5 sometimes 10 minutes to change trains! Is that possible?
 

We're traveling through France and Italy this August. We are concerned about traffic, therefore would like to travel by train. However, we are first timers and are concerned about being able to change trains, with luggage, in as little as 5 or 10 minutes. (This appears on many of the schedules we've checked on Trenitalia and other sites.) If we miss our connections, we may have to wait more than two hours for the next train. If we do, what happens to the seats we've reserved? Can we get reimbursed for trains missed? Could we have difficulty getting seats on the next train because we haven't reserved them. Also, would it be even more difficult to make the transfers quickly in larger stations like Genoa? Please help! We need some encouragement to bolster our courage!

This used to freak me out no end, but not to worry. The train is always on an adjacent track, or there are helpful people to direct you to the right train, or the overhead screens advise where to do. Sometimes it's close, but in 25+ years of scrambling, I've never missed a train. You'll be fine. Just be with your luggage when the train stops at the station.

Frannie, I posted a reply somewhere! <BR><BR>Yes, I agree, one always manage to catch the next train. Locals are extremely helpful, and will help you carry luggage if it looks as if you need help. And the stations you will be using, are not really confusing - quite easy to get around!<BR><BR>Enjoy!

we have never missed a train however, we do have our own system if it is a big station. my husband grabs the luggage and I go and ask the questions. It has been close but once you know the system (track, car etc.) it helps to have two pairs of eyes looking at all the stations. Sometimes if you have enough time ask the at the first part of your journey which track will my next train be leaving from? Also, really read your tickets they give you lots of help and so do web sites.

you can make it with little trouble as long as the train is on time. But remember that lately Itlaian Trains seem to be delayed quite often (more often than usual), in particular on the Rome-Florence-Bologna-Milano route.

Here are my recommendations:<BR><BR>- Have a printout of the itinerary so you know all the stops along the way and what time you're supposed to be where. That way, if the train is late, you can better guess what time you'll actually arrive.<BR>- Have your luggage at the door before you get to your departure station. <BR>- On most platforms and stations in Europe, there are yellow (departure) and white (arrival) posters. Find/verify the time and track of your next train if at all uncertain. <BR>- Dash for your track. <BR>- In most stations, there are posters on each track with layouts of trains that stop there that show the car numbers and where they will be along the track. If you have seat reservations, figure out where your car is supposed to stop and go there.<BR><BR>Generally speaking, if your arrival train is a little late, your departure train will also be. There will probably be other people making the same connection. I've taken lots of trains around Europe with short connection times and never missed one.

I hope I don't repeat other suggestions: Arrive early at your first departure station. Figure out how to read the information regarding trains (esp. arrival/departure). Different countries have different methods (and the size of a train station may determine the amount of info available and in what form, i.e. poster or television). Another suggestion, as mentioned, is to try to get internet info on the specifics of your arrival and departure platforms. You can't trust this completely, but it will give you the first place to look for your train. Be prepared to read the posters/timetables yourself, though. Conductors, etc., are helpful, but there can be a crowd of people around them (asking questions). You may waste valuable time waiting until he/she is available. Finally, locals often know everything you need, so ask a friendly co-passenger BUT they can be wrong too!

<BR>frannie,<BR><BR>There is little need to be concerned as everybody else has pointed out. <BR><BR>One additional suggestion: to avoid the potential confusion and delay in the station ask the conductor on the train you are arriving on. He will have a fat little book in his pocket indicating the platform for your next train. <BR><BR>www.enjoy-europe.com/hte/chap17/rail.htm is my page with plenty of information to help you as a rail newbie. It's a big file because of all the photographs illustrating the rudiments of train travel in Europe.<BR><BR>Someting else that may help you is your own copy of the Thomas Cook European Timetable. And pack light.<BR><BR>john

