I like the German approach which says, you have to buy tickets on the platform/at the station for regional trains (that often lack collector who control the tic

I like the German approach which says, you have to buy tickets on the platform/at the station for regional trains (that often lack collector who control the tickets), but you can buy them on the train for Inter-City service, while paying a small premium. Of course the latter gives you the possibility that for short trips the collector may not come past your seat or you fall asleep right after getting on the train and the he doesnt see you when going through the carriage. For the cases, where the ticketing machine isn't working (and you dont have the ability to buy on the train), the normal procedure, that so far always worked for me, is to walk up to the conductor who steps out to the platform before entering the train and tell him about it. Normally you will be able to purchase the ticket from him in this case.