Where are we?
- S-train Source: Wikimedia
Mainz is located in the West of the densely populated Rhein-Main region. It is quickly accessible from Frankfurt International Airport. Trains to Mainz and Frankfurt go less than 30 mins. The travel between Mainz and Frankfurt by regional trains is free for PhD students who are enrolled either at Mainz or Frankfurt University and have a student ticket.
How to go there?
Mainz and Frankfurt Airport are stations for long distance trains of the German rail ( Deutsche Bahn ). Slightly slower but often significantly cheaper and more frequently going are regional trains ( Regionalbahn RB, Regionalexpress RE and S-Bahn ). If you come from Frankfurt airport please use the guide downloadable form the link list. Furthermore, you can find online information about long distance trains and regional trains at the website of German rail. Please note, that Frankfurt Airport has different train stations for regional trains and long distance trains. If you go from the airport to Mainz, the regional train station directly in the basement of Terminal 1 [B] is advisable.
- From Frankfurt International Airport to Mainz main station (Hauptbahnhof). Source: RMV network map (cutout)
Regional transport network
As many other regions in Germany the Rhein-Main area including Frankfurt and Mainz is organised in a regional public transport network called Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund RMV. On the website of the RMV you cannot only look up connection of regional trains but also of buses, trams and other transport modes. In contrast to the German rail website, they give you all information about prices.
From Frankfurt airport regional train station you travel with S-train number S8 or regional express to Mainz (opposite direction than Frankfurt). The direct train goes via Rüsselsheim (not Frankfurt main station = Hbf). In order to get a ticket you need to type in the number of the target zone 65 or 6500 for Mainz/Wiesbaden. The price level is 4 corresponding to a price of 3.70 EUR (Sept. 2009).
Visit the RMV website: www.rmv.de