Hello, I'm looking to take an overnight train from Regensburg to Paris on October 23rd. There is a transfer to the CNL in Günzburg (from platform 3 to 4). The transfer is close by, but there's only 7 minutes in between. My question is - is this enough time? Are you supposed to arrive early for a CNL train or do you just board and then get checked in like any other train? DB Bahn shows this route as available, but I don't know if I can assume 7 minutes is enough time. Thanks!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Platforms 3 and 4 are separated by the tracks, so you would have to go down the stairs and go over to the next stairs and go up to the departure platform, but, as long as you are not overburdened with luggage, that is certainly doable in 7 minutes. If for some reason your arrival train is a few minutes late, I'm sure they will hold the night train to allow connecting passengers to make the connection. However, if the tightness bothers you, instead of the 20:45 train to Günzburg, take the 20:44 train to Landshut (21:33) and catch the 21:47 train to Munich. The Munich train arrives on track 24 at 22:35, giving you 12 minutes to make the one platform change (without a tunnel in Munich) to platform 23. The CNL train leaves at 22:47. Are you buying an individual ticket for this trip of using a rail pass?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
According to the station schedule for Günzburg, that CNL train arrives at 23:51, two minutes before it departs at 23:53. You just board and go to your compartment. You could also change in Augsburg. The train that leaves Regensburg at 20:45 gets to Ingolstadt at 21:52. You could change there (18 min) for the 22:11 train to Augsburg. That train arrives in Augsburg at 23:08 on track 501, which is a stub track on the end of the 4/5 platform. You'd have 12 minutes to get to track 1. The CNL train comes in at 23:18, gives you 2 minutes to get on, then leaves at 23:20. These schedules will show up on the Bahn website, with the opportunity to purchase tickets online, if you use Augsburg or Munich as a stopover.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
Pat, My suggestion is based on the assumption that you're not pressed for time in Regensburg. I myself would do the Regensburg-Munich-Paris this way: Depart Regensburg at 19:46, direct, for Munich arr. 21:15. Then depart Munich 22:47 on the CNL to Paris, arr. 09:24. This way both legs are direct, and you have 1.5 hrs layover at the Hbf. Most of food court outlets don't close until after 22:00.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
I didn't mention Fred's suggestion because it requires leaving Regensburg an hour earlier and has a prolonged stopover in Munich, but it does allow you plenty of time to board the night train, which starts in Munich and will sit there for a longer time for you to board. Plus you won't have to change trains between Regensburg and where you catch the CNL.
Posted by
OP
Wakefield
4 posts
Fred/Lee,
Thanks! I don't know why the Bahn website doesn't show that route. But I think I will book it anyway as separate legs. It'll cost me 23e more but I'd rather have the comfort of knowing I have an hour to transfer in Munich. And besides, then I can get settled into the overnight cabin an hour earlier. - Pat
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Before you book it as separate legs, try the Bahn again. Sometimes you have to convince it you really want that connection. On the Bahn website, put in a stopover, Muenchen (it will suggest "München Hbf", accept it). That will show you both the direct 19:46 connection and the 20:44 connection with a change in Landshut. Or, use stopover Augsburg, and you will see the connection via Ingolstadt with a 12 minute connection in Augsburg. I'm not sure you will have an hour to get settled, it depends on when they bring the train to the platform, but you should have plenty of time.