Attnymom

I am looking at taking a train from Rothenburg to Prague this summer. The train schedule shows that there are 4 changes on this route. How hard is it to figure out when/where to get off and how/where to get on the right connecting train if you don't speak German or Czech? I can totally see us ending up in in the wrong city (which may just add to the adventure, but DH might not be as amused . . . ) I figure I can print out the detailed scheduled and mark off the stops as we stop, but that doesn't ensure we get on the right train when we change. We are not complete idiots, and can probably figure it out on the fly, but it would be helpful to hear from people who have done it before that it's not too confusing. . .

Any helpful hints would be appreciated! Thank you.

Therese

It's not that hard, though if you've got tight transfers it can be a bit more touch and go.

More of an issue is the likelihood that one or more of your trains will be delayed in some way, such that you'll miss a connection. This is also not usually a big deal, as you just catch the next one (assuming there is a next one).

Where are the transfers?

GeoffHamer

If you use www.bahn.de, the schedule details indicate track numbers for German stations, so changing trains shouldn't be difficult. There are various displays and signs at stations, but I suppose it's more difficult if you're not used to travelling by train.
Personally, I'd hate to do a journey where I was dashing from one train to another worrying about missing a connection. I'd try to break a long journey with a meal break or some sightseeing.
If you tell us exactly which trains you plan to catch, people can be more helpful.

Dukey

Well, I can tell you the FIRST change (undoubtedly in Steinach) will be a breeze since there are only a couple of platforms.

If you can get yourself familiar with the posted placards which appear on every platform, and under many of them as well, which detail departure times and track numbers you do not need to read any German or Czech at all

Yes, you will make it all the way to Prague..which station? Holesovice or Hlavni?

Cowboy1968

Check www.bahn.de for possible connections. You will find the tracks from which the trains will leave also there.
You should also check the train numbers in the bahn.de itineraries. This way you will find out the train's complete routing. Always better to know the final destination, since just because you will only go from Steinach to Ansbach does not mean that the train will terminate in Ansbach.
Platform displays will show the final destination and important (but NOT all) vias.

So you could leave Rothenburg at 8:06 for Steinach. Train will terminate in Steinach.
Change to an RE for Treuchtlingen for 2 stops until you get to Ansbach.
In Ansbach change to another RE for Nürnberg which will terminate in Nürnberg.
Change to another RE heading to Regensburg for 7 stops until you get to Schwandorf.
Change for ALX train to Prague (or Prag/Praha). Arrive Prague 14:45.

Does not sound like lots of fun. I'd depart from Rothenburg in the morning, so there were backup connections if I missed one.

Attnymom

Thank you all so much for your help. Cowboy - that is exactly the schedule I was looking at. The connections appear pretty tight between Steinach - Ansbach and Ansbach - Nurmemburg. It may just be easier to take the train from Rothenburg to Munich (2 changes - one the easy one in Steinach), spend the night in Munich, then take the train from Munich to Prague (leaving at 8:44 a.m., arriving 14:45 p.m. with NO changes). As a kind of funny side note - I actually looked into renting a car in Munich to drive the Romantic Road, then drive to Prague, dropping the car off in Prague. AutoEurope quoted a 5,000 Euro drop off fee for dropping the car off in Prague. Even the lady on the phone was laughing! Obviously, not an option!!

Thanks again for everyone's help - I really appreciate it!