HELP. Train from Munich to Prague

Hi Cheryl. It's common for train service to be temporarily replaced by bus service. Not sure exactly what your question / concern is. Looks like they are offering you a bus/train combination service that would probably work fine. Or am I missing something?

It is simply a train replacement bus between Freising and Landshut. Don't sweat it and just go with it. It will be fine. This stuff happens from time to time. They need to do repair work on the rail lines occasionally and you just happened to stumble on one of these occurrences.

Thank you both. I have never had this happen. I guess my concern is #1. Do I get the bus at the Munch HBF same as I would have the train. #2. When we arrive in Freising the bus arrives at 8:36 and the next one leave 8:42. That is only a 6 minute swing. We will have luggage. Do you have it with you on bus or do they store underneath? #3. When we make the connection and bus to Landshut is the bus and train station the same site. On the link I was sent I can not translate train times. So I went to th Czech site and I believe the train we would have been on that is departing from Landshut is the EC 355 Bavorsky express. So do we just get on that one? If so we would only have 5 minutes between getting off bus gettin on train. Lastly do I use the same tickets I have and what about seat reservations. Sorry, but I have never run across ths. typically I ahve always booked my train travel when I was in country. So this is a first b/c we have to get to Prague on Sunday I thought Id be smart and book ahead. Ugh... Any guidance and info is greatly accepted and appreciated.

You can take the earlier regional train at Munich Hbf at 8:15 am, RE 3 at Track 24. At Freising, you exit the station and load the bus. In my experience, luggage goes in the hold beneath the bus. The bus will not leave until everyone is on board. There may be more than one bus depending on how many people are on the train. Bus goes to Landshut Hbf, you get off and get your luggage and go inside and board your train to Prague. Again, they will hold the train until everyone has made the transfer.

Sam thank you. Ok so we could either take the bus or train to Freising. At Freising only option is bus to Landshut. Then train to finish trip. With you saying that they wait for passengers to board I feel a little better seeing we are not familiar with any of the stations. All of these options we just use the original tickets correct? I'm just a little nervous. Funny thing I just finished a trip to Thailand and I booked over 13 modes of various transportation all paid prior to arrival and all went perfectly.... I was feeling so good with this one once I finally got it booked.UGH

Germans have a word for it, with the acronym "SEV", explained here:

SEV is the abbreviation for the German word "Schienenersatzverkehr". In English, this means "rail replacement". The rail replacement service is always used when the train fails or is canceled and instead a bus is used as a replacement.
For example, if there is a railway closure, buses are often used instead of the train on the railway line. And these buses then leave at the SEV stop.
The next departure will probably be when there is some construction work on your track again or the train fails for some other reason for a long time.

I'm sure you have experienced similar when driving. Suddenly, the 4-lane expressway goes down to 2 lanes while they rebuild a portion of the highway, resulting in big back-ups and delays. Think about the headaches the recent bridge collapse in Baltimore is causing drivers. Railways are no different, requiring shut downs for repairs and upgrades. The work-around is to provide buses to shuttle passengers around the closed section. Like the highway signs used to say, "Temporary Inconvenience, Permanent Improvement".

Wow rail so much easier. I did get an email back from Cd.cz

bus should be in front of the railway station. But because it manages foreign carrier, it is necessary contact Die Landerbahn about more informations. They manages this restriction and bus timetable instead of the train. From Landshut is a direct train to Prague. Ticket is valid. Luggage you will have inside of the bus or there will be extra space for it.

So now I am really confused do I have to contact Die Landerbahn or woud it be best to stop in to the ticketing office when we arrive in Munich HBF on April 4 2024 from the airport. Would they be able to help me, or direct me. Maybe I am worrying to much and should just show up for the bus and go for it. Wll eventually get to Prague. I also thought of a car hire to take us from Munich to Landshut station to pick up the train.

Die Laenderbahn is just the operator of the Munich-Prague train, at least within Germany. Anybody at Deutsche Bahn should be able to answer any questions.

Hi, Cheryl. I have no experience with this particular trip. I have had a train cancelled (strike, I believe) in Innsbruck down to Verona. Everyone showed up for the train, and we were herded into the substitute buses, which sure enough arrived in due course at Verona.

I think I would tend to show up for the train, but early per the directions you have been given and ask for the location of that substitute bus. People at Freising will be able to help; probably will be looking for passengers and pointing out the bus. Trying to contact the Laenderbahn folks could add to your confusion. Not sure what else they could say. Wishing you a fine trip. BTW, in my case, the bus went faster than the train, and I got to see a route I previously had not taken.

