I need to make the train decision
 

Many have said to wait and buy my (9/25/03)Amsterdam to Venice ticket when I get to Amsterdam on 9/21/03. Many have said to buy it before I go using EurAide.

I dont know what route is best. I can go from Amsterdam to Frankfurt, changing trains there, then onto Milano, changing there then onto Venice. Another changes in Frankfurt and Munich, then straight onto Venice. But there is only about a 10 minute window for one of the connections. If the train getting there is late then I would miss the connection. I would like to know what is the least hassle. I have read on Rick Steves site that the overnight trains through Germany are very basic and nothing too nice. If I go through Paris it looks like I would have to use local transportation to get from one station to the next. I need some train experts to help me make the best decision. Please help if you can.

Dear Janda,

www.europebyair.com has a $99 pass to fly from Amsterdam to Rome.

You could then train to Venice, 4 1/2 hr on the ES*.

You have fewer changes by day if you omit Milan and take the Brenner pass route. The day connection is Amsterdam Central 0704, buffet car train, Frankfurt airport station 1044 to 1054, Munich 1425 to 1530, restaurant car train, Verona 2101 to 2138, buffet car train, Venice Santa Lucia 2306 (2340 on Saturdays). The connection at Frankfurt is reliable: this is a German rail connection, and if need be they will delay the Munich train to ensure it.

By night the Brenner connection is this: Amsterdam Central 1505, buffet car train, Frankfurt airport station 1844 to 1854, buffet car train, Munich arrive 2226, board about 2245, leave 2339, Venice Santa Lucia 0715. The night route via Milan is Amsterdam Central 1704, restaurant car train, Cologne 1940 to 2005, Milan Central 0745 to 0805, buffet car train, Venice Santa Lucia 1106. Sleepers on these trains are far from basic. Please see the photos at http://www.seat61.com/ and descriptioin in the second half of the note on getting the best from sleepers and couchettes at http://www.twenj.com/tipsnighttrains.htm

Paris would be well out of your way.

In late September four days ahead, in Amsterdam, is time enough to book. Dutch Rail have a helpful desk at Schipol airport, where they take credit cards and speak English.

Please write if I can help further. Welcome to Europe
[email protected]

Ben,
What happens if I miss this connection? Frankfurt airport station 1844 to 1854....Only 10 minutes for it.

My experience in making train connections in Germany, particularly, is that 10 minutes will be plenty of time. Often the trains arrive/depart on adjoining platforms. And according to the on-line GermanRail timetable on the 25th those two trains are scheduled to do just that at the Frankfurt Airport station.

The connection at Frankfurt is reliable: this is a German rail connection, and if need be they will delay the Munich train to ensure it.

Ben Haines

Is the Munich one as reliable because I only have a few minutes there also and it is 8 platforms away. Can you tell I have never taken an overnight train, and I am doing it alone !!!

In re the efficiency of German trains:

Not too long ago my gnadige frau and I arrived at the Cologne station 20 minutes before the train we were to take was scheduled to leave.

We asked at the information center for the platform and was given a number.

We checked the billboard and it agreed.

We went to the platform and saw a schematic with our train number on it, showing where our car would be.

We aksed the train personnel on the platform, twice, if we were in the right place. They cheerfully assured us that we were.

Five minutes before the train was due to depart, it had not arrived. We asked the platform personnel if we were in the wrong place. Again, they assured us that we were at the right spot.

About 2 minutes before the train was to depart, it was announced in German, and ONLY in German, that our train had been moved to another track.

Fortunately, with all of my senses attuned to the possibility of disaster, I understood the message.

Gathering up my wife and our luggage I dashed for the train and caught the door of the last car just before the conductor closed it.

Sometimes German 'efficiency' breaks down.

Sadly, I have to disagree. We lived in Germany for 5 months, from November 2002 through March 2003 and encountered numerous problems with DB such as delayed trains (including delayed ICE trains) that caused us to miss connections, trains canceled with no warning or explanation (and when I was rebooked by the surly customer service agent I was given a second class ticket even though I had paid for first class and was assured my replacement ticket was first class), ICE trains where the air conditioning worked only in first class, and on an overnight train to Milan where I had paid the premium for a private sleeping compartment, a chance comment by the car attendant indicated he had screwed up and had planned to put another passenger in my compartment at 1 am!! It took some strong words to make him recheck my ticket to see that I was right. He did not apologize.
Our German relatives also feel that DB is not what it was, that to some extent it is living off its reputation and past glory.
The odds are still in your favor that your train will be on time and meet your expectations. However, DB's service and efficiency definitely take second place to Swiss Railways.

Well, I gues it is going to be a REAL adventure now isn't it? I am sure there are now doubts galore but I personally would take the chance that as is the more usual case, the trains will be on time, you'll make your connections, etc. I say this because I haven't experienced the problems cited by others except in one case and in that case I was able to take a lter train.
I suppose one alternative would be to try to find a cheap flight from Amsterdam to Venice. Wish I could offer more reassurance.

anyone else please ?

Janda,

I posted a $99 airfare for you. Do you prefer not to fly?

Ira,
I would like to go the train route for the experience. But I will still consider the plane option.

Whatever you decide, have a great trip.

Thank you Ira. :)

The Munich connection is reliable, as you have an hour in Munich. Amsterdam Central 0704, buffet car train, Frankfurt airport station 1044 to 1054, Munich 1425 to 1530, restaurant car train, Verona 2101 to 2138, buffet car train, Venice Santa Lucia 2306 (2340 on Saturdays).

I cross Germany by night about once a year. These sad tales are not my experience. If still worried, you could book from Amsterdam at 1704 to Venice at 1106. Then if for some weird reason you cannot continue in bed from Cologne at 2005 you would do so Cologne 2329, Basel Zurich 0816 to 0830, Milan 1245 to 1305, Venice 1606

Ben Haines