Minimum train connection/transfer times

Except for a few very large multi-level stations (Rotterdam, Antwerpen, Warsaw), 5 minutes is usually enough time to transfer, at least in Germany. In a few of the stations where the trains back into the station, you may have to hurry if you sit on the far side of the train.

You can find a layout of any DB or S-Bahn station in Bavaria here. Plans for stations in the Frankfurt metro area, RMV, are here.

Most station have a 1,2-3,4-5,6-7, etc layout, with, for instance, tracks 2 and 3 sharing a platform. There are some notable exceptions.

In most cases, for the Bahn, if they show a connection with 5 minutes to change trains, it will be enough time. Usually, if one train is a little late, the other train will wait for it. A lot of lines have a train an hour, so it your train is very late, and you miss your connection, there will be a following train pretty soon.

Most importantly, know when you are coming to your transfer station (time or previous station). Just before you arrive, leave your seat and be at the end of the car, with your luggage, by the door when the train stops. Proceed directly to the next train. Others will be making the same change; stay with the herd. The conductor will be watching and will not release the train while people are boarding.

Tom and Lee,

Thanks for the advice. This really does help me relax a little since there are a few short connections in my itinerary. I do plan to verify later train schedules in case of itinerary malfunction, enroute.

I also kept digging in the archives and just found some of your similar advice to someone a few months ago:
http://www.ricksteves.com/graffiti/helpline/index.cfm?topic=47204

My apologies for your duplicated efforts and thanks again for your help.

The ONLY train station we ever had an issue of almost missing our connection was in Basel. There half of the station is in Switzerland and half in France with 2 distinct sections and very little signage.

We frequently had connections of 3 to 5 minutes in Germany and never had a problem.

For germany sounds fine, but for Italy no.
My train from Florence to Rome arrived 30 minutes late.

Most German and Austrian trains of IC or higher service will have little description sheets available showing the path the train takes and giving platforms for your train and many connections.

In Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands the connections are often just across the platforms, and well timed.

I wouldn't say the same for France, Italy, or Belgium.

If you check your connections on the national railway site for the country involved; for example www.sbb.ch for Switzerland, you will often find the platforms of the connection will be given.

On the German Rail website, if you find a connection, there will be a '>' symbol in a box on the LH side of the connection. Clicking it will expand the connection to show all the trains for that connection, including the arrival and departure times. In Germany the track numbers will also be shown. Farther down the page, click on "At the train station". For major stations it will also give you a track plan for that station.