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DB Bahn doesn't show all train routes/times ?

Posted by (USA) on

RS recommends the DB Bahn site saying

The Deutsche Bahn site is the most complete resource for train schedules throughout Europe. If your destination isn’t listed on the Deutsche Bahn site (and if you’ve spelled it correctly), it likely doesn’t have train service. But before giving up — especially for train travel in Spain and Italy — it’s a good idea to consult their national railway sites to double-check availability.

I couldn't find a direct train from Rennes to CDG so I checked on the SNCF site and it shows direct trains taking 3 hours. The DB Bahn site has a change in Paris to the RER and takes 3:36 - 3:46. This is for a test search for travel on 5/29/15 at 8am

I'm wondering if other people have seen trips not found on a DB Bahn search. In the past when I've been putting trips together I relied on DB Bahn to let me see what is possible, now I'm thinking I may have let some more convenient routes or times slip by.

Posted by
16893 posts

Do you mean that you found one actually departing at 8:00? On both DB and SNCF I see direct trains departing at 6:09 and then 10:05, but none around 8:00.

DB reflects other, interim options with connections, which SNCF doesn't, since they don't sell the RER connection and are not trying to present those.

DB is normally quite complete in reporting what the national railways have provided to them, so we see only rare exceptions. One example would be Milan-Varenna-Tirano, which has not appeared on DB since Trenitalia subcontracted the route to TreNord a few years ago, although Trenitalia still displays it.

Posted by
20089 posts

Deutsche Bahn isn't perfect. They do not show the Regionale schedules operated by Trenord. This is glaringly evident on this forum where Varenna is such a popular destination. Trenord doesn't send their schedules to DB, Just Trenitalia and SBB.

Posted by
383 posts

Do you mean that you found one actually departing at 8:00? On both DB and SNCF I see direct trains departing at 6:09 and then 10:05, but none around 8:00.

Sorry I was unclear. 5/29 at 8am was what I used for the search criteria.

I think I realize what happened. When I picked 8am for the search DB Bahn didn't show me the 6:09am departure because that was before my specified time. And the direct train at 10:05am didn't show up either because it filled the screen with the trains it found before that time. So DB Bahn did show the possibilities, just not as concisely as SNCF which lists 6 trains in columns compared to DB Bahn showing 3 trains in rows.

Posted by
12040 posts

Deutsche Bahn is a good general recommendation, but to get the most detailed possible information, you need to consult the national rail carrier or regional transport authority in question. There is no one-stop-shopping for all transit options Europe-wide, so you need to do a little homework.

Posted by
16893 posts

Thanks, Bill. I thought that might have been the issue. DB does not reflect details for all in-city transport, but Paris' suburban RER system makes the cut, so the extra options/stations those reflect are often useful info.

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