[tirant]

I guess you took the S1 S-Bahn. Yes, it always splits in Neufahrn. Part of the train goes to the airport, the other section to Freising (a cute University city, by the way)

That is indicated on the platform screens before getting on the train. It tells you which part of the train goes where so you know which wagon to take.

I found it also not very intuitive first time I took it. But hey, when travelling there’s always local peculiarities to take care of ;)

[sauercrowd]

Strong disagree. For most parts travelling is a non-event these days.

A train that splits, on the way to the airport where there will be a lot of non-german speaking people, and for some reason only shows it on the platform is insane.

Having a train that splits on that route is already bad enough, but you HAVE to emphasize it on the train.

I know that I need to pay attention to this, because I've grown up with DB pulling all sorts of fucked up shit, but we should not accept that this is reasonable.

[rostigerpudel]

You get repeated hints like 20 times outside and inside the train. Announcements (also in english, recorded, by an english native speaker, repeatedly), the train displays explain it and when you get to the station where the train splits, every display in that train shows you whether you're in the right carriage and you get an extra announcement exclusive to the carriages that go somewhere else that you should change now if you want to go to the airport.

This really is the original poster's problem.

[groestl]

From the top of my head I know three cities which have peculiarities when it comes to public transportation to the Airport. In two cases, it's obvious they do this to push the private train to foreigners, at 5x the ticket rate.

[ghaff]

This sort of used to be the case with Heathrow Express in London. There was a lot of signage that suggested to the unwary that Heathrow Express was the "right" way to get into London. Now, especially with the Elizabeth Line, while you can save a few minutes with Heathrow Express, that's really not a cost-effective alternative for a lot of people. (And Piccadilly may be a better option depending on your luggage and where you are staying.)

[throw-the-towel]

Can you share which cities these two are?

[groestl]

Stockholm (SL Bus/Train via Märsta 47kr vs. Arlanda Express 340 SEK)

Vienna (S-Bahn S7 4.40 EUR vs. City Airport Train 24.90 EUR)

While with the Stockholm one, the public transport option is cheap but a little bit more complicated (there are convenient medium priced options too), the Vienna one is really just branding and a non-obvious exit to the train station.

[throw-the-towel]

Ah, Stockholm. Been there as a student, went to Uppsala the day I was flying from Arlanda, and the only trains to the airport were the insanely expensive Arlanda Expresses. Had to take the normal train to Märsta, then walk the five kilometers to the airport. Fun times.

[alexfoo]

London for sure. All three of the Stanstead, Gatwick and Heathrow Express services are an absolute rip off compared with the alternatives that don’t take much longer.

Many people use them out of ignorance, expense accounts or they have the disposable income not to care.

[MaKey]

There are announcements inside the train. Nowadays also in English.

[froh]

Hamburg has a similar arrangement, however they make a very clear and unmistakable audio announcement in both English and German.

im.surprised this not to be the case in Munich??