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Reliable route from France to Munich

  • February 17, 2026
  • 8 replies
  • 73 views
M
Keeps calm and carries on
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Hello experienced travellers,

starting in Brittany, I am planning a travel day to Munich. The easiest way seems through Paris est - Stuttgart.

As I am aware of the DB train delays, I checked the punctuality of the train I’d like to take
https://www.zugfinder.net/en/train-ICE_9573

Regardless of the delays, 2 of the last 3 days are tagged “destination not reached”. Is there a way to have more information (“one-time” problem or repeating risk, where the train stopped, what was the advice to end the journey) ?

Better, is there a more reliable route Rennes - Munich ?

Thanks for any information and advice.

Best answer by rvdborgt

Check https://bahn.expert/ for details, with the Zugsuche function. It looks like this train sometimes ends in Karlsruhe.

In such cases, just use the DB Navigator app to look for the next train connection. It's early enough in the day that there should be enough other trains to reach Stuttgart and Munich. Reservations are not mandatory in Germany, so just board any next train.

8 replies

R
Railmaster
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  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • Answer
  • February 17, 2026

Check https://bahn.expert/ for details, with the Zugsuche function. It looks like this train sometimes ends in Karlsruhe.

In such cases, just use the DB Navigator app to look for the next train connection. It's early enough in the day that there should be enough other trains to reach Stuttgart and Munich. Reservations are not mandatory in Germany, so just board any next train.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
ralderton
Railmaster
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  • ralderton
  • Railmaster
  • February 17, 2026

That’s the best route. No need to plan anything different.

As ​@rvdborgt says, you can just check connections on DB Navigator or bahn.com on the day, and jump on the next train. Or ask the train manager.

Always plan on arriving a couple of hours late when crossing Germany. You might be surprised and arrive on time!

M
Railly clever
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  • Marvin Heer
  • Railly clever
  • February 17, 2026

Yeah the train sometimes ends in Karlsruhe or Stuttgart. But you can take other train to complete your journey. Just get on the next ICE towards munich if the train ends early. (There is a direct train every 2 hours and even more connections from Stuttgart) 

Atleast there are no mandatory reservations in Germany, so taking an alternative is easy.

I speak german 🇩🇪, english 🇬🇧, and i understand a bit of french
    M
    Keeps calm and carries on
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    • Marie Noisette
    • Author
    • Keeps calm and carries on
    • February 17, 2026

    Thanks to both of you for these quick and reassuring answers.

    I’ll travel hoping for the surprise of a train on time 🙂

    Have a nice evening.

      M
      Railly clever
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      • Marvin Heer
      • Railly clever
      • February 17, 2026

      Unfortunatly they are doing some border check at the moment on that route. (also caused some delay on a regional train i took on that route recently. But maybe those are stopped again until you travel and you have higher chances to arrive on time.

      I speak german 🇩🇪, english 🇬🇧, and i understand a bit of french
        Schelte
        Full steam ahead
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        • Schelte
        • Full steam ahead
        • February 18, 2026

        There's also a daily direct TGV from Paris to Munich, which leaves Paris at 15:55 and reaches Munich at 21:46. It generally reaches it destination and if it doesn't you won't be the only one. 

        Interrailing seems difficult at first sight, but it's pretty amazing.
          M
          Keeps calm and carries on
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          • Marie Noisette
          • Author
          • Keeps calm and carries on
          • April 9, 2026

          Hello,

          just a little feedback about travelling through Stuttgart.

          ​@ralderton my hope to arrive on time vanished as soon as I got to Paris Gare de l’Est : there was a blackout the day I travelled, no trains in, no trains out. The ICE 9673 departed 2h40 late. Nothing to do with DB.

          But as soon as the train departed, we were informed that the Stuttgart stop was cancelled, the train would end in Karlsruhe. No explanation. But I heard about the “Stuttgart 21” project thanks to a German daily DB traveller I met later. And that it is now named “Stuttgart 30”.

          If I need to reach Munich again, I would try through Zûrich, at least till 2030 !

          (Many thanks to the Eurail’s customer service team for the swift handling of my delay compensation request)

          M
          Railly clever
          Forum|alt.badge.img+5
          • Marvin Heer
          • Railly clever
          • April 9, 2026

          Hello,

          just a little feedback about travelling through Stuttgart.

          ​@ralderton my hope to arrive on time vanished as soon as I got to Paris Gare de l’Est : there was a blackout the day I travelled, no trains in, no trains out. The ICE 9673 departed 2h40 late. Nothing to do with DB.

          But as soon as the train departed, we were informed that the Stuttgart stop was cancelled, the train would end in Karlsruhe. No explanation. But I heard about the “Stuttgart 21” project thanks to a German daily DB traveller I met later. And that it is now named “Stuttgart 30”.

          If I need to reach Munich again, I would try through Zûrich, at least till 2030 !

          (Many thanks to the Eurail’s customer service team for the swift handling of my delay compensation request)

          The reason you did not go all the way to Stuttgart was the big delay of your train coming from Paris. (They shorten the route as there are plenty of other options Karlsruhe to Stuttgart so it is not as delayed on its way back) Happens often if that train(TGV or ICE from Paris) is delayed.

          Have met a few people waiting in Karlsruhe that had it happened to them (in one case the destination was supposed to be direct to munich)

          I speak german 🇩🇪, english 🇬🇧, and i understand a bit of french
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