Buying multi-leg train tickets in Europe - connection times

[gaz0303]

Hi all,

Looking at buying train tickets from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Paris, but most available options give very short connection times. I would be more than happy to have longer transit times, but can't find the flexibility to book like this unless I buy multiple tickets. Anyone found a way to select preferred connection? Example below, another train leaves Stuttgart 4 hours later. I understand that a missed connection due to delay means I should be carried on the next available service and even due some compensation if delay extends more than 2 hours, but rather this trip went to plan. Any benefits in buying directly from the service provider compared to online agents?

 

[stm1sydney]

On the search page of the DB website, there is an option "Transfer time" on the third line of the search bars. Here you can change from "Normal" to a longer time of your choice.

 

[OZDUCK]

Edit: I was typing at the same time as stm1sydney but we have both said basically the same thing.

On the D Bahn site there is an option between each leg of the trip that says - "Increase Transfer Times". This lets you slect how much time you wish to allow for the transfer.

From "The Man in Seat 61" site - "
Transfer time: The system knows the minimum connection time at each station and will not suggest impossible connections. But it will suggest tight connections which are likely to be missed if there's the slightest delay.

My advice? If you're connecting into a regional train with another regional train half an hour later, leave Transfer time as normal. But if you're travelling from Munich to Paris with a change in Stuttgart and would face a 3 hour wait (and would lose your seat reservations) if you missed your Stuttgart-Paris train, I'd change Transfer time to 45 minutes. "