What if you get on the wrong train?

To avoid getting on the wrong train, simply confirm your destination with a conductor before boarding. Conductors usually stand on the platform before trains depart and during stops. Just ask (for example) "Rome?" and point to the train. Even if they dont' speak english, they'll understand your question and will let you know if it's the right train. The best way to minimize your chance of a fine is to immediately find a conductor and bring your error to their attention. If they speak english, they'll probably explain what you need to do to get to your correct destination. Depending on circumstances (e.g. on a train that requires reservations), you may incur an extra charge but probably won't be fined. If the conductor discovers the error, then your chances of a fine increase. Bottom line is that getting on the wrong train is your mistake and you'll incur the cost of any changes. The type of ticket you hold will determine whether you can exchange it at full or partial value or whether you'll need to buy new tickets.

We were taking the train from Colmar to Strasbourg. When we arrived, no one stood up to get off so we waited a bit and then decided although it seemed strange that everyone else stayed put, we had to get off. But...by then we had waited too long and the door would not open so we were stuck. We discovered we were now on our way to Paris. I immediately tracked down the conductor and explained our mistake and had to pay extra for the leg of the trip to Paris. At that time we had a rail pass so it was not as expensive as it would have been without it. As we were planning to go to Paris after our time in Strasbourg, we just ended up arriving in Paris a couple days early! Before boarding the train in Colmar, we asked one of the train personnel there at the train if this was the train to Strasbourg, and he said yes. But, of course, it still was the wrong train.
We laugh about it now, but it was a bit stressful at the time.

We had an experience for a German train, which are notoriously on time. Of course, for our first-ever train trip in Germany, ours was late. We got on the next train that arrived, which wasn't going where we were going. We had a rail pass, so we weren't charged any penalties. The conductor was very nice, told us where to get off and what train to get on next.

It depends on the country's railway and, of course, on your ticket. If you are travelling on a time- and seat-specific ticket medium/long-distance train, chances of getting fined increase a lot. Many railways are ditching the sell of tickets on board (which is a good measure IMO), so the conductors have no options but either waive you or fine you (technically, they will sell you a standard fare with a huge on-board surcharge). In UK, there is zero-tolerance for getting the wrong train, as there are many different fares and discounts are bound to certain conditions. SNCF won't let people travel for free on allegation of "honest mistakes" either. So I think it is best just to triple-check before boarding.

Done this 2x. First time was in Italy, and we jumped on the first train heading to our destination. It was an express train, and we didn't realize it. We had to pay the conductor over $50 for our mistake. The 2nd time I was in Switzerland, didn't think about how the Swiss operate, everything is on time....we hopped on the train at our track, and once it started to move, we realized it was going the wrong direction. We got off at the first stop, hopped on a train heading back to the train station, and started all over again. That was scary. Our mistake was Ok, as the train stopped just a few minutes into the journey at another train station in Zurich, easy to get back to the main terminal and find the correct train. (the train we needed left from the same track, just 10 minutes after the train we actually got on) Like other posters have stated, check, double check and triple check before you get on a train. Arrive in plenty of time to get this all figured out. Ask a conductor before you jump on the train. Like airlines, the trains sometimes have a last minute change in track! At the top of most tracks there is a board that will show the changes, use this frequently before boarding.

And if you're in France, be sure to say "Bon Jour" to the conductor, and wait for his response, before you say "Cannes?" or whatever. On our last trip we neglected to do this. I rushed up to him and breathlessly asked "Cannes?" and just got a frosty stare. I stared back for a second, then realized my mistake. After I prefaced my question with "Bon Jour" I got an answer from him, but never a smile.

You should not let that happen, not in Germany. 1) From the Bahn website, you can get the train number, the departure time, the final destination, and the track number. There are departure boards (yellow) on the platform with the same information. Note: The last time I saw a train come in on a different track was 1988. 2) In most stations there will be a sign above the track showing the same information - departure time, final destination, and maybe a few important intermediate stations. 3) As the final defense, there is a placard in the window next to the door with the final destination of that car. If you do your homework, you'll know all of this information in advance, and you shouldn't make that mistake.

