Queries about some Trips to Germany and Austria

[STEVIEBOY1]

Good morning,

All being well I shall be travelling from STP via BRU to Koln and onto Austria.

A tour firm has booked it all and the itinerary has just come through, I have a few questions though.

Is a 20 min connection at BRU Midi ok, Eurostar arrives 1405 & the ICE departs at 1425. Seems a bit tight, especially as I understand there may be security checks now at BRU for all international trains, not just Eurostar. ?

On the ICE trains to from BRU/KOLN I have been given seats in carriage 28 & 29, which does seem a high number considering the train is only 8 coaches. (would it be that divides / seperates at Koln and thus be a longer train in Germany?)

On the ICE Trains from BRU to KOLN & Return, do you get drinks and snacks included like they do on the Thalys services. I did hear they may be introducing this?

Further long in the trip we have a ten minute connection at Mannheim from an EC to an ICE train, which again seems tight, hopefully they may be on the same platform, do they hold connections sometimes?

Then on a domestic journey in Austria, we are booked on a RailJet train, and it's a funny seat number, m82? could that be correct, if so, what does the "m" mean?

Many thanks.

 

[158801]

We changed at Brissels for Cologne last year and 20 minutes was ample - however this was before security checks. Hopefully Eurostsr is on time. If your in coach 16 on Eurostar this will give you the least walk. Coach 1 on Eurostar could see you having a 10 minute walk to go leave the Eurostar platform!

Lots of tour firms do this so they must have some contingency. Is it an escorted your with a manager/guide ?

I am off to Portugal next month. One of my trains has three carriages 21 / 22 & 23.

It could be a portion. Your set could attach to another train with coaches 12, 13 Dec

We did a railjet earlier this year. Reservations were just coach 7 seats 13& 14 etc. Yours do look funny.

 

[Quakkerillo]

Make sure you're at the front of the train at Brussels as soon as possible.
There is a second exit from Eurostar more towards the back of the train, but that leads to the ICE/Thalys/TGV platforms entrance that is closed; only the one in the main hall is currently open, so you must go there. You can take the back entrance, and walk along the hallway on the outside of the station, just get to where the front of the trains are.

The ICE does not divide/combine at any point during its route, so I am not entirely sure why the numbering is high.

For food supply, last time I used it, they didn't offer anything normally. Only some free cornetto ice-cream during hot summertimes. But I'm not sure if this changed recently.

Railjet works with "business" and "economy" class just like airlines.
All I can think of is that 82m means 82 "middle", so on the aisle, instead of "w" for window (or "f" for Fenster)

 

[DEE-DE]

The coach number is perfectly normal. I think they skip a few numbers to make things easier with different trains. With the old ICE 3 there is one coach 27 between bistro and first, which has now been moved. But 28 and 29 are definitely the two first class coaches.

 

[phil1960]

Good morning,

All being well I shall be travelling from STP via BRU to Koln and onto Austria.

A tour firm has booked it all and the itinerary has just come through, I have a few questions though.

Is a 20 min connection at BRU Midi ok, Eurostar arrives 1405 & the ICE departs at 1425. Seems a bit tight, especially as I understand there may be security checks now at BRU for all international trains, not just Eurostar. ?

I passed through Brussels Saturday just gone. Eurostar (06:57 ex-St Pancras) arrived in on time on platform 1. The 10:25 ICE to Frankfurt left from platform 8. No pre-boarding checks and everyone I guess made the connection easily. Try and move towards the front of the Eurostar if you can as it will give you a head start in Brussels on arrival.

Phil

 

[30907]

on the ICE Trains from BRU to KOLN & Return, do you get drinks and snacks included like they do on the Thalys services. I did hear they may be introducing this?

Further long in the trip we have a ten minute connection at Mannheim from an EC to an ICE train, which again seems tight, hopefully they may be on the same platform, do they hold connections sometimes?

Then on a domestic journey in Austria, we are booked on a RailJet train, and it's a funny seat number, m82? could that be correct, if so, what does the "m" mean?

Many thanks.

1. Not that I've heard, other than the usual DB mini snack bar.

2. I'd expect a cross platform connection especially around the xx.30 interchange, but the DB timetable will give you the booked platform.

3. Looking at the DB seating plans from 2010, the only seat 82 is a single window seat in a 1st trailer car aka Mittelwagen, which might explain it?

 

[Gordon]

Further long in the trip we have a ten minute connection at Mannheim from an EC to an ICE train, which again seems tight,
Many thanks.

10 minutes is not a tight connection by central European standards. The German (and Swiss) timetables have for years now been based on carefully planned interconnections, with key transfer points (of which Mannheim would be one) where trains forming popular or obvious onward connections being arranged for cross platform (or nearby platform) connections.

Look at the times on your itinerary, and input Köln to wherever into the Bahn.de search engine. It should show the platform numbers for arrival and departure.

Having said that I can see one 10 minute change at Mannheim EC7 to ICE515 which is platform 8 to platform 5.



.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Many thanks for all your replies here.

It seems like it should all be ok, but I will go forward before getting off at Brussels.

 

[phil1960]

Many thanks for all your replies here.

It seems like it should all be ok, but I will go forward before getting off at Brussels.

If you are booked in to Std class coaches 1 to 5 then I would suggest turn up a bit earlier at St Pancras and get the staff to re-accommodate you into say 17 or 18. Catering staff in the 1st class (centre section) of the train don't always like people walking through.

Phil

 

[jaapstam]

Many thanks for all your replies here.

It seems like it should all be ok, but I will go forward before getting off at Brussels.

