German Train Punctuality Records?
 

Hi, is there a website that shows this? I'm aware of websites for flights, but I'm wondering if there's an equivalent for trains?

Thanks!

Hi 111,

With the exception of 1 time, all of the trains I have ridden in Germany have been on time.

((I))

Thanks.

It's not this guy's experience:

http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/i...hp/t72882.html

Actually it's not been my experience also.

But I'm actually interested in a specific train. In one scenario I've about 15 minutes to connect to a TGV back to Paris. While it's plenty of time to connect if the German train is on time the TGV is the last train back to Paris from Strasbourg. So that's why I'm asking.

There are no such websites for specific trains, at least not to my knowledge.
Punctuality is usually given for segments of rail travel, i.e. long-distance vs. regional trains, but not for individual connections.

From a practical point of view, it would also tons of seperate information since your train may run late 20 min on its first leg, then compensate minute by minute of that during its journey, and be on time at its final destination, eventually .

I know trains can make up time. Though in my experience (which is not vast), even the German ICEs are not the most reliable. It was pretty common for them to be a few minutes late.

Of course I'd ordinarily not care, but if I'm trying to catch the last train back to Paris, a few minutes can matter. I'm thinking of a connection from Baden-Baden, train EC 60. The train originates from Munich.

Of course the next question I'll be asked is why I'm cutting it so close. But that's because I usually want to squeeze as much in as possible. Taking an early train will cost me one hour.

One of life's rules:

"It is irrational to make critical decisions expecting that things will be better than average."

Well in this case the average delay is under 15 minutes, I'd think. So it'd argue for trying the tight connection.

Hi 111,

>Taking an early train will cost me one hour.

Considering the consequences of missing the train, I would forego the hour.

Think of it as an extra hour in Paris.

((I))

The first German train I took (the airport express from Schoenefeld) was late, not by a huge amount, but some minutes. I was disappointed that the vaunted German efficiency did not actually hold true. Then a few days later, I took the airport express back to the airport, and we were stuck on the tracks for some minutes, apparently due to an obstruction. Of course, when going to the airport, these sorts of delays are quite tension-inducing, but as usual, I had built in an extra hour or two, so we were fine.

But in respect to the TGV, there are two items I've read in the past month or two. One was about a fatal TGV crash, which would, of course delay things. That doesn't stop me from taking the TGV, as I've booked it for March, but obviously its on-time record would be affected. Someone else posted here that there had been recent problems with the TGV being late due to copper wire being stolen by thieves. (I don't think these two stories are related in any way.)

Better not ask

Correction: I'm not taking the TGV in March, but it's not related to any TGV problems. In one version of my plans, I was going to do so, but then I found a more convenient, direct ICE train between Paris and Frankfurt.

The other thing to consider is, could you get to Paris if you took various slow trains, even if they took the entire night in one fashion or another.

Well I've booked my hotel in Paris. So there's the wasted cost of the hotel. Plus the TGV's fare is not refundable, so that's another 33 euros.

Taking an earlier train doesn't give an extra hour on Paris. It gives me an extra hour in Strasbourg. But then I'd have to walk into town and back.

Also as it stands I think that I'll be wasting 1/2 hour in Appenweier (sp?) earlier in the day if I opt to include Baden-Baden.

Personally as I said, I think most of my delays with German trains tend to be short. But the fact is that you can't assume that they will be on time.

Obviously I need to assume the TGV will leave on time. I don't think that it will wait for a Baden-Baden connection.

I guess it depends, as usual, on how much risk vs. how much potential cost vs. how much loss of sightseeing time that you are willing to bear.

Somewhat off-topic, but this link covers a bunch of related topics, including copper theft, delayed trains in Europe, weird pricing structures, etc.:
http://dev.null.org/blog/tags/railway

Hi op,

>It gives me an extra hour in Strasbourg. But then I'd have to walk into town and back.

According to viamichelin, you are less than 1/2 km for the major sights.

((I))

In case you were on that EC and you could anticipate that it would turn out to be a tight connection in Strasbourg (e.g. your train is running late by more than 10mins after having left Stuttgart), you ought to contact the conductor and explain your situation to her/him. If it's really only a matter of minutes, she/he'll call for the TGV to wait. Obviously, this won't be much help in case your train is running really late (+30mins).

I know it's a matter of taste, but have you considered takig the direct nighttrain?

oops, sorry, misunderstood that you're not departing from Munich but from Baden-Baden, so forget about most of my post, but two facts remain: long-distance trains usually wait for each other, and the nighttrain departs from Karlsruhe, too.

