I am travelling from Frankfurt Oder to Frankfurt Flughafen by train, with thankfully only 1 transfer in Leipzig. The transfer time is only 8 minutes. The 1st train is a regional train, the 2nd from Leipzig is an ICE train. I am travelling solo with (physical lol) baggage and am a little concerned about the short transfer time. I have read that it is best to exit from the front of the train. I am travelling 1st class, is this at the front? Will I be able to get from platform 9 to platform 14 in this time? What if my train (regional) from FFO is a few minutes late arriving in Leipzig? Any advice will be gratefully received.
Posted by
Schwerin
3991 posts
Here is the station web page of Leipzig Hbf incl. a map and a track plan:
https://www.bahnhof.de/en/leipzig-hbf
You can also live check arrivals and departures.
In the map you can see that there is a tunnel which also connects the tracks. By this way you can make it easily if stairs are OK. Tip: ask the staff in the regional train at which door of the train the tunnel can be expected. Then sit next to this door; no seat reservation on regional trains.
Good news: regional trains are 90% on time (means within +6 minutes).
If journey is booked on one ticket and the regional train is so late that you missed the ICE then you need a notice by staff that the first train was too late and after that you can choose any connection to reach your destination asap. Local staff at info counter can help you.
I was stuck once in Leipzig because the ICE from Berlin had severe issues and were full-stopped and taken out of operations at the Hbf station. Ended up well. Next connection found by staff, got notice to show next conductor and train then was in time.
Have a good journey.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you very much, I really appreciate the detailed response
Posted by
San Francisco
15472 posts
Hi,
Leipzig Hbf is easy to navigate as the tracks are all on one floor and spacious. It's a huge one level station. I've been there several times but only as the terminus. (Leipzig in itself is a city well worth spending at least a few days.)
No need to go up and down stairs in Leipzig Hbf as is the case, say , with Rostock Hbf and Hamburg Hbf, which I find is the worse in this regard.
I would suggest getting yourself to an exit a minute or two prior to the regional train pulling in at Leipzig Hbf. Should the regional train arrive a few minutes late from Frankfurt an der Oder, that ICE will not wait. Hopefully your luggage in tow is easy to move. Normally you'll have ample time to reach platform 14. Germans label that as track. So , look for " Gleis 14 " to get to the ICE, which hopefully you have a seat reservation.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you very much for your detailed answers, this forum is a game changer. I will make sure I am ready and waiting at the door to exit quickly.
Ii also agree, Leipzig is an awesome city, I won't have time to stick around this time, but will certainly be back.
Posted by
San Francisco
15472 posts
As you are coming from Frankfurt an der Oder, did you have any time visiting and exploring the city at all. In German literature the city is important as museum/house of Heinrich von Kleist, the poet and dramatist is located there. If you want to see a place in Germany totally without tourists, not even German ones, this city is it.
Other than that Frankfurt an der Oder was just another one of those backwater Prussian Garnisonstädte (garrison towns) east of the Elbe...didn't do any good anyway since it fell to the French after Prussia declared war on Napoleon.
I've been to Frankfurt an der Oder a few times, the last time last summer. Most interesting is seeing the Oder River and the Oder Bruch and the Polish town east of the river. One can just walk over the bridge to get there. Starting in 2007 no more border checks.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
You guys are awesome. Thank you very much for your replies, I am truly very grateful.
I am very fortunate to have spent some time in FFO, as my (Ossie/proud East German ) friend lives and works there, and I am gobsmacked by the history that is still evident there.
You are totally correct, it is tourist free, it is a pity the German tourism bodies only promote the main cities, as there are so many beautiful towns that never get a mention .
It was such a thrill for me to be able to simply walk over the bridge and cross a border into Slubice (Poland) for the first time, something that is unfathomable for an Aussie (Australian) like me (we have to fly, sail or swim a bloody long way to cross an international border lol - not that anybody would ever consider the swimming option).
Thank you again for all your tips and advice. This is my first time on this forum, and I am astounded by the help I have received. I really appreciate you taking the time to reply with such comprehensive info.
Posted by
Schwerin
3991 posts
It was such a thrill for me to be able to simply walk over the bridge and cross a border into Slubice (Poland) for the first time
Also as German this is still fascinating. As a Cold War child of the western part of Berlin borders played a bigger role than separating countries only. It was a border of global systems / ideologies which separated my country into two parts - on the other side of the fence was not a different county - lo different history, no different language, only slightly different culture branded by the Cold War systems. So it is still fascinating for friends and me to just jump into the car and drive to our neighbor countries and beyond without caring too much for borders.
it is a pity the German tourism bodies only promote the main cities
This is not the reality in my opinion - but it seems that many people just do not search for it. Just as heads up: the official German National Tourist Board (GNTB) promotes not only big cities but also smaller towns, landscapes and nature parks, of course the top 100 sights and attractions in Germany (voted by tourists) and based on a Germany map you can explore by entering interests what is around. And the page is on #1 if you enter "germany travel info" in Google - so why people do not find it?
True for me is that the state tourism body of Brandenburg is way behind tourism bodies of other states such as Berlin or Bavaria, e. g. by providing English language web pages in state.of.the.art design. Btw: NRW discovered that they shall do more and they change and enhance their tourist information on the web significantly.
Posted by
San Francisco
15472 posts
@ miss_wendyya.....Good that you had ample chance to visit and explore Frankfurt an der Oder. Walking from train station to the Oder bridge takes ca. 40 mins. Seeing that was super revealing to me, ie. finally to see that specific site especially from an historical perspective.
RE: "...there are so many beautiful towns that never get a mention." How true. That is another reason one does not rely solely on guide books to choose certain places , especially esoteric places , to see and explore in eastern Germany.