Thanks for all the help, suggestions and thoughts. Were gonna go with it and let it run it course. I am sure it will be fine. They seem to know what they are doing..... I hope....

If, for some reason, the SEV is late getting to Landshut and they don't hold the ALX train, there will be another ALX train to Prague in two hours, and your ticket will be valid for that train.

You have ticket on EC 355 deaparts from Munich at 8:44 now you will use bus DB Regio at 8:12 from Munich to Freising and from Freising another bus to Landshut. From Landshut you will go by train. See timetable please https://www.laenderbahn.com/media/laenderbahn/downloads/alex/01-Fahrplan/Fahrplanaenderungen/2024/FI_2024_029_ALX_70607.pdf

According to this timetable, however, there is no bus from Munich central station to Freising, but the normal RE 3 train (logically, because the construction site is only near Moosburg - apparently a translation error from Czech into English). And according to the DB timetable information, the departure in Munich is not 8:12, but 8:15 from platform 24 (Freising arr 8:36). The rest is correct: Freising dep. 8:42 (the SEV bus number is: RE 25s), Landshut arr. 9:24, dep. 9:29 with ALX RE 25 to Prague.

It's good that you can travel from Munich to Freising by train, because the SEV departure point in Munich is quite remote due to the construction work at the station; the email from the CD is clearly wrong on this point ("in front of the station"). Have a good journey, despite all the mess!

Oh boy. So now I am a bit more confused. Are you telling me that we will actually be taking a train from Munich HbF to Freising. Then getting off and taking a bus to Landshut. then picking up train in Landshut to Prague. Our original train was leaving at 8:44, but we should be at the station for an 8:15 departure? Thanks

You got it. Not that confusing. The earlier departure makes up for the lost time going train to bus and bus to train and the fact that the bus is a bit slower than the train. This way, the train departs Landshut on the original schedule and arrives at Prague on the original schedule.

Are you telling me that we will actually be taking a train from Munich HbF to Freising. Then getting off and taking a bus to Landshut. then picking up train in Landshut to Prague.

Yes, but that's not me, that's the replacement timetable linked by you ;)

If you want to replicate it:

1. open your PDF and scroll down to the last page (RE 23 Munich - Hof / RE 25 Munich - Prague).

2. in the 3rd column with the train numbers you will find your train ALX 355. in line 7 it says "Fahrplananpassung" (time table adjustment) on 6 and 7 April - your day of travel.

3. the Munich - Freising leg is highlighted in blue: according to the explanations above the table, blue means travelling with a DB RE train, departure according to the table 8:12.

4. the leg Freising - Landshut is highlighted in pale brown: according to the explanations, this means travelling by bus

5. from Landshut onward (highlighted white) the normal times of train ALX 355 to Prague apply.

Now let's go to the DB train information page (https://int.bahn.de/en) and search for a connection Munich - Freising at 8:12. You will see that there is none, but one at 8:15, arr. Freising 8:36 - apparently a lat minute adjustment by DB that has not found its way into the Länderbahn table.

Summary: You take (1) DB RE 3 8:15 to Freising, (2) SEV bus from Freising to Landshut (waiting for the train from Munich), (3) ALX 355 from Landshut to Prague. Have a good trip.

Thank you all. Walking out the door to the airport. Munich here we come. Thank you all for your help. I am sure all will go smoothly. If not we will figure it out.

Hi. I am here to give you an update on our train travel. Once in Munich I went to CS in the main station to discuss with agent. They told me b/c it was CZ train that they could only guide me, but make no changes. Was told to grab the early train, I believe it was 8:17 AM. that would take us to Freising where we would get off and onto a bus that would take us to Landsutt. Then Landsutt hope back on train to Prague. They did say that we would possibly miss connecting train and would have 2 hour wait. I asked about our reserved seats and they told me it was not a problem....... Well all went smooth for most part, we did miss connection, but got on next train. Seats were not an issue until the last 2 stops before arriving Prague. They were crazy busy and every seat we moved to someone had reserved. It was a bit hectic for us as we had large luggage and had hard time getting in overhead racks.... But we did it and we made it. A little tired, a little smarter on train travel and very excited. All in all it was minimal confusion for all my worry, As you all advised. We had a wonderful time and I truly appreciate all of your help and guidance.