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Question

Short connection i Germany

  • May 22, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 19 views

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I am planning this journey in Spain on 15 August:

Paris 20:25 to Strasbourg 22:11 with TGV 2465

Wait 41 minutes

Strasbourg 22:52 to Offenburg 23:22 with RS4 (87461)

Wait 13 minutes

Offenburg 23:35 to Hamburg 07:53 with Nightjet 470

Is the 13 minute connection in Offenburg too risky?


Normally I would NEVER rely on such at short connection i Germany. But the journey between Strasbourg and Offenburg is only 30 minutes long. It has good statistics on https://www.zugfinder.net/en/train-RB_87461. No delays for the last 30 days. And it looks like is has the tracks by itself. So i think it could work...

The TGV from Paris has not other stops and has also good statistics on https://www.zugfinder.net/en/train-TGV_2465. Only 3 delays (max 20 min) for the last 30 days.

 

But the Nightjet 470 is (of course) the last train of the day. And If I miss it, I will have to find somewhere to sleep in Offenburg. Will it be possible to have this cost refunded if this situation occurs?

My alternative would be an earlier train from Paris 18:54. But then I will not be able to have dinner at a nice French restaurant. (I will also need time to pick up my luggage from a locker somewhere)  

 

 

1 reply

ralderton
Railmaster
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  • Railmaster
  • May 22, 2026

You’ve done your research, and you’re right that a missed connection would be very disruptive. It’s up to you.

Yes, you’d get unavoidable expenses back, but it’s quite possible that you’d be directed to take the overnight IC to Frankfurt (which is actually the Zurich-Amsterdam Nightjet) and ICE onward to Hamburg instead of taking a hotel. You’d get a refund of your sleeper reservation, and delay compensation.

If you don’t like the risk, how about taking the earlier train and getting dinner in Strasbourg or Offenburg?