We've got big problems today. We were going from Frankfort to Strasbourg, then in two days going to Lucerne switzerland. All our tickets won't work due to track problems between Germany and Switzerland. We may ditch the whole five days. We really wanted to see some Swiss alps. Any thoughts on where else we might go or ....we don't know what to do. We're heading to the Frankfort main station now to get tickets re routed or refunded....not sure where we're sleeping tonight. Hoping someone might have some ideas on how to proceed. This rick steves forum may save us. Thanks for any scraps of help you might have.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
34010 posts
Please don't worry about this. I see all your fretfulness in all three of your posts.
It has been known about since the track fell in, weeks ago. The DB have it all over their website.
Other than digging holes which their own tracks fall into the DB are pretty good at sorting things out.
You have been reassured on your other post.
The DB have been rerouting and bussing people around the problem for several weeks now and they are pretty good at it. At least the problem is near a major north-south autobahn, the A5.
Go in and show your tickets and let them take care of you. They will.
Don't go throwing all of your trip out because of a one hour detour.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19287 posts
It might help in finding/changing schedules if you spell the name of towns correctly. The town is Frankfurt; Frankfort is the capital of Kentucky (very difficult to get from there to Switzerland by train).
And, by the way, the "track problems" are only between Frankfurt and Strasbourg. From Strasbourg to Switzerland you go across the Rhein to Offenburg, which is south of the track problems (if you take the route through Germany).
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
From Strasbourg to Switzerland you go across the Rhein to Offenburg,
Correction. From Strasbourg to Switzerland you do not cross the Rhine, you go straight south, via Colmar, to Basel in Switzerland, which is where the two routes on the two sides of the Rhine join up. From Basel there are two trains per hour to Luzern.
It is also possible to get from Frankfurt to Strasbourg along the left side of the Rhine, but it is a back route, and normally it is quicker to go down the right (German) side and cross over at Strasbourg. The info office at Frankfurt station will advice you on the quickest option. And your tickets will be valid on whatever route they tell you
A lot of the freight trains (~200 per day) are being diverted down the French side!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19287 posts
Chris,
the OP said,
All our tickets won't work due to track problems between Germany and Switzerland.
It seemed logical to me from their concerns that they were going via the Rhein, so I was advising them that the trip from Strasbourg to Switzerland would not be effected by the track problems.
I thought of mentioning to them the alternative of the French side, but since it seemed obvious that they already had tickets down the German side through Offenburg, I didn't bother.
Posted by
Green Bay
21226 posts
The OP was traveling yesterday, so whatever they decided to do, they've already done it.