Use of our websites

In principle, it is possible for you to use our websites without providing your personal data. The following provides information on what data we collect from you, how we use that data, and how you can opt out of having your data used. (The applicable general terms and conditions or contracts apply to corporate customers).  

When you visit this website or any of our other online offerings, certain device-specific data is collected and processed automatically. In this case, this refers to what are known as server log files that are typically created when you visit a website. As a rule, the following data is transmitted to us via these files:

• IP address
• Date and time of your request
• Time zone difference to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)
• Content of your request
• Access status/HTTP status code
• Data volume transmitted
• Website (from which the request came)
• Browser
• Operating system and its interface
• Language and version of browser software

The use of this website without processing this data is not technically possible. The legal basis for this processing is point (f) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR.

If you contact us, we will process the personal data you have provided in the course of our correspondence with you. The legal basis for this processing is point (f) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR.

Journey planner

A. Connection search

When you search for a connection, we will collect the following data:

• Starting stop or station 
• Destination stop or station 
• Depending on the request: date and desired departure/arrival time
• Depending on the request: changes, walking sections, modes of transport, route numbers 
• Time of request 
• Device type (iPhone or Android)
• If applicable, location data (GPS data)
• IP address

We process this data to display connections based on your search criteria. We also use the data to determine the ticket required for the route. The legal basis is Article 6(1)(b) of the GDPR.

If you use the app for timetable information, only your IP address is stored and only for the time during which this information is requested and processed. We store this IP address separately from journey planning data for a further 90 days to quickly identify any IP addresses sending extremely high volumes of enquiries, which can not only cause disruptions but also violates the terms and conditions of use. After this period, your IP address is deleted.

B. Statistical analysis

Adobe Analytics technologies are used on our information pages to collect and store data for statistical analysis and optimisation purposes. Such data can be used to create anonymised user profiles that permit recognition of the internet browser during a repeat visit to the website. The data collected via Adobe Analytics technologies will not be used to personally identify visitors to this website without their specifically granted consent, nor will this data be merged with personal information. Users can object to this data collection and storage at any time.

S-Bahn Berlin GmbH uses the Adobe Analytics analysis service on its websites. For this purpose, usage information generated by the cookie (including your shortened IP address) is transmitted to an Adobe Analytics server in the European Union and stored there for use analysis purposes. Your IP address is shortened during this process to anonymise it. The transmitted information is used

• to evaluate the use of our websites,
• to compile reports on website activities and 
• to provide other services related to the website and internet use
• to the website operator.

The IP address transmitted by your browser through Adobe Analytics is not merged with any other Adobe Analytics data. You may reject cookies by selecting the appropriate settings in your browser, but please note that in this case you may not have access to the website’s full functionality.

Opt-out:

You can object to the collection of personal data by Adobe Analytics here:

www.adobe.com/privacy/opt-out.html

More information on Adobe’s terms of use and privacy policy can be found here:
 
Terms of use: https://www.adobe.com/de/legal/terms.html
Privacy policy: https://www.adobe.com/de/privacy.html

C. Analysis and improvement

We use the data from incoming timetable enquiries to create statistical analyses as part of our research. Our aim here is to make it as convenient as possible for you to use our means of transport and to ensure that our transport services continue to meet your needs in the future. We analyse whether the route suggestions can be improved depending on the context and personal preferences of the user. For the evaluations required for this purpose, the IP addresses associated with your timetable request are pseudonymised using a non-returnable hash algorithm in order to prevent this data from being associated with you personally. The IP addresses are not recorded. The research project itself therefore works with pseudonymised data records.

The data is processed exclusively for research purposes. The legal basis for the processing of this data is Art. 6 para. 1 no. 1 lit. f) GDPR (legitimate interest). SBB has a legitimate interest in the provision and further development of an efficient, economical and needs-based transport service. In addition, our legitimate interest lies in the comfortable, pleasant transport of our customers.

Anonymous Google Click ID

In the case that you visit our website by clicking on an advertising medium of a Google Ads campaign (for example, on an advertisement within the Google search engine), a Click ID generated by Google specially designed for this process is appended to the URL of this website. The Click ID is only carried during this online visit (session). In the event that you interact with us during this session, e.g. buying a ticket, we store the Click ID on our database server for a short time beyond this session, together with little of anonymous information about this interaction. We transmit this information to Google for the purpose of evaluating the Google Ads campaign. Further information, such as your IP address, device information or other details, are not gathered or stored by us in this context. Personal references cannot be created.

For the purpose of performing a contract and offering services on these websites, we generally need to involve processors, from parties such as computer centre operators, printing or shipping service providers, or other parties involved in performing the contract, who are bound by instructions from us.

The external service providers that we hire to process data are carefully selected and subject to strict contractual obligations. The service providers follow our instructions, and this is guaranteed by strict contractual regulations, technical and organisational measures, as well as supplementary checks and controls.

