Planning a Train Connection: How Much Time Do You Need?

Travelling between destinations by train often requires changing trains at a station along the way, but how much time is needed to make your connection?

This guide shows you exactly how to plan a train connection and which factors you should take into account.

Time needed for a train connection

One of the most common questions from inexperienced train travellers is how much time they need to allow to make a connection at a particular station.

If you browse any Facebook travel group or other social media forums, you will often see travellers wondering whether five minutes is enough to change trains in Zurich, or whether a 20-minute connection is sufficient in Barcelona between the arrival of one train and the departure of the next.

What many people get wrong is that the amount of time you need to allow for a train connection does not primarily depend on the station where you are changing trains.

Sure, changing trains will be much quicker at a small junction station like Zidani Most in Slovenia than at one of Europe’s major terminus stations, such as Milano Centrale in Italy, which will be a lot more crowded and difficult to navigate.

However, there are other factors that are much more important.

What matters most when planning a train connection is whether your trains are booked on a through ticket, what type of train you are connecting to, and what your backup options are if you miss your connection.

Let’s look at these factors one by one.

Through tickets

Just like flight tickets, it matters whether your entire train journey is booked on a single through ticket or you hold separate tickets.

If you miss a train connection due to a delay, and your entire journey is booked on a single ticket, the operator must put you on the next available train free of charge.

For example, if you book a through ticket with German national railway company Deutsche Bahn from Munich to Cologne that requires a change of trains in Frankfurt, you are protected if you miss the connecting Frankfurt to Cologne train due to a delay on your Munich to Frankfurt train.

In this case, you can simply take the next available train from Frankfurt to Cologne.

Travelling on separate tickets

When you hold separate tickets, you need to plan any train connection much more conservatively by default, as you might need to buy a new ticket if you miss a connection.

For example, let’s say you are travelling from Florence in Italy to Geneva in Switzerland.

You have bought a train ticket from Florence to Milan with the Italian private high-speed company Italo and hold a separately booked ticket with national operator Trenitalia from Milan to Geneva, with one hour between the arrival of your first train in Milan and the departure of your second train to Geneva.

If you would miss your connection in Milan due to a delay of your Italo train from Florence, Italo has no legal obligation whatsoever to rebook you on a later train to Geneva.

They were solely responsible for getting you from Florence to Milan, and what you have booked afterwards is obviously of no concern to them.

Similarly, Trenitalia would have no legal obligation whatsoever to rebook you, as they are not responsible for your late arrival in Milan or for you missing your train, as it was not a connection offered by them but one that you planned yourself on separate tickets.

There are some cases in which you might be protected if you miss a connection on separately booked tickets, even when they are with different train companies.

For example, regulations such as HOTNAT or the Agreement on Journey Continuation (AJC) might apply.

It could also be the case that you are holding a fully flexible ticket for your connecting train, in which case your ticket allows you to take any other train on the same day at no extra cost, effectively protecting you against a possible missed connection.

Still, when travelling on separate tickets, it is always a sound decision to allow more buffer time at your connection than you would if everything were booked on a single ticket.

Connecting onto local and regional trains

Another important factor to take into account when deciding how much time you need to allow for connections when planning your rail itinerary is the type of train you are changing to at an intermediate station.

Simply put, if you are changing onto a local or regional train, a shorter connection time may be sufficient than when connecting to a long-distance, high-speed, or night train.

This is not about the actual time that is needed to make the transfer, but rather about what happens if you miss your train connection.

If you miss your connection onto a commuter train, the next departure may be just five minutes after the train you have missed.

At most, you may only have to wait 30 minutes to an hour for the next available train to depart.

There is therefore absolutely no reason to plan a long connection if you are changing onto such a local or regional train.

Example

A good example of this is the current EuroCity connection between Brussels and Amsterdam Centraal, the main railway station in the Dutch capital.

If you search for this route in a journey planner or on a train booking website, you will likely see that the suggested connection involves changing trains at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, with a transfer time of just six minutes, which may seem extremely tight.

However, there is no reason why you should not book this connection.

The train service between Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Centraal is extremely frequent, with up to eight departures per hour.

If you miss the connection, you simply wait a few minutes for the next train and take that service instead, for which your original ticket will remain valid.

The missed connection will therefore not cause any significant delay to your overall journey time, and in this situation there is no reason to plan a longer connection when booking your ticket.

Connecting onto a long-distance train

Now the situation is somewhat different the other way around.

When you are connecting from a local or regional train onto a long-distance, high-speed, or night train, or between long-distance services, I would generally allow more time for the connection.

This is simply because these trains are often less frequent, and missing your connection could lead to a significant delay to your journey.

If you miss your connection, you may find that the next service is only in two hours, or even longer.

Allowing more time to change trains is even more important when you are connecting to a sleeper train, as missing it will likely leave you stranded overnight.