Sounds like everyone is pretty reassuring about your concerns.<BR>I feel the same way. You shouldn't have a problem. The tracks are usually right next to one another.<BR><BR>However, I have had two experiences that are quite vivid.<BR><BR>I have had one experience last year in Germany when our ICE Train actually broke down and we were all transferred to another train. The trip was delayed nearly 2 hours while everyone waited for the other train. Doesn't happen that often, but it did last year. <BR><BR>Had another experience 20 years ago on the way to my grandmothers house. It turns out that a person committed suicide by jumping off an overpass directly into the path of out train. That was another 2 hour delay while we waited for the police to scrape the individual off of the train and until they got us another train.<BR><BR>But, your concerns are certainly genuine.<BR>I would add a few other things:<BR><BR>The French aren't the most helpful, so forget about getting much help from them. I've seen them literally bump into and knock people down on their way to the trains.<BR><BR>Be careful with your valuables,. This is a perfect time for the pickpockets to get you. They know that you will be long gone from the trainstation before you even realize that you have been ripped off.<BR><BR>Ignore the rules about first class and second class cars. Get into the train as quickly as possible. You can navigate just as easily inside the train as if you walking along the train looking for the first or second class car.<BR><BR>Do you really need seat reservations. It sounds to me that much of your apprehension involves the seat reservations. If it did happen that you missed the train, not a big deal. There is always another one coming later. Simply put your luggage into a locker at the train station and explore the town a bit.<BR><BR>As a first timer, you really want to have as few planned activities as possible. This would include the need to be somewhere at a specific time. The quickest way I've seen people get dissapointed is to have you miss your train and for it to bother you. Getting lost in Europe is part of the fun.<BR><BR>How much luggage are you taking? It's been my experience that many first timers bring entirely too much with them. Keep it to minimum and that will help you. If you are younf eneough and your backs can handle it, do the backpack thing. These trains don't give you much room to navigate the luggage down narrow aisles. A backpack works beautifully in the narrow train aisles.<BR><BR>Good Luck! I am sure this won't be your last trip.<BR>

Everyone has been so helpful. Thanks so much. I'm still scared, but am convinced to do it. I know it will be a wonderfull adventure.<BR><BR>john, Your page was very helpful. I'm a little confused about which pass to buy. Can you help? I am traveling with my husband. We would like to travel by train from Nice to SML, SML to Venice, and Venice to Rome, all within a 2 week period. Should we buy point to point tickets for our 3 journeys? If so, with or without a pass? I've heard that it is pretty crowded in August, so we'd like to reserve seats.(First class whenever possible.) Should we buy early from the US? Also, is your book available on Amazon or at Barnes and Noble? Where do I get a copy of the Thomas Cook European timetable? Frannie<BR><BR>I plan to post more about my trip, and the interesting way it came about. Hope you all enjoy it as much as I am enjoying this site! You have all enhanced my anticipation and excitement about the trip.<BR><BR>

Dear Frannie,<BR><BR>Make sure you take the Eurostar from Venice to Rome with reserved seats!<BR><BR>Last year was our 1st trip to Italy and we were lulled by the nice train travel experience.<BR><BR>This year all of our train travel seemed complicated - going from Italian Riviera to Switzerland. T'was an unbelievable experience. Running and sweatting trying to get from one end of Milan train station to the other, with no mention of our Swiss town train stop anywhere !!! I told my husband to start running toward the track that said Geneva - a least that was heading to the right country ! In microscopic print I recognized one of the stops and headed for the track (thankfully by an earlier mixup, I figured out there chart system) - we hopped on the train as the conductor was yelling at us to hurry. It's gets better after that but I won't drag on.<BR><BR>When everyone says pack light - they mean it! <BR><BR>My husband and I are still saying can you believe we made it to Wengen, Switz? Turned out to be a very memorable day - met some fascinating and helpful people.<BR><BR>Have fun - and you'll make it there.<BR><BR>Nancy<BR><BR><BR><BR>My suggestion in Italy when you are not under pressure - learn to read the train charts!

I didn't see it mentioned, but it sounds like you will have reserved seats so there shouldn't be any trouble; just be sure you are in the right car after you jump on because the cars sometimes separate to go in different directions. We've caught trains with as little as 2 minutes between. It can be done. As someone mentioned be careful of your valuables because when being distracted you can lose things. Also, what I've done is check the internet schedules and run the schedules out for the next 2 hours or so in case you have to take a later train you will be prepared with options. M.

<BR><BR>Frannie,<BR><BR>For clarification, if you buy a pass you will not need tickets. For most trains you will not need reservations but there are times and places when and where reservations are a good idea. <BR><BR>I can't help much with your decision making but I think that you should consider the "Europass Saver" for your trip. This gives you reduced fares for two persons in the core countries of Europe, including France and Italy. First class is $306 per person for 5 days within a 2 month period. See your travel agent for the 24 page "Europe on Track" brochure describing this and many other possibilities. <BR><BR>If you decide on passes buy them in the USA. If you decide on tickets buy them in Europe. If you decide on making reservations (they are not expensive) do that in Europe. Travel midweek and you can probably avoid the need for reservations. Fridays and Sundays are busy.<BR><BR>BTW, what is SML?<BR><BR>For the Thomas Cook European Timetable their sales office email address is<BR>[email protected]. <BR>Tel +44 1733 503571. <BR>Fax +44 1733 503596.<BR><BR>I have ordered the TCET and had it sent to the USA, and to Switzerland when I<BR>lived there. It is sometimes available for sale in Thomas Cook Wagon<BR>Lits offices in major cities of Europe. In March it cost about $18 including priority post from England.<BR><BR>Regarding the availability of my book, so far 11 of the 30 chapters of "How To Europe" are posted up on my web site and free to read. More will be up as they are formatted in HTML. There were some used copies of the 2nd edition (1984-87) for sale at Amazon.com and at Alibris.com the last time I looked.<BR><BR>Several people here have commented on the need to watch out for pickpockets. This is especially good advice regarding train stations in Italy and France, and within a block of train stations. <BR><BR>Don't worry and you'll have fun. There's always another train. <BR><BR>john<BR>

Well, to me it is sort of a nightmare. Just remember which side of the ramp the train will pull into. We have jumped on the wrong side and the wrong train! If you see your train leaving, just jump on to any car and find your car as the train takes off, you may not have time to find the right car, just get the right train! I can't figure our the trains in Italy for the best of me, but don't worry, there is always (usually) another one later on.

I chose the first route, and after registering with Trenitalia, I tried to purchase the tickets and the site said, "Service suspended". The eurorail site does not show my chosen route. I decided to go with the France-Italy Saverpass, but I read that there have been problems getting them on time. Some of the trains require reservations, but I don't know where or how to make them from home. I don't want to get to France, and encounter all these problems, or waste precious time.<BR><BR>I'm beginning to think that this is much too complicated a task for a third grade teacher. Help! I'm about to spend my shopping money on airline tickets. Does anyone reccomend that I see a travel agent? <BR>My trip report will be full of Big Macs and Egg McMuffins. <BR><BR>john, SML:Santa Margherita Ligure.<BR><BR>OOPS! I may have sent this post twice.

Franny, just keep calm. I am pretty sure that you will be able to book the seats as you arrive in France. Also remember that not all the trains that allow seat booing actually require it (although booking is always advisable).

Thanks, Alice. If things don't go smoothly, we'll probably end up with some funny stories to tell, and even better memories. Anyway, that's what I keep telling myself.

I think the best advice someone gave, and it was buried a bit in the paragraph, was don't travel with large luggage or a lot of luggage. Trust me, you will regret it, especially when travielling on a train. Take nothing larger than a medium size bag, one each and a daypack. If you take more, you will end up having trouble storing it on the train and maneuvering between trains. My sister and brother-in-law almost mailed one of their bags home last year in frustration.<BR><BR>Travel light. If it turns out you need something you didn't bring, you can always buy it there and it will become a nice souvenir. You really really don't need all that stuff and you will be able to zip between trains with much more ease.

Frannie, I'm no expert but have done a few train trips Geneva, Milan, Venice, Paris, both with a friend and traveling solo. I bought individual tickets at the train station a day or two before (to arrange a longer leg, overnight, or sleeper compartment) or from the conductor on the train (costs a bit more) for local jaunts.<BR><BR>My best advice is attempt to stay calm. This sounds korny but getting flustered is when mistakes are more likely to happen. And even if you miss a connection & have to wait a couple hours for the next train... so what? (I'm demonstrating the stay calm attitude ;-)<BR><BR>My other -MOST important- piece of advice, as others have mentioned, PACK LIGHT. I prefer a 22" rolling suitcase plus a large leather pocketbook. Any more than this will make each & every (believe me!!) move you make more difficult. Realize you have to be able to quickly get yourself & your luggage, up steep stairs into the car, down the eisle, putting your own luggage into an overhead rack (or sometimes behind your seat or at the front of the car).<BR><BR>If you can teach 3rd grade YOU CAN do this~ and have FUN while you're at it.<BR><BR>Just remember~~ pack light & stay calm. Bon voyage!

Railpasses work very well for long, expensive train rides (like the TGV train on the Paris to Nice run) and/or day-long train rides (3 hour ride, visit, another 3 hour ride, visit, a 2 hour ride). They do NOT cover reservations, so on a train where reservations are required (like the TGV) or to ensure a seat on a crowded train, you'll still have to spend time at the train station or travel agency buying them.<BR><BR>Based on your itinerary, I'd say just buy point-to-point tickets when you get to your first destination.<BR><BR>I've never missed a train connection (unless something out-of-the-ordinary happens, like a strike - oh, wait, that's not so out-of-the-ordinary), once even making a connection in ONE minute (in Marseille, changing from inbound from Paris to outbound to Nice), much to the delight of the train crew (me, panting and looking around wildly; them, chuckling while they pointed to me to my train which was 25 feet across the quai, literally opposite the train I deboarded).<BR><BR>This is not a life-and-death situation. If you miss your train for whatever reason, another one will come along. If there's only one train a day, so stay overnight or hire a car or find a bus. You won't be in mortal danger (I have to tell myself things like this when I start to get upset over this sort of thing); don't get cranky with your travel companion nor blame each other for what happened.<BR><BR>I iterate what others have said about packing light - train steps are reaaaally high and narrow; a quick exit/entrance is nigh on impossible with heavy/bulky luggage.