*Really* short train connection - will we make it?

[ekc11]

Okay, we are going to Wroclaw-Berlin-Koln-Paris by train in a couple of days...

The cheapest train from Koln-Paris (44Euro) leaves at 7:14am, BUT the train from Berlin-Koln gets in at 6:56am

Any experiences making these kind of really tight connections??? Are these German trains pretty reliable with arriving on time?

Anyone know how big/small/easily navigated the Koln train stn is??

Please keep in mind that I will be carrying a (hopefully sleeping) 3.5 year old and our luggage for 10 days in Paris!! Yikes!

I can run, fast, from one side of a train stn to the other, if need be. I just worry that there is no room for any delays in the previous train, at all!

Do you think there is a realistic chance in hell that we will make it, or am I dreaming?? Should I just suck it up and pay the extra 30Euro for a train connection we will make?

Thanks!

[simply_angelic]

are german trains reliable for arriving on time? Is that really a question? they're crazy efficient. If you have your stuff ready to go & hop off the train, you should easily make it to koln. Train stations are relatively easy to navigate...just find the massive board telling you arrivals, look up your platform, ask someone where it is (if you cant see it right away) and go. 20 minutes should be okay.

[omisan]

Train stations are notoriously easy for transfers. It's not like an airport where you have to deal with security, baggage claim, etc. I made a 5-minute transfer in the Czech Republic, and that place is relatively horrible for trains & instructions - you should be fine!

If worst comes to worst, they'll most likely honor your ticket for the next train to Koln anyway. Have fun!

[ekc11]

Coolio!

Maybe I've spent too much time in Poland recently, where it seems like nothing is ever on time!

And of course, with the little one, what would normally take 5mins sometimes takes 20! We'll try to make the connection, and if not, we'll just take the next train that comes along.

Thanks for the reassurance!

[joe7f]

I did something similar but going in the opposite direction. Was going from Brussels to Munich.

Option 1: Brussels->Koln (cologne) -> Munich (8 minutes to change trains)

Option 2: Brussels -> Paris -> Munich (1 hour)

Turned out the 1 hour went by pretty fast because I was arriving at CDG, and had to get to Gare du Nord/Est (forget which.. I think est). I missed the train and ended up jumping on the last train of the night to Strasbourg.

--Joey