I'm doing my itinerary for the beginning of December in Germany and Austria. I have a morning train trip from Nuremberg to Salzburg, through Munich. It's too early to make a reservation now, but if it's similar to the schedule currently, the transfers in Munich range from 12 to 25 minutes. I know it's not like an airplane, and you don't need as much time for a train, but I read many Germans saying that their trains are always late. So do I have anything to worry about with those short transfer times, or should I be okay?
Posted by
Bavaria
2481 posts
but I read many Germans saying that their trains are always late
That's a common complaint. Yes, trains presently are not as punctual as they used to be, but it's a bit of an exaggeration. According to recent statistics 80% of long distance trains and 95% of local trains are on time, i.e. not more delayed than 5 min. True, that's pretty cold comfort if it's just your train that is late 50 min. and more. However, there is a train every hour to Salzburg so there is no need to leave Nürnberg earlier. Transfer time within the central hall of Munich Hbf is not more than 5 min.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19275 posts
The Bahn website allows you adjust the change time, so if you are worried, give yourself some extra time and enjoy a late breakfast in the food court.
You didn't mention the kind of ticket you are using (Full fare or SparPreis, point to point express or long distance, a Bayern-Ticket, or a railpass). My advice would depend somewhat on the type of ticket.
There are a lot of trains between Munich and Salzburg; usually a regional train (Meridian or Bahn regional) every hour and a long distance train, (RailJet (RJ) or Eurocity (EC), every hour.
If you are using a SparPreis (Savings Fare) ticket and you miss the train to Salzburg because your train from Nürnberg is late, go to the ticket counter and show them the ticket. They will put you on the next available train gratis.
But I agree with SLA, 12 minutes is enough time if you know where you are going; 25 minutes is an eternity.
Posted by
OP
Pittsburgh, PA
49 posts
I assume I would be using the Savings Fare. I see that one leaves Nuremberg at 9:02 and gets into Salzburg at 11:59. That would be perfect since I won't have to leave Nuremberg too early, and I will still get into Salzburg early enough to not waste one of my two days there. There is a 12 minute layover, but hopefully I will make it. If not, I will just get on the next one, as was suggested. Thanks for the help.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19275 posts
Tracks 11 through 26 come into the main shed area of the Munich Hauptbahnhof. If you are standing on one of the train platforms looking towards the connecting platform, track 26 is on the far left and track 11 is on the far right. The ICE from Nürnberg will arrive on one of the tracks on the far left end (23?) and the EC to Salzburg will leave from one of the tracks on the far right end (13?), but it won't take more than a few minutes to walk between them. Just make sure you are near the door of the train with your luggage when it stops in the station.
That 9:02 train actually originates in Dortmund at 4 AM and goes through Köln before getting to Nürnberg at 9, so it has 5 hours to get delayed. You might want to do some searching to find a train that originates in Nürnberg. There are some high speed REs originating in Nürnberg that use the same track that were built for the ICEs a couple of years ago, but I'm not sure how they fit with the EC/RJ to Salzburg (to use a SparPreis ticket, you have to have at least one leg by long distance train, so if you used the RE from Nürnberg, you couldn't use the Meridian to Salzburg with SparPreis. However, with RE/M you could use a Bayern-Ticket).
Posted by
OP
Pittsburgh, PA
49 posts
Where can I find out where it originates from? The 9:02 train I'm looking at on the DB website says it begins in Nuremberg and it's an ICE train.
I think I'm going to change, anyway, and take the 8:02 from Nuremberg. It's an ICE train to Munich, then a RailJet from there. It seems to be much more expensive, but I'm someone that has no problem paying extra for peace of mind.
Posted by
Green Bay
21182 posts
When you click on "show details" for the itinerary and it will show the train numbers and connection time. click on the train number of the ICE train (ICE 523) and you'll get a complete itinerary of that train, starting in Dortmund and every stop along the way, ending in Munich.
As Lee suggested, just put in that you want a 20 minute connection time and you'll be ticketed on the Meridian train that leaves at 10:55 and gets to Salzburg at 12:41. That will give you 50 minutes to change trains in Munich. Time enough for a beer and a weisswuerste.
Oh, that 8:02 ICE originates in Cologne at 4:18 am.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19275 posts
Plus, on a SparPreis ticket, according to the Vor- und Nachlauf provision of the AGB (Conditions of Carriage) for the Bahn, regional trains are not restricted to the train shown on the ticket. You are free to use any regional train on that route, Munich to Salzburg, direct, at any time that day (actually, until 10 am the following day).
Posted by
Bavaria
2481 posts
The 9:02 train I'm looking at on the DB website says it begins in Nuremberg and it's an ICE train.
There are no ICE's originating in Nürnberg. They are coming either from the Rhein / Ruhr area or from the north. That does not imply that they are late regularly; most are on time.
BTW - if your 8:02 ICE is late you can simply take the next one (8:27). If you have a saver fare ticket and your train is late more than 20 min you are free to hop on the next ICE / IC. There is no obligation to go to the info point to "unlock" your ticket (if there is time, I'd do that nontheless - you will be given the form which you can claim your refund with).