining different metro systems in Germany but still a bit confusing

The Berlin/Hamburg S bahn systems look like metros because they use Third rail systems instead of the usual overhead wires

Seems like the German train network is alot more complicated, good vodeo though 👍

DS: Thank you for the speedy reply, you generate so much content its hard to keep up with U or is it S,oh well you understand even if I don't....lol

Eh the Straßen Bahn actually mean tram

Good Video

0:59 Frankfurt U-Bahn: Am I joke for you?

💪 cool

Love the S Bahn!

Lol meanwhile in Tokyo (and Japan as a whole) you cant tell the difference between subway and commuter rail just by looking at the design of the cars

Legally, many metros are actually operated as trams (e.g. in Berlin).

Btw, in Karlsruhe, it’s not Stadtbahn, it’s S-Bahn (it also has the Green S Logo)

I like this video. Just something about the S-Bahn; a real S-Bahn is a commuter rail system entirely separated from other rail services even if they run along the same lines. The first network’s had all a 3. rail for electricity by the side of the tracks to make a difference to normal trains with overhead wire . They run on 500-700 V DC. For example Berlin, Hamburg . Later,by extension, the meaning changed to a kind of Suburban Rail System’s. S-Bahn=“Quick Rail”... Oh, for the Berlin S-Bahn: you forgot to mention the circle ⭕️ around the City...

I think the London tube, having originally emerged from railways, is much more S-Bahn like than Geman U-Bahn networks. These are more orientated to trams or light railways than to true railways.

In Frankfurt not so much, after German standards, it's considered a Stadtbahn. But in reality only the U5 line is trully a Stadtbahn with street-level running. Other lines runs in a manner pretty similar with the Tyne and Wear Metro. And the length of the trains are truly metro-style (100m, which is not a light-rail length, more a heavy-rail line). And by the way, the U-Bahn systems in Germany (even those third-rail ones like in Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Nuremberg) are, basically, legally light rails (they operate under the BOStrab, which is a law made for light-rail vehicles like Straßenbahn, Stadtbahn, U-Bahn and APM) while the heavy-rail vehicles, like those on the S-Bahn (including those in third-rail operation like Berlin and Hamburg), Regional, freight and ICE trains runs on the mainline train law, called EBO. That means, that the only heavy-rail (sub-)urban rail transit system (just like the London Underground) in Germany is the S-Bahn.

S-Bahn is Stadtbahn, isnt it? 😂

Don't forget the O-Bahn BUS lanes in Adelaide!!

Americans - what planet is this 🧐..??