Ok, we've never done an overnight, just some local stuff. So I' have a few questions for the experienced. We're in Rome from the 21st until the 1st. Then we have to get to Munich. We leave Munich on the 2nd. The reason is we originally intended on just spending a few days in Rome then going to Munich, but a video shoot came up, so we're now in Rome the entire time. Anyway...

Instead of blowing an entire day on Jan. 1 going to the airport at noon, bouncing around transfer airports for hours and ending up in Munich about 8pm (we leave Munich on the 2nd at about 1pm) we decided to just spend the 1st as a "free day" doing whatever in Rome.

We bought our train tickets through Bahn.de, from Termini to Munich to MUC in a 4 berth couchette. The train leaves Rome at about 7pm and arrives Munich Hbf at 6:30 am. Of course I don't read a word of German, but on the face of it, everything looks fine.

Here are the questions...

1) Since I did the couchettes, do I need to reserve anything?
2) Is there anything else I need to pay for
3) Once we get to Munich hbf, (6:30am) we're actually thinking of dropping off the luggage and taking the metro to the Marinplatz (sic) and wander around for an hour or so in the very early morning, then take the the S out to the airport. Is there a left luggage at hbf and do you think it would be open at that time of day?

No, we don't expect to get much sleep, if any, but it beats spending 10 hours in airports. Oh, and we got a great rate from Bahn.de.

Thanks,

dave

This is a City Night Line train and tickets normally include travel and sleeping accommodation. For four adults in a couchette compartment, the normal fare seems to be 631 euros, with advance tickets starting at 172 euros. There is nothing extra to pay. The train has a restaurant car (food and drink are extra). Passengers in sleeping compartments get breakfast, I believe, but couchette passengers don't.

There are luggage lockers at München Hbf. Be aware that night trains are not always very punctual. This one combines with the night train from Venezia at Verona (at about 1 am) and then travels from Italy through Austria to Germany. There is plenty of scope for delays on a long and complex journey.

Reservations are mandatory on the City Nightline so that would have been included with your ticket. I am assuming that you are on the 19:05 train. (There is also a 19:30 train, but you have to transfer in Florence to connect to the City Nightline.)
I have taken the 17:05 twice and it has been punctual both times. You should take your own snacks/drinks for on-board the train.
The customer service and left luggage opens at 6:00 a.m. in Munich station. If you want to eat/drink something when you arrive there are several good choices right in the train station. You won't find much open this early elsewhere. You could even walk to the Marienplatz one way. Keep in mind that this time of year it will not yet be light out at 6:30 a.m.

I think that you made the right choice in selecting train over flying.

I see from the Trenitalia schedules that this train stops 40 minutes at Verona. This allows for possible delays, and explains why the train should arrive on time in Munich. I also note that the train does not stop between Verona and Innsbruck, allowing one a chance to sleep uninterrupted for about 3 and one half hours. However, there does not seem to be good chances of sleeping up to Verona, given the number and frequency of stops.

The train stops a long time at Verona because the City Night Line train from Venezia to München is joined to the train from Roma. International night trains also usually stop at borders for a change of locomotive. The advertised schedules only show stops for passengers to get on or off.

Yes, this is the 19:05 train. City Night Line 484. This one doesn't have any changes from Termini to Munchen Hbf.

I thought it was a pretty good deal, as I got it for 178 euros for the both of us. It is 2 berths in a 4 berth couchette.

If I remember correctly, it only took us about 40 minutes the last time to go from Hbf to MUC, so assuming we get to the terminal anywhere near the schedule time, we figured it would be kind of cool to just spend a couple of hours in the early morning, even if not quite sunrise.

The only thing I regret is that I couldn't put together a way to do it where we would leave Rome really early in the morning on the 1st and try to go through the alps in the daytime.

Thanks to all for your info. I kind of figured the couchettes would have to be reserved when I bought the tickets online.

dave

You can see what the various couchettes and sleepers look like on this train at www.seat61.com/citynightline.htm

Yes, there are lockers at Munich Hauptbahnhof, 3 or 5 euros small or large, as I recall.

OP should have a couchette berth number on his e-ticket or ticket or whatever info he has - so this is a reserved berth - at least i have never seen anything such as first serve in a couchette - but if berths are vacant you can obviously take the top or bottom or whatever - i love the top most berth because there is usually lots of room for luggage up there in the section that extends over the outside aisle and thus safer from possible theft as well and just more privacy.

Yes, I was able to figure out the car, cabin and berths--both tops.

I love the top berth for reasons stated - but if one is at all physically challenged then the ladder climb up there could be a real challenge - ordinary folks now - and there are railings you should put up if they are not so you don't risk falling out at night

And as i love to quote the signs i see in German train stations - Have a Gute Fahrt - or good journey!

3 of us did Paris to Venice last year at night in couchettes - we slept well, (& I am over 6 foot or 185 cm tall) but I agree it was a shame to miss seeing the Alps, so I too, plan to do it by day if we ever do it again, even if it means changing in Milan