Trains: how do you know what stop to get off and change trains

Yes, it is announced in the local language and often another language. Sometimes that other language is English, sometimes it is another common language in that place. Stops have signs that you can see from the train too - so if you know which stop is before yours you can watch for it so you know you're next and be ready. Sometimes once the train stops you need to be off fast so knowing before the stop, either by listening to the conductor or seeing the sign at the stop before, is important. Especially if you have luggage.

If it's a big town or transit hub a lot of people will be getting off and you can easily ask someone - just say the name of the city in a question voice, or in the language "is this Bologna?"

It depends on the type of train. Some make announcements in several languages, some only in the local language, some not at all.

In a new country or train system, I like to take a photo of the departures poster that shows all the stops for my train, or at least make a note of the stop before mine so I can be ready to get off. Most trains only stop for a couple of minutes.

If you have a watch or a phone, use it to anticipate your stop. Stops are normally announced on the train over loudspeakers, sometimes in English as well as the native tongue, and sometimes appear on digital display boards at the end of each car. For this reason it might be good to know the exact spelling of your change-towns and destinations in the native tongue - Cologne = Köln, for example - and as the train slows, you'll still want to peek out the window and look for station signage to confirm you're at the right city before stepping off.

This is one of the best reasons to get data on your phone when traveling. You can use a transit app or even Google maps to see your route, and check as you go along to see where your stops are.

Many trains have electronic signs on them that announce the next stop, but some more regional trains will not. But trains should generally have a route plan on them as well, with anticipated schedule of stops.

Some of the newest European trains have message boards in each carriage announcing the next stop.
On slower trains it is possible to see signs announcing the station as the train crawls into the rail yard. This is admittedly a stressful technique.
For those of us less wired into smart devices -- we're less smart? -- it may be possible to find the route of the train on the home computer and print it out.

Nothing wrong with planning ofcourse but asking fellow travellers where to get off the train is a good reason to start a conversation and feeling already a bit at home.

You can also check the signs on the platform as you pass the stations. The name of the station will be there.

There are signs on the platforms, but 1) sometimes these can be hard to see from inside the train, and 2) you need to be ready to exit the train before you get to your stop, so waiting to see the sign won't work well.

As said above, sometimes the stops are announced in English, sometimes only in local language(s), and sometimes not at all.

So, the best plan is to know the approximate time of your arrival, and know the stops before the one you want (so you can know when yours is next). A few minutes before your arrival, gather your belongings and head to the exit; at major stops (like the ones where lots of people are changing), you'll see lots of others doing the same. When the train stops, get off promptly. If you wait until the train stops to start gathering your things, others will have started entering the train, and you'll be "swimming upstream" by trying to get off when they're trying to get on.

If you tell us your exact trains and routes, we can give you more specifics.

Go to the the rail website for the country you are traveling in, plug in your departure and arrival stations, time and date and then look at details to see intermediate stations and time of arrival. I print these details out so that I know when to get off the train. As others have said, keep an eye on the names of the intermediate stations as you go. DB Bahn is a good website for trains in Germany.

Thank you everyone! We did download the DB app on our phone. There are 4 of us, so we should all be aware and watching so hopefully won't miss any connections! I appreciate all the tips! Taking a photo is a great idea also. Thanks!

I would also remind you that some big cities have multiple stations (Rome for example) so you will need to be sure which arrival station will get you closest to your destination. The RS guidebooks are good about telling you which station you need to use.

German trains will normally have an electronic sign with "naechste halte" (next stop) and the name. Names should be the same (or similar), just pronounced differently than maybe you are used to. Exception would be Cologne, which is Koeln in German, but you could hardly miss it as it has a huge train shed and from Amsterdam you cross over the Rhine on the Hohenzollernbruecke and pass by the iconic Cologne Cathedral on the left hand side.

Another point will be the announcement of which side of the train the doors will open. "Aussteigen am Rechts" (the right) or "Links" (the left). But other people will know, so just line up behind them. If you're the first one at the door, your job is to press the button to open the door when it flashes green. But again, if you are 2 seconds late performing this duty, someone behind you will reach over your shoulder and do it for you. They're accustomed to newbies.

