train travel

I just went to bahn.de and found platform numbers listed for Karlsruhe on your route with an 11:03 departure.

Since you're new to European train travel, I can appreciate your concern about missing a connection. If you pick a departure time that has short connection intervals, you can help yourself out by going to the door of your carriage well before the train is scheduled to stop so you'll be among the first people to get off the train and you won't have to elbow your way through the crowds to get to your next train.

I think 10 minutes is enough time for a change of trains even with a platform change. But as Tim says, don't daly, be ready to get off when the train stops, locate the stairs (Karlsruhe) and move quickly through the tunnel to your next platform. Ask the conductor on the train for the platform numbers if they are not on the pdf ticket when you receive it.

Whether the platform numbers are listed on the Bahn website depends on how far out you are looking. They are listed for trains this month. You should probably check back near train time; they should be listed by then.

As for the change in Munich, Munich is a head-in, back-out station (i.e., the tracks dead end against the cross-platform. You don't have to go up and down steps, but you do have to walk to the front of the train to change platforms. You might want to move to the end of the first car before the train comes into the station to cut down on you transfer time.

By the way, if you miss a connection because of a late train, the Bahn will take care of you.

Hi Nancy,

Why do you need a reservation? These trains should have plenty of seats available by the time you board. If you just buy the ticket instead of a reservation to go with it, you will not have to worry about missing one connection and taking the later train.

I was thinking of buying my ticket in advance so I could get the discounted rate.

Thanks everyone for your help. Are the stairs at the Karlsruhe station clearly marked so you won't head the wrong direction?

The only stairs from the platforms in the Karlsruhe station go DOWN to the tunnel that connects the platforms. From the tunnel there are multiple stairs to other platforms with protruding signs showing the platform number.

Thanks to all responders and especially to Lee. I have another train station question now. Can anyone approximate the distance between the farthest apart platforms at Karlruhe station? What I mean to say is if I arrive on platform #1 and have to transfer to platform #6, how far will I have to walk? I don't want to attempt a five minute 1000 meter run if I have to do it while dragging luggage.

Nancy, here's something I had not seen mentioned in a guide book before my train trips in Germany a couple of years ago (I discovered this website after I returned.) I'm standing by the exit door (an enclosed area) all by myself, nobody else is getting off. The door does not open automatically, there is no handle or doorknob of any kind. I'm starting to panic because this train only stops here for 3 minutes, the next stop is over a hundred miles away, not a soul nearby to help. I frantically look around and see several very small red, green and black knobs on the right hand wall not much larger than doorbells. I push all of them and the door opens - I get out just in time before the train leaves. Was I glad! I was also very glad that I had only one roller bag and a large shoulder bag I carried crosswise.

To see the plan of the Karlsruhe station, go to here.

The pdf floor plans of the 20 biggest German train stations are downloadable from this German Rail (DB) page (only in German though): www.bahnhof.de

Just enter the name and "Bahnhofsplan" in the "Suche" search box on the upper left (or browse on the left) and click on the "PDF herunterladen" link.

For example the 2008 version of the Karlsruhe main station plan is here

In addition you can search for a description of all 5400 stations in Germany and see what services they offer (e.g. lockers or restrooms).