How much time is sufficient for a connection onto a long-distance train really depends on the country and the specific route, as there is no single answer to this question.

However, one factor is extremely important here, and it is something you should always take into account when planning a rail itinerary.

I am of course talking about having a backup plan in case your train is delayed or cancelled, causing you to miss your connecting train.

Backup plan

Whenever you are planning train travel, especially if it involves a complex itinerary with multiple trains and connections in a single day, you should ensure you have a backup plan in case things go wrong.

It will cost you a bit of extra time when planning your itinerary, but it can be a lifesaver while travelling.

It not only makes your itinerary more robust but also gives you peace of mind, knowing that you have an alternative if things go wrong during your journey.

Moreover, you will not have to scramble to research alternatives at the last minute while you are travelling, as you already know what to do in case you miss a train connection or are affected by delays or cancellations.

There are two things to consider when making a backup plan:

– What your options are if you miss a train connection?
– What preventive measures you can take to avoid missing an important train connection?

These may look similar, but there is a subtle yet important difference in nuance, as you will see.

Backup plan when you misconnect

First of all, you should always check in advance what your options are if you miss your connecting train.

You should know when the next train departure is that will get you to your final destination and whether you can count on taking it.

Unless you have no other option, never rely on a connection onto the last train of the day, as missing it would mean being stranded overnight at your interchange station.

Secondly, your backup plan may look different depending on the country you are travelling in and the type of train you are connecting to.

In countries such as Germany, where long-distance and high-speed trains generally have optional seat reservations, you can simply board the next available train if you miss your connection, without having to rebook your ticket.

However, in countries where long-distance or high-speed trains require compulsory seat reservations, such as Italy, Spain, or France, you must go to a ticket office or any information point to be rebooked onto the next available train, as you will need a new reservation.

It could very well be that the train departing after your missed connection is fully booked, meaning the railway company cannot rebook you on that service.

This could lead to an even longer delay than anticipated because of your missed connection.

When you travel during the low season or off-peak hours, this is usually not a problem, as empty seats will likely be available.

However, if you are travelling in the high summer season or around national holidays in countries where trains require compulsory reservations, it is best not to risk any short connection, as missing it could mean there are few or no seats available to rebook you on.

Backup plan to prevent a misconnection

When planning a train journey, it can be vital to make your itinerary as foolproof as possible to avoid missing any connections in the first place.

Obviously, if you are travelling by train to an airport for a flight you need to catch, or to attend a wedding, funeral, or important business meeting, it is no good if you miss your connection and the next train is only two hours later, causing you to miss the event.

In this case, you simply need to take an earlier train to begin with.

The same applies when your itinerary includes any trains that you must absolutely make, such as a night train that only departs once a day.

For example, most of the time, a 40-minute connection at Wien Hbf, the main railway station in Vienna, is more than enough to make any connection.

However, would you rely on this when you are taking a Budapest-Vienna train connecting to the once daily Vienna-Hamburg night train, where missing it would mean being stranded overnight?

In this case, it may be better to play it safe and take an earlier train from Budapest to Vienna.

Even if you would make that 40-minute connection 99 out of 100 times, the consequences of missing your train are so catastrophic that you do not want to take even that 1 percent risk of misconnecting.

Even more failsafes are needed when you have a multi-train itinerary, as you need to consider a potential snowball effect, where a single delay can disrupt all your onward connections.

For example, if you are travelling in a single day from Timișoara to Budapest, and then on to Vienna, where you plan to take the sleeper train to Hamburg, you should already check what your backup plan looks like if you miss your first connection in Budapest.

Basically, instead of planning forwards by considering what the next available train is if you miss your connection, you need to work backwards through your itinerary, asking yourself when the earliest train is that you should ideally take to leave enough time to reach your final destination.

Essentially, this means that any train cancellation or delay that causes you to miss a connection along the way should still give you an option to make it to your intended destination.

Different railway stations

Although whether you booked your journey on a through ticket, what type of train you are connecting to, and what your backup options are if you miss your connection are by far the most important factors when planning a rail itinerary involving connecting trains, the station where you change trains also plays a role.

Simply put, some railway stations are better suited for connections than others.

Needless to say, smaller stations are generally better than larger ones for connections, as it is easier to orientate yourself and quicker to reach the platform for your connecting train.

Sometimes, when searching for trains for your journey, you may have a choice of which station to use for your connection, in which case you should definitely consider which station makes it easier to change trains, especially if you have only a short time to do so.

For example, if you have the choice between changing trains at Frankfurt am Main Hbf, with its 25 mainline platforms (plus more underground for suburban trains), or the four platforms at Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof, the long-distance station at Frankfurt Airport, I would always opt for the latter if the connection is short.

It is worth noting that in some countries, railway stations operate slightly differently from the European standard, where you can easily move between platforms.

