Hi,
I am planning to travel from Strasbourg to Munich. According to the route that I searched on DB website, there is a transfer at Stuttgart, and the transfer time is 8 minutes.
Is German Rail system usually on time? Or is it better to reschedule and allow 30+ minutes of transfer time?
Thanks
8 minutes is usually more than enough time to transfer. If the incoming train is late, however, and you have an advanced purchase, non-exchangeable ticket, Deutsche Bahn will honor the ticket on a later train.
The German Rail website indicates that the 13:47 TGV out of Strasbourg arrived in Stuttgart 5 min late, at 15:09, and that, "Connecting train may not be reached in time". The site does not indicate that the ICE waited.
As Tom said, if you have a train specific, savings fare ticket, they will let you take the next train because it was "their" fault. If you have a full fare ticket, you can also take the next train. At that time of day, there is an ICE every hour plus an IC/EC in between.
I would have no worries about the 8-minute plan, since you're connecting to a train that doesn't require reservations. (it would not be a good idea if you were going the other direction and connecting to a reserved TGV.) You'll be more comfortable if you're prepared to get off the train right when it stops, not stuck at the end of the line of passengers. Conveniently, the DB schedules also show you which tracks you can expect arrive at and depart from.
Hi,
Knowing which track your transfer train is departing from makes it much easier to catch the train within the eight mins. This track info is given on your train in French, German, and English as it is pulling in to Stuttgart.
If you prefer not taking the TGV, go by another route if you don't mind transfering twice and are not rushed by time. Take the S-Bahn from Strasbourg train station to Offenburg. Take the ICE Offenburg-Munich.. I prefer changing in Frankfurt over Mannheim.
I've done Munich-Paris with an 8 minute transfer in Stuttgart. Don't expect to have time for a bathroom break, but it's otherwise a pretty easy transfer that many other people on your first train will also be making. Have luggage and next platform information ready when you stop, walk briskly, and you should be just fine.
I see an eight minute change in Stuttgart at about 11 AM. It's from track 7 to track 16, a fairly long walk. Here is the station layout for Stuttgart.
Another eight minute change in the evening is from track 15 to track 16. That's cross platform.
Thank you all for your response.
In the case that I was unable to catch the ICE train to Munich due to a delay, should I talk to DB representatives in the station, or simply take the next available train?
I would definitely go to the DB ticket counter in the station. I did that in Göttingen when my regional train arrived late, causing me to miss the IC specified on my Savings Fare ticket. He checked the computer to confirm that my train was really late before making a note on my ticket putting me on the next express train, an ICE. I'm not sure if the conductor on the train has the ability to easily check a late train. If anything, going to the ticket counter should avoid any complication.
