Koblenz Travel Answers

Hi, I don't know the exact outlay of Koblenz Hbf, but your problem is probably not getting from one platform to the other one within 5 minutes (that should be possible), but having your trains in time. Even though Germans are known to be always in time, the trains are not. The first connection you mentioned, from IC to RB, will probably work. RB is the slower train, so it waits for the IC even if that is (a bit) late. Getting from the RB to the ICE without any delay is unlikely, I would check for another connection. I don't know where you want to go, but some of the regional trains run several times per day, so you could just take one with more time for changing.

Nord/Süd means the northern/southern end of these platforms. These regional trains won't need the whole platform length like a IC or ICE train. Normal track layout is track 1 at the platform in front of the station building. Thus tracks 2+3 share one platform (and 4+5 etc.) If the platforms had been too small it is however possible that one track was removed without changing the numbering. DB timetable takes the layout of the stations into account for suggesting connections. Thus under normal conditions you can make the connection. These short transfer times are by purpose. Commuters have a different view on this than a tourist. And just to cross a platform 5 minutes are really plenty. Normal run is a such: the RB train arrives shortly before the ICE at the station in Koblenz and will depart shortly after the ICE has departed. As long as no ICE is overtaking your RB train in one of the stations before Koblenz you'll make it. There is only one track in each direction outside the stations.

I am not sure... in case you want to take the RB through the Lahn Valley to Gießen, it is quite a long way to that end of the platform. The ICs in the Rhine valley are quite often late. This also applies to the RB towards Trier. During daylight hours, this isn't much of a problem because there are hourly services into most directions. When you are travelling in the evening and arrive at Koblenz around 10 PM this changes quite a bit. Last time I took a late IC from Mainz back to Bonn, the IC was 25 minutes late and the RB to Trier did NOT wait for it to arrive. I almost missed my last tram in Bonn because of this and there was also a female bowling club from Trier in my carriage -- the ladies were quite angry at the prospect of not getting back home to Trier. They decided to continue till Cologne and spend the night there, joking that they'd have another night of fun away from their husbands...

From my previous posting I'd draw the same conclusion as Ianchen mentions in her post above: Do not count on your train to arrive in time for the connecting train. Try to put in at least 30 minutes buffer time for making that connection. In case that's not possible, at least make sure there is a next one to catch in case you miss your first connecting train.

Thanks for all the responses! So far I have not missed a train - all comments were most helpful -