Service providers will need to be incorporated, for instance as part of managing and maintaining IT systems. Your data will be transmitted in accordance with legal regulations or if you have given us your express consent.

Data will not be transferred to third countries outside the EU/EEA or to an international organisation unless appropriate guarantees have been provided. These include the EU standard contractual clauses and an adequacy decision from the EU Commission.

Microsoft Internet Explorer:

Right-click in the form and select 'Properties' from the context menu.

You can then see the type of encryption in the window that appears next under 'Connection'.

Mozilla Firefox:

Right-click in the form and select 'View Page Info' from the context menu.
The information on the page will be shown in the lower half of the window that appears next.

Google Chrome:

Right-click on the green encryption icon in the address bar and select 'Details' from the context menu. In the window that appears on the right, click on 'View Certificate' and information relating to encryption of the website is shown in the pop-up window under 'Details'.

Apple Safari:

Click on the green encryption icon in the search field if you would like to display the content of the certificate for the particular website

General information

Cookies are small text files used to store personal data. We want to give you the option of making an informed decision for or against using cookies that are not essential for the technical functions of the website. Please note that rejecting cookies designed for advertising purposes means that any advertising you receive will not be as closely tailored to your interests as would otherwise be the case. However, you will still be able to make full use of the website.

Information is therefore available below on how and in what manner cookies are used on our web pages:

Session cookies

We use session cookies when ordering and managing products / tickets and in the customer area "My S-Bahn" e.g. for memory functions (eg: "Manage personal routes").

Interest-related online advertising

• Using the AdWords cookie and conversion methods, Google can assess the number of people who have opted for an advertised offering after clicking on a relevant AdWords advertisement. Where Google advertisements refer to the aforementioned S-Bahn Berlin websites, we receive from Google statistics on the number of purchases after clicking on a Google AdWords advertisement, but no information that would allow users to be identified personally.
• How to disable the feature: If you want to opt out of this, you can set your browser so that it blocks the cookies from being forwarded from the domain "googleadservices.com" or third parties in general. You can also delete the Google conversion cookie in your browser's cookie settings.
   

Please note: You will need to enable cookies in your browser to make purchases on shop.sbahn.berlin and to use the management functions on www.abo-antrag.de. (Consult the data protection information in the aforementioned data processing scenarios).

Cookie preferences:

Depending on the cookie settings you have set in the data protection preference center, we use the following types of cookies:

Functional cookies:
These cookies are essential for the operation of our website and enable, among other things, security-relevant functionalities. Deactivation is therefore not possible.

Cookies for Analysis & Tracking:
These cookies collect anonymized data regarding user behavior on our website for the purpose of statistical evaluations and analyzes. With the help of these cookies we determine the main interests of our users in order to coordinate and optimize the content and functionalities on this basis.

Only the absolutely necessary cookies are activated by default. If you do not want this either, you have the option of generally rejecting cookies in your browser. In this case the functionality of the visited website may be impaired.

You can revoke your right to consent at any time and deactivate cookies that are not necessary.

If you click a link to an external website, you are leaving the pages of sbahn.berlin. S-Bahn Berlin GmbH does not assume responsibility for the content, services or products offered or the data protection and technical security on the linked website.

You can request information as to what personal data is stored. You can request that we correct, delete or restrict the processing of (block) your personal data, provided these actions are permitted by law and in compliance with existing contractual conditions.

You have the right to file complaints with a supervisory authority against the collection and processing of your data by S-Bahn Berlin GmbH. The supervisory authority responsible for S-Bahn Berlin GmbH is:

• Berliner Beauftragte für Datenschutz und Informationsfreiheit Alt-Moabit 59-61
  10555 Berlin, Germany

You have the right to the portability of data that you have provided to us on the basis of consent or a contract (data portability).
If you have given us your consent to process your data, you can withdraw this consent at any time, using the same methods that you used to give your consent. Any processing of your personal data that took place from the time at which you granted your consent to the time at which you withdrew it shall still be considered to have been lawful.

You may object to data processing for reasons associated with your particular situation if the data processing is performed on the basis of our legitimate interests.

You can opt out of targeted advertising at any time. This takes effect for the future (advertising opt-out).

To exercise your rights, simply contact us at the following address:

• S-Bahn Berlin GmbH, 
  Kundenbetreuung
  Elisabeth-Schwarzhaupt-Platz 1
  10115 Berlin, Germany

• Telephone: +49 (0)30 297 43333
  or via e-mail to: kontakt(at)sbahn.berlin

We amend the data privacy notice to reflect changes to functionalities or changes to the legal situation. We therefore recommend that you review the data privacy notice at regular intervals.
 

Last revised October 2023

We hereby expressly prohibit the use of contact details published in line with our duty to provide a site notice or on the websites of S-Bahn Berlin by third parties to send advertising and information materials that we have not expressly requested. The operators of the websites expressly reserve the right to take legal action if unsolicited advertising information is sent, for example in the form of spam e-mails.