I like the follow the route on a map so I know when to get ready to exit. Helped when I got on the wrong train once, and after a while, none of the familiar stations were showing up. That was the first hint.

I print out a list of stops (and times) for our planned routes before leaving home and bring it with me. Another option is to pick up a timetable for your route in the departure station and follow along on that.

Most of the time, in Germany, because the train is on time, and I know the time I will arrive, I have no problem getting off the right station. I also tend to know the route, so I use the station signs to tell me when I am at the next station before I want to get off. Then, most trains have electric signs at the end of the car to tell you which is the next station, or the next station is announced. With so many possibilities, I've never had a problem knowing when to get off.

It's good to know how the station name is pronounced in German. In 2004, I was on an RB from Mainz to Boppard. The train was on time, and I knew the time to get off, and I saw the sign of the previous station, so I knew it was the right station, but when I heard the announcement, Bop'-paht (Bop rhyme with Pop, 'r' is subdued), I almost wondered if I had the right station.

Also, although newer trains have push buttons for the door, there are still some trains, normally the ones with steps down to the platform, which have the red lever that you "swing" to open the door. The lever will not connect to the door mechanism until the train stops completely. If you try to swing it before the train is completely stopped, and you hear a faint click of the engagement, the handle does nothing, and you have to return it to the beginning position and start over.

German trains will normally have an electronic sign with "naechste
halte" (next stop) and the name.

In this video you can see the actual spelling and hear how the recorded announcement will sound ( Lübeck's main station is the next station in this clip.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGGauV8K0Bc

(You will often see/hear "Hauptbahnhof" or "Hbf." to identify the stop as the main station for a given town or city.)

Sometimes in stead of "Nächster Halt, "Nächste Station" is used - but it sounds more like "Shtaht-sion." (In this case, it's the Ostbahnhof station - and the electronic board offers up not just one station but subsequent stations as well.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuQel0mffa4

Someone said, "This is one of the best reasons to get data on your phone when traveling." But most mapping apps (e.g. Google Maps) all you need is the GPS to see where you are, as long as you have downloaded a map for the area in question.

So, no data required, at least for that.

If you have to change trains, be aware that you may not have much time to do this.
Normally, you have about 15 minutes for your train to post on which platform it will arrive.
Don't forget to punch your tickets in the machines on the platforms.
Try to take as little luggage as possible.

Sometimes the announcement for the next stop is made in English too but that depends on the type of train. Thirty /forty five years ago the announcement was only in Germany: Now it is in English and you are even told which side of the train you will be exiting...Ausstieg in Fahrtrichtung rechts. But I have also had the experience in IC or ICE trains where the announcement made is only in German, and also the announcement in English is shortened compared to more info given in the German announcement.

When to know the stop? Know the stops of your train, esp if it is an IC ir ICE. Know some German geography too. If it is an IC or ICE, then look for the "Reisebegleiter" if it is lying around the seat somewhere. You will see the route taken by the train and times too.

In Belgium the announcement for the next stop is given in five languages. In the Czech Rep the announcement is made in 3 languages, one after another.

If you can't understand the announcements, and there are no electronic indicators (increasingly common), then the prime method is time. You know when your train should arrive at your station, and for most long distance trains the previous stop is 30+ minutes before, so no ambiguity.
If you are first time to a new destination, list or print out all the stops with the times. Easily available on the internet. And you can (mentally) tick of each stop from the list by looking at the station name signs which are on every platform specifically for that purpose. Click here for example.

And finally, ask other passengers.

When my brother was 18, he and his best friend bought two Interail cards - at the time valid all over Europe - and left without a plan. In a week they ended in The Netherlands, where they decided they had to see a dam. So they boarded a regional train to Enkhuizen. The train went on half an hour, then it came to a stop and all people got off. No movement, no people for a few minutes, so my brother told his friend: "Maybe we have arrived, have a look". His friend had a look from the window: "No way, the name of this place begins with R". - But after five minutes, still no movement and no people. My brother took his turn to have a look from the window. There was an huge sign. "RESTAURANT"