A transmission device has at least one electro-hydraulic transmission control unit and a method of operating the transmission device having a plurality of gear wheel that can be engaged and disengaged from a force flow by fluidically actuated shifting elements. A piston space of a first shifting element, delimited by a second functional surface of the actuating piston of the first shifting element, is made separate from a piston space of a second shifting element, delimited by the first functional surface of the actuating piston, and an area of the second shifting element, that carries an actuating pressure, or an area of the first shifting element, that carries an actuating pressure, is, or can be, connected to the piston space delimited by the second functional surface of the actuating piston of the first shifting element.