ktstel

Hi all,

Will be arriving in Frankfurt Airport from San Francisco and then taking a day train to Prague.

Can someone help with the following:

- what airport designation do I need to use on the bahn.de site
- I've heard there's a way to forego the bus connection....is that possible?
-How much time is needed to collect bags, go through customs, etc. and catch the train?

As always, I appreciate this forum so much and thank you in advance for your input.

PalenQ

Frankfurt(Main)Flughafen is what www.bahn.de/en - German Railways sschedule site calls it - but there are two stations in the airport but long-distance trains mainly leave from the Fernbahnhof - long-distant train station as opposed to the Lokal or Regional Bahnhof that has local trains and S-Bahns into Frankfurt.

bahn.de indicates all connections thru the day change to a bus - at Nurnberg usually - that's because it's the fastest and best connection - buses are run by DB I believe (at least railpasses are valid) - there is an all-rail link but it involves regional trains and can take much much longer and more changes - so the bus is by far the best.

You can leave every hour or more - savings fare of 49 euros were still available for tomorrow's train - full fare is 96 euros but the discounted ticket is train-specific and non-changeable and coming by plane you never know - but if you leave a few hours extra fudge time and can get the 46or 49 euro fare it would save over $100 for two - full-fare of course you can always buy and most German trains have no seat reservations mandated so you can always board even if no seats are left and wait to the next stop when some are vacated - unlikely to all be full and first-class IME is rarely is ever full (but costs much much more).

www.bahn.de/en lets you print your own tickets I think - there is a large shopping mall at Frankfurt airport to while away a few hours if the plane is on time and do some walking before that long train ride - for lots of info on German trains check www.seat61.com - great info on discounted tickets; general info - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com.

If traveling much in Germany by train look at the German Railpass which has a cheap add-on for going to Prague.

Cowboy1968

The trains to Nuremberg can be used with full fare tickets without reservations. But the connecting bus to Prague requires reservations. So even with a full fare ticket you'd need to buy new reservations (at Frankfurt airport train station, for example) in case you miss your planned connection.

You will need appr. 30-60 minutes to get landside. Passport control may have lines but customs is just walking out from baggage claim thru the right exit (red/green). Finding the way from baggage claim to the train stations is a bit of a walk but no rocket sciences.

traveller1959

The departing train station is "Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbf". It is inside the airport and easy to reach from the baggage claim area.

Unboarding will be like this:

- Leaving the plane: 10 to 20 min, depending on the row where your seat is.
- Passport control: maybe 10 mi
- walking to the baggage claim area: 15 min
- collecting bags: 0 to 20 min
- customs: 0
- walking to train station: 10 min

Total time: 45 to 75 min

The main problem is: Will the flight be on time?

If you buy a saver ticket which bound to a certain train or bus and you miss it because your flight is delayed than you can take another train or bus but you pay the difference to the normal fare + a fee of 15 Euros. So, the risk is limited.

How to avoid the bus?

You can take the train connection via Dresden, which takes 8:23 (with two changes of trains in Leipzig and Dresden with 30 and 40 minutes stopover time), compared to 6:43 for the bus connection via Nürnberg (without delays caused by traffic jams). In this case you enter stopover in Dresden with a stopover time of, say, 00:10, in www.bahn.de

PalenQ

Those buses are pretty comfy many folks say - normally I would eschew buses but saving about two hours would put me on the bus.

Seems like getting a discounted ticket makes sense as traveler 1959 explains - you'll be out only 15 euros if you have to change trains - change to full-fare tickets that can be used on any of the same type of trains.

ktstel

Thanks so much for your replies PalenQ, Cowboy1968 and and traveller1959. It's absolutely awesome to have such a wealth of knowledge to clarify everything before we go.

Other questions now:

1)Does bahn.de schedule show 6:43 for the length of the trip from Frankfurt to Prague...does that include the entire journey, with the bus leg?

2) Does the bus leave off at the Prague train station or the bus station? (We have someone picking us up and want to be sure to direct them correctly).

Thanks again!

PalenQ

Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbf Fr, 28.08.15 dep 10:02 Fern 5 ICE 1521 Intercity-Express Direction: München Hbf
Bordrestaurant
Nürnberg Hbf Fr, 28.08.15 arr 12:24 8
walk 10 min.
Adjust the transfer time
Nürnberg Hbf, Bahnhofvorpl. Hauptausgang Fr, 28.08.15 dep 12:40 BUS42010 IC Bus Direction: Praha hl.n. (Autobusová St. Wilsonova)
Subject to compulsory reservation , Regional train tickets are not valid , 2nd class only , Snacks and beverages available , No entrainment, On-Board Entertainment , Toilet on board , Free Wifi in Germany and abroad
Praha hl.n. (Autobusová St. Wilsonova)

If you click on show intermediate stops on www.bahn.de/en it will show all the stops the trains and buses make - the final stop for the bus is the St Wilsonova bus station - this connection takes 6 h 16 min and only one change in Nurnberg where the bus is right outside the train station - note that yes as cowboy said reservations for the bus are mandatory - get them when you buy your ticket.

Christina

In many countries, buses are just as nice as trains, I wouldn't turn up my nose at them. They are really nice in Mexico, for example (as few trains), and they are just as good as trains in Spain often. I use them in the US, also, between DC and NYC, they are usually more comfy than an airplane seat, for example (more leg room).

The Wilsonova bus station in Prague for those long distance German trains is right at the main train station, they stop about right next to the main entrance.

PalenQ

This particular bus - substituted for trains because the rails are not up to higher speeds I think so the bus goes quicker from Nurnberg to Prague - is especially comfy many reports say.

traveller1959

1)Does bahn.de schedule show 6:43 for the length of the trip from Frankfurt to Prague...does that include the entire journey, with the bus leg?

Yes, it includes the bus leg - but it is not reliable, if there are traffic jams, the bus might be late.

2) Does the bus leave off at the Prague train station or the bus station? (We have someone picking us up and want to be sure to direct them correctly).

The official address of the bus stop is:
Praha hl.n. (Autobusová St. Wilsonova)

It is exactly at the front entrance of the main train station. Nobody can miss it.

ktstel

You people are awesome! Thanks for all of your help.