It can and does happen to people. Although train boards will note final destinations, they sometimes do not list every stop. So if you are going to small town, it's best to ask before boarding to be sure. Track changes do occur, especially if another train is delayed. And it can be easy to miss your stop. That happened to me once in Germany. Arrived at a station on time and I looked to confirm it was the right station. Nope, wrong name on the sign so I waited. When the conductor came by after the stop he saw my ticket and told me I missed the stop. Apparently I read the sign for "exit" and thought it was the station name. And while most conductors will be very helpful, they must still charge you for riding on the train.

Lynette, If you do get on the wrong train going in the opposite direction, you will be told that ticket is invalid and will have to pay right then and there for another one. I was caught once ten years ago with an improper ticket (and the train was not an ICE) on some local train between Potsdam and Berlin...something was amiss so I just paid, no problems,...I was pretty sure this older woman conductor was an East German who did not know English. You can hop off and on the next one to backtrack if you have rail Pass. Literally getting on the wrong train going in the opposite direction has only happened once in 16 trips in Germany...wanted to go from Mönchengladbach to Aachen, then to Paris in 2003. But I couldn't figure out whether the train at Mönchengladbach Hbf. was the correct one or not, checked and checked, against my better sense I boarded, it was crowded with locals chatting away. Admittedly I was listening in on the conversations, which seemed to tell me that the train was not going to Aachen. I asked and they told it wasn't. When I saw the next stop was Viersen, which I knew it was in the opposite direction,... I knew I had to get off. Since I had the Select Pass, it covered it until I got to Aachen.

If you use the dbahn website you can find out all intermediate stops for your journey. When you have entered your departure station and arrival station, the next page will show you the train info, departure/arrival times etc. Under the heading of Station Stop on the left hand side, there is a white arrow on a grey background with the title 'Show Intermediate Stops'. Click on this and you will see all the stations en route to your destination.
Hope these instructions make sense. It's a great resource. We travelled over 4,500 kms by train without a hitch. Only wrong train scenario was on the Paris Metro.

Most ticket inspectors are human. Do enough "frantic" stuff and it will be a lot easier for them to just point you in the right direction. The one problem you might have is seat reservations ..... you may have to stand back to the next station. Roger

Would you like the best case? Cause this is what happened to a friends of mine. He got a train going the wrong direction (somewhere in Germany I am not sure exactly where) on about the 6th day of his summer long solo backpacking trip. He had a pass so it didn't matter cost wise just wasted some time. Got off at the next stop and caught the next train heading the right direction. When he sat down he was sitting across from a girl also from America who was traveling solo thru Europe. They started talking and hit it off. While they were talking she realized she was on the wrong train as well but decided that it didn't really matter because where this train was heading was a place she wanted to visit. She too had a pass so money wise it was not an issue. Both were lonely and tired of traveling solo and decided to travel together as friends for a while. A few weeks later in Paris their platonic relationship turned romantic. They backpacked together for the rest of the summer. This summer they are going back to Paris for 10 days to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary (and 28th anniversary of meeting each other.) It will be their first time back to Europe since then. I can't guarantee similar results if you get on the wrong train, but if you do take a deep breath, relax, and consider it fate.

Ed - what an amazing story! As you say, learning to just go with the flow even when mistakes happen is one of the best lessons of traveling. Sadly, too many people don't prescribe to that philosophy.

Calmly repair to the dining car. Take a seat. Order something unusual, something you've never tried, something you couldn't try at home. Make pleasant, lengthy conversation with your travel companion. Linger. Imbibe. Convive. Arise as you near your destination confirmed in your grace under pressure. Be on your merry way. (A true story. Florence--Rome; May, 2008.)

so.....bottom line....whatever happens, in the end, it'll make a great story.

As it can be very simple. Once with our two sons arrived a little earlier than planned at a station. checked the board, track 5. Waited at track 5, got on and after about ten minutes realized train may be headed in the wrong direction, stepped across the aisle and asked if train headed to xyz, shake of head confirmed wrong direction just as train was slowing for first stop, got off, cross to opposite platform, ten minutes later train arrives going in opposite direction, got on, and got off at the original station and caught the correct train. Lost about an hour. A very good practice is to ask other people waiting on the platform if train is going to xyz because we do not always see a conductor standing a round. We almost always do that but this one time did not. We do it now. Probability of getting on the wrong train is very low unless you are just careless.