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Milan - Frankfurt Airport

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MCR247

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I'm not expecting to get a very good answer on this thread but oh well!

I'm looking at booking a ticket for this itererary on DB:
Milano Centrale Mo, 20.08.12 dep 08:25 EC 32 Eurocity
Brig Mo, 20.08.12 arr 10:16
Transfer time 33 min.

Brig Mo, 20.08.12 dep 10:49 3 IC 823 Intercity
Bern Mo, 20.08.12 arr 11:54 4
Transfer time 10 min.

Bern Mo, 20.08.12 dep 12:04 7 IC 968 Intercity
Basel SBB Mo, 20.08.12 arr 12:59 10
Transfer time 13 min.

Basel SBB Mo, 20.08.12 dep 13:12 ICE 206 Intercity-
Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernbf Mo, 20.08.12 arr 16:06 Fern 6

Do you think this will be ok? If I missed the connection at Bern or Basel, could I get the next train without needing a new ticket since DB booked this all as one, so no splitting?

If anyone could advise, it would be greatly appreciated! :D
 
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WestCoast

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I'm not expecting to get a very good answer on this thread but oh well!

I'm looking at booking a ticket for this itererary on DB:


Do you think this will be ok? If I missed the connection at Bern or Basel, could I get the next train without needing a new ticket since DB booked this all as one, so no splitting?

If anyone could advise, it would be greatly appreciated! :D

Yes, you're definitely covered against missed connections if you have a through ticket issued by DB and have met the minimum connection time criteria (which you have). I don't believe there is an obligation to visit the ticket office for endorsement, but I am not entirely sure about the procedure with SBB. However, I do know that if you are delayed for more than 60 minutes at your final destination, then you are entitled to compensation to the value of 25 percent of the ticket price.

 

Oscar

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If I missed the connection at Bern or Basel, could I get the next train without needing a new ticket since DB booked this all as one, so no splitting?

I don't think that you need to book these tickets all as one to oblige DB / SBB to put later trains if advertised connections are missed. This seems to be the done thing in my experience in any case. I'm sure that the CIV states that such an obligation exists, even without through ticketing.
The CIV (in French) is available on pages 54-78 of this document:
http://www.otif.org/fileadmin/user_...roeff/02_COTIF_99/COTIF_1999_01_01_2011_f.pdf
I'll have a look for information on such an obligation.

Edit - I can't find anything explicitly stating this, but Article 11 states that rail companies must mark tickets in case of delays / cancellations, which, while not confirming that you are covered with split tickets, may be helpful in your scenario. Article 32 states that rail companies are responsable for reasonable accommodation costs if delays/cancellations mean that the journey cannot be completed the same day.
 
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MCR247

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Thank you both - only just remembered that I'd made this thread :oops:
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Rang DB yesterday and they just said that the Italians haven't released the tickets and I should be able to book within a few days. Just tried to book tickets via SBB. Apparently there is engineering works between Brig and Milan so there is no service. For a month. In the middle of summer. No idea what I'm going to do now :|
 

Oscar

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What about the Milano Centrale - Zürich HB train and then an onward train to Frankfurt Airport from there? Enter "Zürich HB" into the via box on DB Reiseauskunft to get a connection. Unfortunately there seems to be ongoing disruption and closures concerning the Simplon Tunnel (which makes up most of the Brig - Domodossola journey) but I don't know why. There should be a Regionale service to Domodossola and a bus from there - but I don't think that Regionale services are entered into the DB journey planner.
 

WestCoast

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Virtually every train service in Europe is loaded on the the DB site (e.g. it has the information of all UK services), but of course pricing won't be offered on trips solely within countries other than Germany.
 

MCR247

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Looks like I'm booking via Zurich :(

No breakfast in the hotel and no ICE 3 :(
 

Oscar

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Virtually every train service in Europe is loaded on the the DB site (e.g. it has the information of all UK services)...
Generally true, but the main exceptions seem to be local services in Spain and Italy (and possibly other southern European countries) which tend not to be entered into the DB database.
 

MCR247

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You know what, say what you like about our railways, but no way would we close a major mainline for a full month including weekdays and still open bookings before then telling people :roll:

Imagine what would happen if the ECML between Edinburgh and Newcastle was shut completely for the whole of August, but this was only published AFTER ticket sales had been opened and they said 'Yeah but your train may be cancelled or diverted and take an extra 2 hours - sorry.'

