DB through tickets onto TGVs

[YorkshireBear]

It appears DB do through tickets onto TGVs, as most itineraries I search allow through tickets from Gengenbach to Paris via a change in Karlsruhe.

However the early morning (Sunday 15th March) connection into the Freiburg TGV, changing at Offenburg and making it much quicker doesn't have this. It says only valid for route section Offenburg to Paris.

I want a through ticket to help provide some protection in the event we miss the connection at Offenburg. Especially as we are then on a Eurostar. There are four trains that morning that get us there with connection times of 1hour, 36 minutes, 25 minutes and 6 minutes. So was aiming for the 36 minute connection anyway.

Do I just need to accept through tickets aren't available and take the risk (is it that much of a risk...). Or am I putting the journey into planners wrong.

Any help from knowledge folk here appreciated.

 

[30907]

It appears DB do through tickets onto TGVs, as most itineraries I search allow through tickets from Gengenbach to Paris via a change in Karlsruhe.

However the early morning (Sunday 15th March) connection into the Freiburg TGV, changing at Offenburg and making it much quicker doesn't have this. It says only valid for route section Offenburg to Paris.

I want a through ticket to help provide some protection in the event we miss the connection at Offenburg. Especially as we are then on a Eurostar. There are four trains that morning that get us there with connection times of 1hour, 36 minutes, 25 minutes and 6 minutes. So was aiming for the 36 minute connection anyway.

Do I just need to accept through tickets aren't available and take the risk (is it that much of a risk...). Or am I putting the journey into planners wrong.

Any help from knowledge folk here appreciated.

Services via Karlsruhe-Strasbourg are a DB-SNCF cooperation which is why DB can sell tickets for them on their T&Cs. The Freiburg train isn't part of that, so they don't.

 

[NCT]

Would you be protected under HOTNAT (hop onto the next available train) - albeit the protection is looser?

 

[YorkshireBear]

Services via Karlsruhe-Strasbourg are a DB-SNCF cooperation which is why DB can sell tickets for them on their T&Cs. The Freiburg train isn't part of that, so they don't.

Simple when you put it like that, thank you.

Looks like I will have to risk the early morning local trains from Gengenbach then!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 13 Nov 2025 ==

Would you be protected under HOTNAT (hop onto the next available train) - albeit the protection is looser?

I'm not convinced I would as the local trains is be getting are not operated by DB? But I find HOTNAT complicated.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

There's also a 7:05 and a 7:17 Gengenbach to Offenburg (SWEG RS12 and RS1) which should be reliable.

 

[YorkshireBear]

There's also a 7:05 and a 7:17 Gengenbach to Offenburg (SWEG RS12 and RS1) which should be reliable.

Yes I was definitely never trusting the 6min connection off RE2.

Early in the day, with the 06:38 too there is a lot of trains so it would have to go horribly wrong for us not to make the connection. Suppose either that or I book a transfer to Offenburg to make sure. Definitely worth one of those two options to get back to West Yorkshire a full 3 hours earlier me thinks.

I suspect plan B if we did miss the train at Offenburg would simply be, be prepared to fork out a lot of money and hope travel insurance pays out!

 

[rvdborgt]

I suspect plan B if we did miss the train at Offenburg would simply be, be prepared to fork out a lot of money and hope travel insurance pays out!

Always ask to be rebooked first of course.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Always ask to be rebooked first of course.

Indeed would definitely be chancing it on that front, leading with the baby in the pram....

I have read up on the terms and conditions of my travel insurance and it says as long as sufficient time is allowed and it's a pre booked itinerary they will pay expenses required. So I will just make sure to buy the tickets for Gengenbach to Offenburg in advance and not on the day.

Which doesn't actually appear to be possible.....

 

[rvdborgt]

I have read up on the terms and conditions of my travel insurance and it says as long as sufficient time is allowed and it's a pre booked itinerary they will pay expenses required. So I will just make sure to buy the tickets for Gengenbach to Offenburg in advance and not on the day.

Which doesn't actually appear to be possible.....

Not for singles indeed, as is often (but not always) the case with local/regional transport associations in Germany. A day pass (Ortenaukarte) can be bought in advance.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Not for singles indeed, as is often (but not always) the case with local/regional transport associations in Germany. A day pass (Ortenaukarte) can be bought in advance.

Yes, little querks like that I've forgotten, I'm out of practise. Thanks.

The day pass at 13€ per person more expensive feels excessive for that purpose. As far as I can tell I've booked the whole itinerary in advance in line with the T&C's of travel insurance. I also rebought the SNCF tickets with insurance (€10 on a €300+ booking felt reasonable as a one off) which includes a clause for if the train is missed and providing some financial cover for alternative expenses.

Can't really plan every rail trip on basis their will be a major catastrophe otherwise I wouldn't go anywhere.

Wouldn't have even bothered about this a few years ago, but with a small child in tow, but it feels very different to when just me and wife replanned on the hoof a few years ago.

 

[rvdborgt]

The day pass at 13€ per person more expensive feels excessive for that purpose. As far as I can tell I've booked the whole itinerary in advance in line with the T&C's of travel insurance.

1 person is €6.90, 2 persons is €9.40 for the Ortenaukarte between Gengenbach and Offenburg.

I also rebought the SNCF tickets with insurance (€10 on a €300+ booking felt reasonable as a one off) which includes a clause for if the train is missed and providing some financial cover for alternative expenses.

I'm curious what that would cover on top of the legal obligations and AJC. Or does it cover missing a train by your own fault?

 

[YorkshireBear]

1 person is €6.90, 2 persons is €9.40 for the Ortenaukarte between Gengenbach and Offenburg.

I'm curious what that would cover on top of the legal obligations and AJC. Or does it cover missing a train by your own fault?

I got confused with somewhere else on the trip I was looking at, thank you!

I am not sure what legal obligations/AJC applies, as it is an SWE train connecting in?

It basically says, missing train for unforseen circumstances. This includes an "Incident affecting the means of transport used to get to the station of departure: Breaking, accident, fault or sudden strike action without prior notice" This is for "Up to 100 Euro Per Passenger"

 

[rvdborgt]

I am not sure what legal obligations/AJC applies, as it is an SWE train connecting in?

It basically says, missing train for unforseen circumstances. This includes an "Incident affecting the means of transport used to get to the station of departure: Breaking, accident, fault or sudden strike action without prior notice" This is for "Up to 100 Euro Per Passenger"

Thanks, that connection would indeed not be covered legally. Not sure about AJC though, since AFAIK the SWEG is also included in the "1080" carrier mentioned on the tickets.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Thanks, that connection would indeed not be covered legally. Not sure about AJC though, since AFAIK the SWEG is also included in the "1080" carrier mentioned on the tickets.

Hmm yes reading AJC, it looks like I would have a good chance of using that to at least be put on the next services. Seems to basically say its not automatic and you have to speak to rail staff. Thanks for the heads up, very helpful and appreciated.

(I will avoid diverting my own thread with commenting that a mere mortal would have long been put off by this and just booked a flight from Frankfurt to Manchester!)