Saarbrucken transfer

Do you have particular issues that would make a reasonable connection (I wouldn't look twice at 9 minutes, but I'm experienced at European and German trains) less than reasonable? Kiddoes, elderly parents, bad hips, bad knees, other disability, wheelchair, vast quantities of huge luggage, cruise, inability to hustle, very easily confused? Then you might be pushed. The Bahn will even tell you which platform you arrive on and which you need to connect to. They may even be across the platform at the next number.

The only possible issue is that we have zero experience with the European train systems. We can move quickly... it's just a matter or moving in the right direction if we don't know where we're going. :-) I assumed that this connection time would okay, but since my experience on the matter is non-existent, I thought I should double-check with the experts.

I also have experience riding German trains. I'm with Nigel on this one, 9 minutes is plenty of time. A quick look at the DB site shows the inbound train coming in on track 11, and the outbound departing on track 12. You'll be fine.

If you look up the schedule, Trier to Paris, on the Bahn website, you will see that the connections that go through Saarbruecken come into the station (RE) on track 11 and go out (TGV or ICE) on track 12. At the bottom of that expanded schedule is a blue box with an 'i' for information and 'bhf'. If you click that you'll get links to information for Trier Hbf and Saarbrücken Hbf. And the page for Saarbrücken includes a link to the station plan. The track plan is rather scrambled, with tracks 5 and 12 sharing a platform (5 is used for express trains from Paris, 12 for express trains to Paris). Track 11 is a stub track ending in the west end of the platform. You come in on track 11 at 10:53. Get off and walk east to the main part of the platform (no stairs nor tunnel). Your connection train won't even be there yet. It will arrive 7 min later and you will have 2 min to get on.

This is very helpful. Thank you, all!

I'm assuming you will be making this change at around 11 o'clock since the other changes say 8 minutes. The ICE for that time says that reservations are required. If you are at the end of the incoming coach, with your luggage, when the train stops, ready to get off, you should have plenty of time. There will be a board on the platform showing the makeup of your connecting train and you can find the coach number for your reserved seats. At the top of the sign will be large letters A, B, C, etc and there will be corresponding letters over the platform. Find out where your coach will stop on the platform and go to where it will be. That way you won't get on and have to walk through the train looking for your seats.

Thank you, Lee! These specifics are very helpful.