That is why I don't believe that 'the UK by far has the most inefficient, expensive, dirty, late etc etc and generally crap railways in Western Europe rubbish'

Not happy. <(
 

Oscar

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Yes, this is truly rather daft. Last time I was in the area (August 2010), the line was only open for 2-3 trains each way in the morning, 2-3 trains each way in the early afternoon and 2-3 trains each way in the evening. They were apparently cleaning the tunnel.
Edit - this time buses are replacing trains between Domodossola and Iselle di Trasquera (just before the Italian Simplon Tunnel portal). There is a loop just before Iselle used to gain / lose height I think - they may be doing the "repair works" on this. I agree that they shouldn't let you book tickets. Apparently the schedules for 11th August - 3rd September have not yet been decided.
 
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WestCoast

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You know what, say what you like about our railways, but no way would we close a major mainline for a full month including weekdays and still open bookings before then telling people :roll:

That is why I don't believe that 'the UK by far has the most inefficient, expensive, dirty, late etc etc and generally crap railways in Western Europe rubbish'

Not happy. <(

No, it's not very impressive but I can't say I've seen anything similar happening on other European networks. It seems that Trenitalia don't communicate as well with SBB, DB and OBB, as they do amongst themselves.

I was actually toying with the idea of heading down to Italy from Germany in August, but decided on Czech Republic and Hungary instead.
 
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MCR247

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From what I've seen and heard about trenitalia, it does seem that they aren't up to standard for a train company serving the kind of country Italy is.

Things like there being no sleepers to Paris because they weren't maintaining the stock etc IIRC. They also don't seem to get on too well with others. From what I understand the Paris TGV is now no longer a joint service and SNCF obviously don't think too highly of them since they've invested in NTV IIRC. Though thinking about it I suppose that could be politics since NTV are pioneering the first AGV which happens to be from a certain country...?

But what do I know

Oh and also, the person at the other end of the phone at DB didn't even know about the works till I told him, and these are major works that affect the, of some minor branch in Estonia that's closed overnight on 6/10/12!

But yeah, I know it isn't normal of other countries, and I still think very highly of DB :D
 

Oscar

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Things like there being no sleepers to Paris because they weren't maintaining the stock etc IIRC. They also don't seem to get on too well with others. From what I understand the Paris TGV is now no longer a joint service...
Direct Paris - Italy services are made up of:
- SNCF TGVs ( 3 daily return journeys; Paris Gare de Lyon - Chambéry - Torino - Milano)
- Thello sleeper (Veolia Transdev and Trenitalia consortium; Paris Gare de Lyon - Dijon - Milano - Verona - Venezia)
- Planned Thello sleeper (Paris Gare de Lyon - Dijon - Bologna - Firenze - Roma). This is currently due to commence operation in December 2012.
 

MCR247

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Okay, on the DB website a Milan - Frankfurt Flug. via Zurich and Basel is €246 for two, but if I try for 1 it is €73? Why? If I book two tickets for one do you think we will be seated together? Or can we just change the reservations?
 

Oscar

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In this instance I presume that there will only be one Europa-Spezial ticket available for this connection at the cheaper price, so I doubt that buying two separate tickets would save you any money. Which date are you looking for? Europa-Spezial Italien tickets on that route start at 86€ for 2 adults on 20th August. If the prices are as high as you say then splitting may be cheaper.
 

Oscar

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You can get a fare for 2 adults for 146€ in First Class by entering Schaffhausen as a via point, which gives you a choice of a connection via the scenic Black Forest Line (leaving at for example 07:10 or 09:10) and a connection via Stuttgart. If you travel via the Black Forest Line you will be on an IRE for 2 hours 16 minutes with limited First Class service which will probably simply consist of a larger and more comfortable seat but you will travel through stunning scenery and have the option of an Audio Guide to tell you about it if you so wish. If you enter Zürich as a via point, you can get connections via Basel and Freiburg at for example 07:10 (the slower one of the two connections offered leaving at that time) or 09:10 (a faster one) for 166€ for two people.
 
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