European Railroad Discussion > Do OBB and DB make Amtrak look good?

Yesterday (Saturday 29 AUG) tried to go from Vienna to Munich Hbf on RJX 69.  Hour plus late from Vienna and had dirty windows in business class car.  Never made it to Miunich Hbf as train was terminated at Munich Ost and we were kicked off the train along with evreyone else.  Some locals helped us out and got us on the S4 to Hbf.  Then we had to navigate Hbf to get train to Nurnberg and had to buy new tickets aty my expense.  OBB and DB could care less.

Today, still stuck on ICE 720 that left Nurnberg at 1205.  We are still at Frankfurt Flughafen as train was delayed into station, and when they opened the doors, the crowds rushed in.  People still standing in the aisles after the police went through the train.  We sre still at the station at 1536.  Fortunately, our connection at Cologne (for Amsterdam) is running over an hour late.  However, have boufght tickets for latter train to Amsterdam.

John

I think Amtrak would be just as bad if it had the same number of trains to operate and connections to make.  It come down to how much the governments invest in their infrastructure, equipment and employees.

Gerry

Amtrak OBS and at NYP and Newark NJ staff are there and they are helpful. OBB and DB are around when needed especially for crowd control. Incoming Passengers were forcing there way on the train while were still getting off. Next platform assignments are not correct to platform number or position. At Koln, had to make mad dash from 4 to 1 on very crowded elevators. Also, unlike Amtrak checked luggage and Red Caps are not existent. Also OBB and DB will stop train before ticketed destination and tell you to find your own way.

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DocJohn Wrote:
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> Also, unlike Amtrak checked luggage and Red Caps are not
> existent.
>
> Posted from iPhone

That's not new, passengers have been expected to carry and load their own luggage for decades, unless you are older or have specific mobility issues. Deutsch Bahn has the Mobilitätsservice-Zentrale (MSZ) - Mobility Service Centre - which will provide help getting on and off trains. I imagine OBB provide a similar service. I used said services with Virgin Trains here in the UK for my mum. Worked very well, they met her, carried her bag and took her to the connecting service. That was at Birmingham New Street, a confusing place for able bodied passengers!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 08/30/26 13:01 by 86235.

Thank you for the replies.  Yesterday's (Sunday 30 August) was another example of how bad things have become.  Delays also gave us good chance to speak with passengers who are frequent user of DB trains.  I have attached a picture taken last evening at Koln Hbf.  We had just arrived on ICE 720.  Before we could get our luggage from the rack at end of first-class coach, dozens of passenger started getting on the train even though the signs on the platform and on the train displays said do not board.  Fortunately, some Germans came to our assistance.  The next problem was that DB had changed our reservations for our connection to Amsterdam without giving us a chance to object.  Turns out that our scheduled connection was still in the station, so we hurried to Platform 4 as shown on the displays.  Then, suddenly, the displays changed and said train was on Platform 1.  We made it with minutes to spare.  Once underway, train manager cam eon PA system and said that train was departing even though more than a half-dozen or so passengers did not have seats,  We took our original assigned seats/  Train was so full, no one checked our tickets our anyone else.  Part of problem yesterday was than high-speed line between Frankfurt and Koln was closed due to interference on the tracks earlier in the day.  Train took the route along the Rhine.

Tomorrow, will be on a local trip from Amsterdam CS to Eindhoven CD for a business meeting,  Wednesday is Eurostar back to London.  Yes, Eurostar is now running on same tracks as other trains running in and out of Amsterdam CS.  Picture attached.  Have room at Double Tree hotel overlook tracks.

John

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Thanks for the report. I knew DB was getting bad press, but this seems even worse. I'm going to Germany in a couple of weeks using Interail passes. We'll see! Chris uk.