We have a Eurrail pass. Made reservation from Frankfurt to Berlin (we are a family and want to sit together). DB notified "trip cancelled". However, it is still the SAME train number and departure time, just arriving in Berlin later (must be more or longer stops). The seats we chose are still gray on reservation map.
Same train number, same departure time, seats still gray on map, but trip cancelled? Should I reserve new seats and request comp for the other ones? Is this typical nowadays? Confused. Thank you!
Posted by
Wengen
1795 posts
Your reservations are still valid. The train is still running.
DB is just very bad at communicating...
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thank you WengenK
Posted by
Green Bay
20254 posts
What was the train number and date?
Posted by
Wengen
1795 posts
Because of engineering works the train is being rerouted. So it has a different schedule than originally, And DB sends out badly worded confusing emails if a schedule changes by so much as 20 seconds. Germans know not to worry to much about that.
Train travel in Germany is mass transit. It is like taking the subway, but on longer distances, in nicer trains. Something people do to get about their daily business. And the people running it (and especially the programmers doing the systems) are not really aware how much overthinking non Europeans are prone to do when it comes to train travel...
Posted by
Germany
477 posts
DB communication is Kafka-esque. Sounds like you are probably fine.
Posted by
Augsburg, Bavaria
2357 posts
DB communication is Kafka-esque.
If it were that, then at least it would have literary qualities ;) In fact, there seems to be some sadists at work who are determined to drive the last passenger into the madhouse.
But that can also have its advantages. Recently, I received that all too familiar message for a Sparpreis trip from Augsburg to Leipzig: "Journey no longer possible, your train commitment has been lifted." However, the reference to the alternative connection showed exactly the same travel times. It turned out that only a different vehicle was used, but it was given a new train number. Ok - I looked for a more convenient connection and had a "Flex price" trip at the saver fare. To my surprise, that train was also on time - you really can't rely on the railway anymore!