Boy, do we need help. We are on an Xmas markets trip. We need to get from Strasbourg to Stuttgart on Thursday Dec 6. We are trying to book on the Deutsch Bahn trains, but the site keeps rejecting our attempts to buy tickets. The German trains obviously aren’t on strike, but I think the site may be overwhelmed .
Someone here suggested that we take a taxi from Strasbourg to a nearby Kehl , Germany train station. ( Trams and buses are also supposed to be on strike.)
Please I hope you all can offer us some practical advice here. Thx
Posted by
Green Bay
21094 posts
I would do as someone suggested. You do not need advance tickets. You can travel on regional trains with a Baden-Wuerttemberg Ticket. Unreserved trains all the way for a set price. Something like 30 EUR for 2 people. Look up trains at www.bahn.com. Click on "Local Transport Only".
PS You can buy the ticket from a ticket machine, travel from Kehl after 9 am. Should take about 3 hours.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Trains departing Strasbourg (France) are "not bookable until further notice" due to the French strike plan. A couple have already been officially cancelled and more could be cancelled later, which should be announced on the evening before departure. Any trains running need to accommodate people who already have tickets for cancelled departures. Booking from Kehl would allow you to book the tickets now, at a possible savings of about 13 euros per person, or you can wait and see.
Posted by
Los Angeles, CA
693 posts
How long is the strike? My past experiences with strikes - is usually that they cancel a few trains but not all. And its bizarre because they are making the tourists suffer - who have no say in French politics.
Posted by
Davis CA
759 posts
Rail rider- this is a known event for the past 6+ weeks. Nearly all trains and other forms of public transportation in France being substantially shutdown for at least 3-4 days with the potential for serious disruptions for potentially up to a month. There are extensive threads on this in the France forum, updated daily by members in Paris.
OP- a lot of people are trying to find a way out of France....do NOT delay in getting your backup plan operational. Book via Kehl and do so immediately.
Dec 6th is Friday.
Posted by
Green Bay
21094 posts
Since you can get from Kehl to Stuttgart on regional trains (change trains at Appenweier and Karlsruhe), "booking" is not really necessary.
Posted by
OP
San Diego, California
5530 posts
Thanks for all the help. Our cab showed up, on time, charged us the normal fare, and we made it to the Kehl, Germany, train station in 15 minutes. We did buy our tickets in advance. It took three German trains to get to Stuttgart from Kehl, but we did it in two hours. Thanks again for the quick responses.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
Pat - Glad to hear it! I was thinking about you today.
RailRider - The amount of service cancelled during a strike can vary considerably depending on the group(s) participating. A certain amount of "essential rail service" is preserved by law, but other factors can mean a difference between only 20% of trains cancelled or only 20% of trains still running.