That's an interesting name for a website "dev.null.org." Must be made up by some computer geek.

Here's a link from Strasbourg gare to Strasbourg Cathedrale that directs to Google maps. Point A is "gare" and Point B is "cathedrale." It's over 1 mile long.

http://tinyurl.com/2ncagk

Of course Petite France is closer.

But the fact is that I'll be in Strasbourg earlier that day and what can I do with that extra hour in Strasbourg -- at night, when attractions are closed?

You can argue that I can have dinner.

Calling the TGV is an idea I hadn't thought of. I'm a little concerned since I'm switching from a German train to a French one. Who knows if they like each other? :-) I thought about having Deutsche Bahn check the status of the EC when I arrive in Baden-Baden, but when I arrive I think that's right when the EC leaves (or maybe before it leaves). So it's not very helpful. Also the B-B train station is outside of the city center. I need to take a bus or a taxi, so I can't return to the train station to check. I can try calling, but there're always complications.

Oh regarding night train, etc.

Well as I explained my TGV fare is non-refundable. And obviously I'll be taking a day trip from Paris expecting that I'll be back that night. So I'd be paying for a room I'm not really using. Ideally it's not something I want to plan to do. Of course it's better than sleeping on the streets in Strasbourg.

In your one-hour period, you could take a walk or take the tram around town. Will you have thoroughly explored the cathedral at this point?

Hello 111:

Were I do rank those things that might concern me, I think I would put the timeliness of German trains at such a low level that I could hardly retreive it, even with a good deal of effort. I'll bet your trip to Germany has higher concerns. Gradyghost

Well as I explained, it'll be around 8:30 pm at night. The Cathedral is closed. Maybe I can walk around with night-vision goggles. :-)

Punctuality of German trains would generally be low on my list also. But since I'm trying to catch the last train back to Paris, I think it deserves more thought. I mean there's a non-negligible chance that the German train will be more than 15 minutes late.

In other words, I try to be careful but not unreasonable. I do think it's a legitimate concern -- at least based on my own experiences with German trains.

There's still the river. And things look different at night. I haven't been to Strasbourg, but surely there'd be something to see.

I guess I can walk around Strasbourg. But then I've to rush out of the 17-step spa experience! :-)

Part of the problem is that I'm doing the trip this Sunday. The train connections are generally poorer.

I guess I'm considering several scenarios, including pushing B-B to February. But that has its share of problems because to max out the time at that time my flight to Frankfurt needs to be on time.

I'm trying to do too much. :-)

The Deutsche Bahn website allows you to check the punctuality of trains currently en route. If you wanted the average punctuality, you would have to track a particular train each day for a period of time (and you don't have time to do this if your trip is this Sunday).

Thanks! How do you track a particular train on the website? I'll take a look later myself also. I can at least track it for a day or two and see how it goes.

Deutsche Bahn sucks. I just used their restroom at a small station outside of Munich.
Complain under +49 180 5661010

Like it would help in any way.

Hi I think the link to use is this one:

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/bhftafel.exe/en?

I can't check from Baden-Baden, but I can check from Munich. Right now the train is about half way through. And there're green check marks for the next couple of stops. Is the interpretation that the train is projected to run on time?

Thanks again.

Yes, you have the correct URL.

The train EC 60 has this route:

München Hbf (16.42)—München-Pasing—Augsburg Hbf—Ulm Hbf—Göppingen—
Plochingen—Stuttgart Hbf—Bruchsal—Karlsruhe Hbf—Baden-Baden—Kehl—Strasbourg (21.01)

So while the train is en route, you can check one of the stations ahead of the train's current position. The indication "pünktlich" means the train is on time.

Thanks. I didn't see the punktlich designation, but so far I've seen the green check marks when I click on the train.

I'm thinking that this means the train was on time on both days I checked.

Anyway, I'm at the airport and flying soon. Thanks again for your help!

This worked out well. I took the later train and I made my connection. The train arrived in Baden Baden on time. But there was a slight delay at the border crossing at Kehl. Still I was on the TGV at 9:05 pm and was ordering dinner even before the train left at 9:15 pm.

I was glad that I bought my ticket from the DB office before I went to town. The office closed at 7 pm on Sunday, I think. Before I bought my ticket I asked if I could make my connection, and the guy said yes, so I went ahead.