Changing trains in Frankfurt Main hbf in 10 minutes

Station plan is here: http://www.bahnhof.de/contentblob/11946266/Frankfurt+%28Main%29+Hbf_locationBild/data.jpg
It is a terminus station, and "Gleis" 2 and 21 are at opposite sides of the main above-ground area. So you just go to the front of the train, around the end to Gleis 2 and catch your train. If you miss it it is no great disaster, you just catch the next one 30 minutes later.

Where are you coming from and what kind of a train? Times and dates, what kind of ticket? Perhaps there is a later train in case you miss this one.

Completely agree with the previous post. I had several times the situation when I was late on the second train because the first one arrived late. The only thing to keep in my mind is your ticket. If you have an opened ticket and you are late, just wait for the next train. if you have a ticket for the particular train and you missed the second train, then it is worth to go to the train info point and explain the situation. Sometimes they put they out the special stamp or smth similar to it which allows you to take the next train.

then it is worth to go to the train info point and explain the situation.

... but it's not necessary. If your train is late any binding to a specific train is automatically suspended and you can hop on the next train. The conductors can verify that your previous trains was late and will acknowledge your ticket accordingly.

If your use regional trains from Frankfurt to Bacharach you are never bound to a specific train, i.e. you can use anything that's not an ICE or IC/EC anytime.

Thank you all for your kind replies and assistance. This is an ICE ticket to Bacharach. Assigned seats and all. From the replies...sounds like we might be okay. We are just a little nervous. Not sure if there are trains following our 13:08 departure should that be missed.

My question is where are you coming from and what kind of train? Perhaps you can catch an earlier train to get to Frankfurt.
Do you have a flexi ticket for your train to Bacharach? (are you sure this is an ICE, as I have never seen one of those stop here)

Hello Ms. Jo
Yes the tix states DB ICE from Paris to Bacharach via stop in Frankfurt to change trains. Not two separate tickets, but one. I would imagine if the delay is due to the initial outbound train, we should have no problem with changes on the connection (if I'm reading the replies correctly)

This is an ICE ticket to Bacharach. Assigned seats and all. From the replies...sounds like we might be okay. We are just a little nervous. Not sure if there are trains following our 13:08 departure should that be missed.

Bacharach ist not an ICE stop. You probably wll arrive at Frankfurt by ICE but your train leaving Frankfurt 13:08 is a RE (regional train). So if you miss that one, just take the next one. There are numerous connections after 13:08 (many of them with a transfer in Mainz). Look up all possibilities at www.bahn.com.

It may be an ICE as far as Frankfurt, but it will almost certainly be regional train(s) to Bacharach as no ICE trains call there, and there are only a couple of itineraries that involve IC trains as far as Mainz or Bingen. The only train I see off hand is a 12:25 RE that leaves from Track 2, that takes you to Bacharach after another train change in Mainz.

The point is, that by the rules of Saver fare tickets, you can take any regional train or trains after you have completed the ICE portion. From the terms and conditions:

Train-specific booking:
When buying a saver fare, you must select the specific trains you want to travel on as well as a specific time (date and time). Your ticket is valid only on the trains and date specified on the ticket. You are not bound to a specific train when using connecting local and regional trains.

(My bold face)

Thank you all...and, Ms. Jo especially.

Sam...Merci (currently in Paris)

I think you may also be misreading the ticket. When I look at the Paris to Bacharach itinerary, I see an ICE leaving Paris Est at 13:09, and arriving at Frankfurt Hbf at 16:58 on Track 18, then a connecting Regional Express leaving from Track 21 at 17:08. This train arrives in Bacharach on Track 2.

So it would appear that your connecting tracks are almost next to each other. In fact the actual platform (2 tracks on each platform) is the next one over.

If you have only light luggage, note that there is also a pedestrian tunnel under the platforms (you can see the stairs symbol on the station map in section B). Might be quicker if your seats are in one of the rear coaches. As far as I remember, there are only stairs (no escalators) to the tunnel.

by the rules of Saver fare tickets, you can take any regional train or trains after you have completed the ICE portion.

This rule is called "Vor- und Nachlauf". Only the express train (ICE) is binding. You can take any regional train from midnight (morning) to get to your train and any regional train after the express train to get to your destination until 10 AM the following day. Any substitute train has to be on the original route (i.e., if the original regional train was from Frankfurt Hbf via Mainz you can't go via Mannheim).

One piece of advice: When approaching the train, simply get on the first car you can, and then go through the train to get to your car. We have on some occasions attempted to get on a train by getting to the car on the platform. We missed the train, because of congestion on the platform. If we had gotten on the first car and walked through the train, we would have had no problems. Similarly with the approach to the station on the first train. You may wish to walk through the train to get to the door closest to the main part of the station. You might save 2 minutes of walking on the platform.

Before the ICE comes to a stop in the Frankfurt station, be at the door with your luggage and ready to get off when the train stops. According to the Bahn schedule, it is only a few platforms to change (track 16 to track 21), not 21 to 2 (2 is in Bacharach). Go to the connecting platform at the front of the train or to the underground tunnel, whichever is closest. If the train is one time, ten minutes should be plenty of time if you don't dally. But as mentioned above, you are not bound to a specific regional train to Bacharach. If you miss that connection, there will be others.

Most importantly: Relax.
I have done similar connections in less than 2 minutes (okay, plus 10 minutes for catching my breath afterwards). 10 minutes is plenty, and in case of a delay, you have lots of alternatives.

Somehow, I think this is all in the past, since the OP responded on Sept 22 (10 days ago) that he/she was currently in Paris, and the itinerary was for a Paris to Bacharach trip.

Sam's point is a good one. I have read many posts, thought "I have exactly the right comment", and then noticed that the trip actually took place 3 months earlier.