How do I use tickets purchased on-line for a specific train, when a schedule has changed? Earlier in August, I purchased online train tickets for 2 adults, 1 way, 2nd class from Amsterdam Schipol airport to Cologne, Germany through the DBahn website. My ticket says " This is a linked train route. This means your ticket is only valid for the exact trains printed on your ticket. Exchanges and cancellation fee is EUR 17.50". I was fine with that since we just need to get to Cologne to meet up with friends on Sunday morning. Yesterday, I was notified by email from DBahn that "there have been some schedule changes made to the trip that you booked for 06.09.2015. Please refer to the current timetable for information on your planned travel connection." That is the full extent of instructions given along with a link to click to check schedules. I can view new time schedules, but the system does not show train numbers and is asking me to buy new tickets at much higher prices. Is there a way to see the new departure time for a specific train? I cannot seem to find that information.
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23626 posts
What happens when you log into Bahn and check Managing Your Reservations? Does your current reservation come up? Worse case -- call them.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Logging onto the Bahn works if you are registered with the Bahn (it gave you that choice when you bought the ticket). That's a big advantage to registering with the Bahn when (or before) buying tickets.
However, it should not cost you anything to change your ticket to another train. The AGB (Conditions of Carriage) of the Bahn specifically says that if you miss a connection due to the fault of the Bahn, they will put you on another train at no cost to you. They did this for me in 2008, when the regional train did not make it to the connecting station in time for me to make the next train, which was specified on the ticket. I went to the ticket counter and showed my ticket to the clerk. He checked with his computer, verified that the train I was on had indeed been late, and wrote the number for the next express train on my ticket.
"I can view new time schedules, but the system does not show train numbers"
I assume the link took you to the schedule website. If you open a connection by clicking on the triangle on the LH end, it should show you each leg of the connection and the number of the train on each leg. BTW, the train number is a link and clicking on it will open a new window with all the stations that train stops at on it's route, along with the times.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16895 posts
If you pull up the current schedules for the day of Sept. 6, you first see an overview format. After you get several schedules on the page, you can click the grey arrow at the bottom to "Show details for all" and then will see the train numbers. I'm assuming they're still running a train with the same number but a few timing details changed.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
If that doesn't work, go to this webpage and input the train number (and date). The next page should show you the new route of the train with stations and times.
Don't panic yet. The change might not be important to you. It might affect your departure time from Amsterdam, or your arrival time in Köln, by only a few minutes, or it might change intermediate stations, which wouldn't affect you.