Bachrach to Bruges Train Route Contstruction Concern

Posted by melissa (cleveland) on 07/29/15 12:58 AM

While attempting to book a train from Bachrach to Bruges on the Bahn website, most of the routes available have the construction notice pasted below:

Current information about your connection:
MRB25314: Bonn Hbf - Köln Hbf: Construction work. The train is cancelled between Bonn Hbf and Köln Messe/Deutz. Replacement service is set up with Bussen from Bonn Hbf to Roisdorf. Replacement service is set up with Zügen von DB Regio from Roisdorf to Köln Messe/Deutz. Please note the replacement service timetable.

It looks like this involves taking a bus between two minor stops and then picking up an alternate regional train to Koln.

For anyone with experience, is this a minor issue that is easy to navigate (We don't speak German), or is this something that could cause major risks to our travel plans?

Any insight would be appreciated.

Posted by Russ

Paradise

07/29/15 01:31 AM

6628 posts

"Please note the replacement service timetable."

The site apparently provided you a schedule. But it's not sending you to Cologne's main station...

There'll be a bus waiting for you to Roisdorf at Bonn Hbf (the main station) and a train for you from Roisdorf to Cologne Messe/Deutz station (which is not the main Cologne station.)

I think your concerns will be the delays involved, the inconvenience of catching an additional bus and an additional train into Cologne, and traveling from Messe Deutz to Bruges... They must also have given you some instructions for that, I think...

Suggest you post your travel date and approximate travel time so I/we can make some informed suggestions.

Posted by melissa OP

cleveland

07/29/15 01:44 AM

8 posts

Russ,

You are correct about the concerns, (1) the time delay to our train change and (2) what station in Cologne the Messe/Deutz actually is compared to the station of our actual train change Hbf. There is an alternative route without construction with saver tickets available a little later the same day but it is more expensive.

Here is the day and time of the route in question. I apologize that I did not post originally.

Sept. 13 - Departing around 8:30

Thanks again.

Posted by Russ

Paradise

07/29/15 02:06 AM

6628 posts

I would go ahead with that ticket at 8:28 (€39, right?) Get off that train in Koblenz (arrive 9:08, platform 2 Süd (south) - and change trains - depart from platform 104 at 9:18 on the RB train that gets to Cologne Hbf (main station) at 10:53. Then continue as your schedule indicates from Cologne Hbf at 11:43.

Don't worry - it's OK to use a different regional train (the RB) than you are scheduled for (the MRB) with a savings fare ticket. DB only cares that you ride the high speed trains as scheduled.

That MRB train you are scheduled for is a slow-poke that takes a break of 18 minutes in Koblenz station before it moves on toward Bonn - but while it's taking a break, you can just get on the RB train instead. I'll bet there'll be others doing the same thing because of that construction business.

To see the schedule with the change in Koblenz at the DB itinerary page, click on "only local transport" under "means of transport" and search for Bacharach - Cologne. It probably won't come up if you only do the search for Bacharach - Bruges with "All" trains selected.

Track 104 is at the far right on this diagram of Koblenz station.