I just returned yesterday (Sunday) from London. I took the 15h04 ex St. Pancras, arrived five minutes late into Brussels at 18h10 and could quite easily make the connection to the 18h25 ICE to Germany which departed on time.

Being in the front coaches of the Eurostar when arriving at Brussels seems a good advice which helped myself as well (I was booked in the second coach from the front anyway).

Although expected, no security checks have been made at Brussels and I think all or most of the connecting passengers reached the ICE.

The ICE consists of eight coaches and does not get a second unit until Frankfurt. Coaches are numbered 21 - 28 with coach 24 not existing. If two trains are running together, one has coach numbers 21 - 28, the other having 31 - 38.

As mentioned here before, coaches 28 and 29 are first class.

Inclusive meals are not served in the ICE, however in first class you can order from the restaurant, having it delivered to your seat - but you need to pay for it.

Enjoy your trips!

 

[flierfy]

The ICE consists of eight coaches and does not get a second unit until Frankfurt. Coaches are numbered 21 - 28 with coach 24 not existing. If two trains are running together, one has coach numbers 21 - 28, the other having 31 - 38.

As mentioned here before, coaches 28 and 29 are first class.

How can there be a coach 29 when they are numbered 21 to 28 and 31 to 38?

 

[jaapstam]

How can there be a coach 29 when they are numbered 21 to 28 and 31 to 38?

I am sorry flierfy, my mistake.

The coaches are numbered 21 to 29 and 31 to 39. Coaches 24 and 34 are not existing, so that sums up to eight coaches.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Can confirm all of the above. The Brussels connection should be fine. 10 min connection at Mannheim should be fine as well. It's the main interchange point where trains from the Rhineland and from Hannover/Berlin exchange passengers to Basel SBB and Munich Hbf every hour so there's always lots of interchanging in progress. However, DB will not hold the connections here in my experience for more than 3-4 minutes so if your EC train is late (which is pretty unlikely), you may need to report to the connections desk at Mannheim Hbf who can mark any advance purchase ticket you have accordingly so that you can get on the next train.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Having just returned from this trip which was booked by a tour firm, it was a small group holiday. The 20 mins at Brussels was not really enough time owing to late running Eurostars, although DB did hold the ICE, it was still a rush, as you can only use one entrance to get on the platforms 3-6 in Brussels owing to security.

Our EC train from Koln to Mannheklm was 10 late from Koln but only 7 late at Mannheim, we did make the onward train to Munich, it was a bit late, arriving as I was going up the steps, but then it was delayed for 20 mins, which missed our connection at Munich, it did make some time up, but we were in the middle of the train when it arrived at platform 17, but our onward train was from platform 9, which are off the main concourse, accessed by going along P 11. Some of the group were not as young as they used to be so we saw the train depart. had to wait an hour for the next one.

It's a pity that there is not an over or underbridge at Munich as that could speed connections up as you would not have to walk to the buffers and back round again. I think they have that at Frankfurt as I made 9 minute connection there once using the subway.

Our return trains were delayed too, from Munich to Koln by a lady who was in the loo for 25 mins, her friend was worried that she had become ill and they had to get an emergency person to open the door. The lady was unconcerned, saying she was just doing her make up!

Then at Aachen our train from Koln to Brussels was delayed by 50 mins owing to a battery problem which had to be recharged.! Not quite sure what that was all about really, anyway it meant another dash at Brussels for Eurostar!

If I do my own train trips accros Europe I would allow much longer connections.

Apart from these problems, the holiday itself when in the destination was great.

 

[jaapstam]

Having just returned from this trip which was booked by a tour firm, it was a small group holiday. The 20 mins at Brussels was not really enough time owing to late running Eurostars, although DB did hold the ICE, it was still a rush, as you can only use one entrance to get on the platforms 3-6 in Brussels owing to security.

Our EC train from Koln to Mannheklm was 10 late from Koln but only 7 late at Mannheim, we did make the onward train to Munich, it was a bit late, arriving as I was going up the steps, but then it was delayed for 20 mins, which missed our connection at Munich, it did make some time up, but we were in the middle of the train when it arrived at platform 17, but our onward train was from platform 9, which are off the main concourse, accessed by going along P 11. Some of the group were not as young as they used to be so we saw the train depart. had to wait an hour for the next one.

It's a pity that there is not an over or underbridge at Munich as that could speed connections up as you would not have to walk to the buffers and back round again. I think they have that at Frankfurt as I made 9 minute connection there once using the subway.

Our return trains were delayed too, from Munich to Koln by a lady who was in the loo for 25 mins, her friend was worried that she had become ill and they had to get an emergency person to open the door. The lady was unconcerned, saying she was just doing her make up!

Then at Aachen our train from Koln to Brussels was delayed by 50 mins owing to a battery problem which had to be recharged.! Not quite sure what that was all about really, anyway it meant another dash at Brussels for Eurostar!

If I do my own train trips accros Europe I would allow much longer connections.

Apart from these problems, the holiday itself when in the destination was great.

Dear Stevieboy,

I am sorry to read that you and your group suffered from so many delays. No good performance we delivered.

I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the journeys and at least the destinations anyway.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Dear Stevieboy,

I am sorry to read that you and your group suffered from so many delays. No good performance we delivered.

I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the journeys and at least the destinations anyway.

Thank you, yes it was a shame about the delays, you don't really expect German Rail services to have problems. They have always been very good in the past.

I must say, that in spite of the delays, I did like the ICE trains we travelled on from Mannheim to Munich, back to Koln and onto Brussels, I think they were all ICE 3s, and may have been refurbished. When running well, they are roomy and comfortable and the high speed travelling is exciting.