This is the case in Spain, where you must go through an airport-style security check and have your ticket scanned before you can access the platform to board a long-distance or high-speed train.

Of course, this adds extra time, which is why you need to allow a buffer for any connection in Spain compared with countries that have more straightforward station layouts, such as Switzerland or Poland.

Another noteworthy exception is when you are connecting onto the Eurostar to or from London, as this involves a formal check-in procedure and security check, which also require extra time, for which you should definitely allow a buffer.

Last but not least, if you are travelling with a lot of luggage, have children in tow, are part of a large group, or have mobility issues, it is highly advisable to allow more time for a train connection, especially at larger stations.

Keep in mind that some railway stations, especially rural ones or those in Eastern Europe, may not be fully accessible and could involve navigating flights of stairs to move between platforms.

Train connections in different countries of Europe

When planning your rail itinerary, it also matters which country you are travelling in when considering how much time you need to safely make a connection.

In a country like Switzerland, with a frequent train service, an excellent on-time record, and a timetable designed to facilitate short connections, you can generally rely on 5 to 10 minutes being enough to change trains.

However, in countries where trains are known for poor punctuality, you need to take into account the possibility of (significant) delays.

This is the case in most of south-eastern Europe, where train delays of an hour or more are fairly common.

It is also increasingly the case in Germany, where long-distance and high-speed services have a poor on-time record due to ongoing issues at Deutsche Bahn.

Other considerations when planning a train connection

There are a couple of other considerations worth keeping in mind when planning a rail itinerary around Europe involving multiple connections.

First, remember that if you miss your connecting train, any seats you may have reserved will not be transferred to the next available departure.

Depending on the European country you are travelling, you may also need to pay again for a seat reservation, if it is possible to obtain one at short notice.

In countries with long-distance or high-speed trains that require mandatory seat reservations, such as Italy or France, this may mean facing a long wait for the next departure with available seats.

By contrast, in countries where seat reservations are optional, such as Germany, you may have to stand if the next train is full.

It is possible that you will not be able to get seats together if you are travelling as a couple, family, or group when you miss your connection and have to take the next available departure.

Because of this, it can be worth taking a more conservative approach to train connections if you are travelling as a family or group.

Secondly, it is not necessarily a bad thing to build in some buffer time for a connection at an intermediate station along the way.

Connection time between trains does not have to be lost time.

You can use it to stock up on snacks and drinks for the journey ahead, or to have a proper sit-down meal at a station café or a nearby restaurant.

During such a stopover, you may even be able to have a short walk around the town if the station is centrally located.

Many stations also offer luggage storage services or have lockers, so even if you are travelling with heavy bags, you can still store them for a few hours and explore the area during a connection.

Interrail and Eurail passes

As a final consideration, it may be worth buying an Interrail or Eurail pass for your train travels around Europe.

An Interrail or Eurail pass essentially acts like a through ticket, as the vast majority of trains across Europe are included within the pass, giving you much greater flexibility to reroute onto alternative services or change your travel plans in the event of missed connections, delays, or cancellations.

Whether an Interrail or Eurail pass is worth it depends on your itinerary and how extensively you will be travelling by train, so you would need to calculate whether such a rail pass or standard point-to-point tickets are more cost-effective.

Do not forget to factor in the additional costs of seat reservations and supplements for certain high-speed trains, as well as couchettes and sleeper berths on night trains, when making this calculation for an Interrail or Eurail pass.

If the price difference is small and an Interrail or Eurail pass is only marginally more expensive than point-to-point tickets, it is often better to choose the pass, as its flexibility acts as a form of insurance against delays, cancellations, and missed connections.

Conclusion

How much time you need to safely make a train connection depends on a number of different factors.

What is always most important when planning a train connection is whether you are travelling on a through ticket or separate tickets, as in the latter case it is generally wise to allow more time for the connection to reduce the risk of missing your onward train and having to pay for a new ticket.

Make sure you have a backup plan when drafting your rail itinerary, so you know your options if you miss a train connection and whether you will still be able to reach your destination.

In some cases, it may be perfectly fine to plan a tight five-minute connection, such as when connecting from a long-distance train onto a suburban train in the middle of the day.

In case you miss such a connection, it’s typically just a short wait until the next train departure.

However, if that connection is onto the last train of the day, onto a service you cannot afford to miss such as a night train, or if you need to be somewhere on time for an event or meeting, you should allow much more buffer time.

Essentially, this may mean going back to the drawing board and choosing an earlier departure, so you either have a longer connection time or a viable alternative if you miss your connection.

Finally, it is worth taking a look at the station where you will be changing trains, as not all of them are equally well set up for smooth connections, which is especially important if you are travelling with heavy luggage, small children in tow, or as part of a large group.

Planning a foolproof train connection is a real art, which involves numerous factors that should be taken into account.

Once you get the hang of it, you will be able to select the most optimal train connections and always have a backup plan ready when things go wrong.