Train Schedule Reliability

I%26#39;m booked on a train from Innsbruck to Florence on Wednesday 3/28 leaving at 11:20 AM...but am considering spending the night before in Munich. There is a 7:30 AM train from Munich to Innsbruck that arrives at 9:20 AM. If I miss that train, or if it%26#39;s full, then I will miss my connection. How reliable is the 2008 Eurail timetable I%26#39;m working from, and can I expect to make this connection? What is your advice? Should I spend the night in Innsbruck instead to be sure of making my reserved train? Thanks--

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Use the DB timetable, a much more reliable first hand source

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

From: Munich

To: Innsbruck

To: Firenze

Use the 09:32 train EC85 from Munich. This is exactly the train you%26#39;re booked on from Innsbruck to Florence.

%26gt; or if it%26#39;s full

Does not happen. There are no compulsory seat reservations on this train in Germany and Austria. Only in Italy. You%26#39;ll make it always on board.

As this train begins in Munich and if you%26#39;re there in time you can mostlikely occupy already in Munich the seat reserved for you from Innsbruck to Florence.

%26gt; then I will miss my connection.

No connection with this train in Innsbruck. It%26#39;s a direct train from Munich to Florence via Innsbruck.

%26gt; If I miss a train

Than you have to take the next one. With normal tickets (or a rail pass) no problem at all. You just have to buy a new seat reservation as they are on these types of trains compulsory in Italy.

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Thank you! You are a wonderful resource and asset to the Trip Advisor community. Your response has put my mind at ease--we%26#39;ll enjoy Munich! Jane

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You should use the DB website for train schedules.

http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

How reliable are train schedules ?

Very. A train will not arrive or depart early.

How reliable are trains at keeping on schedule ?

Very. At most a train may be 3 to 5 minutes late but will make up time along the way. You will begin a trip on time and even after an 8-hour journey you will arrive within 5 minutes of the scheduled time.

On 38.03.08, train EC 85 departs Innsbruck Hbf direct to Firenze [Florence] S.M.N.

Train EC 85 begins at the Munich Hauptbahnhof, departing Munich at 09:32 and stopping in Innsbruck from 11:21 to 11:26.

When you say you are ��Booked��, do you already have a ticket ?

Did you buy this ticket from RailEurope ?

Can you get a refund ?

At the DB website, you could today, buy in advance and print out on your home computer a, 1st class ��Europa-Special Italien�� ticket for travel from Munich to Florence on 38.03.08 for 64 � [ �� $94 USD].

The normal 1st class fare is 150.40 � and the normal 2nd class fare is 99,90 �.

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%26quot;How reliable are train schedules ?

Very. A train will not arrive or depart early.

How reliable are trains at keeping on schedule ?%26quot;

I don%26#39;t think you will have any problems with delays on your trip, but delays do occur. In some regions on some types of trains over 30% of these trains may be late. I%26#39;ve seen statistics published in the newspaper and they were not very good. And several hour delays are possible if there has been an accident or damage to the train line or signals, but these types of things are infrequent. A few months ago we had visitors from Paris to Stuttgart who had a several hour delay on the fast TGV. As you can board your train in Munich and not have to make any transfers you won%26#39;t have any problems.

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