Frankfurt Trains
 

Need some clarification please. Looking at the schedule of trains from Strasbourg to Frankfurt, and the connection. One stop is in Karlsruhe HBF showing an arrival @ 5:53pm train #267 connecting to train #872 departure at 6:00pm (a 7 minute stop). Does this stop require a change of trains, since the trains numbers change? Thanks so much.

EC train 267 from Strasbourg terminates at Karlsrhue Hbf, then you change to ICE train 872 to get to Frankfurt - my info shows a 5 minute change but fear not that are probably at least two trains an hour Karlsrhue-Frankfurt so wouldn't worry about tight connection - German trains also seem to be more and more Spatlese, late, or whatever word ubiquitously appears on the overhead signs on platforms.
But your original perplexion was justified as train numbers can change without you changing trains at times, especially when crossing borders.
But these are two different types of trains all together.

ICE

Another hint that these are two different trains - if you put in Strasbourg to Frankfurt for those times on the Bahn website, then click the connection for details, you will see that EC267 comes in on track 7 and ICE 872 leaves on track 3. That would be a good trick if it were the same train.

Track 7 to track 3 is a two platform change - no big deal if you are ready to get off when the train arrives. You might even get to track 3 before 17:58, when the ICE arrives.

And PalenQ, the word is Verspätet, which means late or delayed. I would say there is a good chance that, if 267 is a little late, the ICE will be held until everyone from 267 is aboard.

Inbrum, is that your only option? I'm sure when we went by train between the two we didn't have to change?

I think any option he has requires one change of trains. Neither bahn.de or SNCF shows any direct trains from Strasbourg to Frankfurt.

All of the trains crossing the Rhein at Strasbourg are either regional trains going to Offenburg, where he can catch an express train to Frankfurt, or long distance trains on their way to Stuttgart, Munich, or Vienna via Karlsruhe.

<i>Sp&auml;tlese</i> is the German word for &quot;late harvest&quot; wine.

Late trains in Germany? Yes. On train platforms you will see something like <i>ca 25 Min sp&auml;ter</i> which means &quot;about 25 minutes later&quot; to indicate a late train. I have seen <i>eine Stunde</i>, &quot;one hour.&quot;

lnbrum, It seems that you are a European train newbie. Look at the enjoy-europe page http://tinyurl.com/eym5b for a good introduction to riding the trains in Europe.

I agree with PalenQ that German trains are missing their schedules more frequently. The French and Italians were doing a better job of sticking to schedules on my trip last year.