katzen

I created a personal timetable for myself:

August 19th Paris Nord to Mainz Hbf
I found tons of schedules with service being 'not every day.' My first question: How can I found out when a particular schedule runs?

Second question:
I went to the bahn.de web site and plugged in my information (not doing timetable .. just acting as if I were purchasing a ticket) and it pulled up a few schedules .. all of which had in very fine print at the bottome "not run on 19, 20 august." does this mean this particular schedule does not run on August 19th.

third question: I then went to SNCF. Their schedules are totally different than bahn.de schedules. Who said train schedules/sites were easy to navigate/understand? uugh. Am I better off just going to a travel agent and having them book it?

If anyone can help me sort this out, I would greatly appreciate it. I do realize I'm not able to purchase anything now as it is too soon. But I would be comforted knowing that the train schedule I want is available on August 19th. I prefer to leave early from Paris.

PalQ

This is from Raileurope site - no direct trains from Paris Nord but go from Paris Est to Germany - one change to get to Mainz

8:52AM /
29 May
Paris Est
2:19PM / 29 May
Mannheim Hbf
5hr 27min
57

4:39PM /
29 May
Mannheim Hbf
5:18PM / 29 May
Mainz Hbf
0hr 39min
6

142.00 USD


Fare Rules

205.00 USD


Fare Rules

8:52AM /
29 May
Paris Est
3:12PM / 29 May
Frankfurt Main HB
6hr 20min
57

3:44PM /
29 May
Frankfurt Main HB
4:18PM / 29 May
Mainz Hbf
0hr 34min
28

149.00 USD


Fare Rules

216.00 USD


Fare Rules




12:44PM /
29 May
Paris Est
6:19PM / 29 May
Mannheim Hbf
5hr 35min
55

katzen

Thanks PalQ. Do you know why all the train sites have different train schedules? SNCF shows different times, RailEurope has departures from Paris Est and bahn.de has departures from Paris Nord. I found a schedule I like:

Paris Nord Sa, 19.08.06 dep 06:55 THA 9409 THALYS

Köln Hbf Sa, 19.08.06 arr 10:50
Köln Hbf Sa, 19.08.06 dep 11:18 IC 2013 InterCity
Mainz Hbf Sa, 19.08.06 arr 13:11 5 a/b

Duration: 6:16; RUNS NOT EVERY DAY, 15., 16. Jul, 19., 20. Aug

It's the RUNS NOT EVERY DAY, 15, 16, Jul, 19, 20. Aug. that concerns me. Does anyone know if this is accurate or how I can find out for sure whether or not this train will run on August 19th?

Maybe it might be faster and a definite to train in Frankfurt and then go to Mainz???????
Thanks!

TimS

On the Bahn site click on the train symbol and number (in this case THA 9409) under the Products heading and it will show the days of operation. In this case it DOES run on August 19 & 20. If your first leg is on a THALYS high speed train, you will leave from Gare du Nord. If your first leg is on a EuroCity train, you will leave from Gare de l'Est. All of this is on the Bahn site; but you may need to do two kinds of searches, a "Standard" search and a "Without ICE" search, to see all possible times and routes. After you know which one you want, go to the SNCF site to get a price. However, be aware that if the route you choose requires multiple changes, the SNCF site won't show it at all or at the least it won't show you a price.

ben_haines_london

This is from the Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable, for 29 May, from Paris Est to Mainz Hauptbahnhof, with addenda from the German Rail online tables. The night journey saves you a hotel bill, and is long enough if you change at Frankfurt not at Darmstadt
Paris 0604, restaurant car, Karlsruhe 1105 to 1200, Mainz 1304
Paris 0852 restaurant car, Saarbrucken 1247 to 1252, Mainz 1457
Paris 1043, restaurant car, Karlsruhe 1553 to 1612, observation car in first class, and restaurant car, Mainz 1718
Paris 1244, buffet car, Saarbrucken 1648 to 1652, restaurant car, Mainz 1857
Paris 1650, buffet car, Kaiserslautern 2132 to 2139, Mainz 2317
Paris 1716, restaurant car Karlsruhe 2257 to 2306, buffet car, Mainz 0031
Paris 2245, sleepers and couchettes, Darmstadt 0633 to 0640, Mainz 0701
Paris 2245, sleepers and couchettes, Frankfurt 0702, change to local train, Mainz about 0750.

Ben Haines, London
[email protected]

katzen

Thank you TimS!!!!! ok, I went on bahn.de and did what you said. I am going to take the trip from Paris Nord on the THALYS that connects in Koln. 1 Connection.

I went to the SNCF site and was not able to pull up Paris Nord to Mainz to save my life. Some other M ... town came up.. I tried in June since August 19th is too far. So maybe it's just that I cannot purchase on-line. If I go to Paris Nord on August 19th will I have any problems getting a seat since I didn't make a reservation ahead of time?

With my luck I'll end up in the middle of Paris Nord with no ticket and no train!

Thanks!

PalQ

Yes i should have thought of the Thalys link - it's often quicker than the more direct straight shot to Germany via Paris Est trains - that is until in the next few years the TGV-Est from Paris to the German border and eventually on to Frankfurt high-speed line is finished.

TimS

Mayence and Mainz are one and the same. (It's like Cologne-Koln.)

I think your dummy booking problem is due to your wanting to take both a THALYS train and a regular train. Book Paris-Koln at either sncf.com or thalys.com as soon as the 90-day booking window opens and you might be able to get a discount ticket. Book Koln-Mainz at bahn.de. Or book a ticket all the way at sncf.com if you leave from Gare de l'Est.

katzen

TimS you are a lifesaver! Thank you for explaining that in a very simple way. I now know to take Paris Nord (Thayls train) to Loeln (3 hours 50 minu. duration) and then hop on another train from Koln to Mainz. How nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel.