Getting to Trier from Frankfurt

When you buy a train ticket, it covers everything from your starting point to your destination. In general, the trains connecting to Trier leave Frankfurt airport station at 2 minutes before every hour. You will have to change trains at Koblenz for sure. The trains that go on the even hours (10:58, 12:58, etc) also require a change at Mainz. That one is only 5 minutes, but it looks like a cross platform connection, so that will be easy as long as you are standing near the door with you luggage when the train pulls into the station.
You'll be leaving from the Fernbahnhof, which is German for Long Distance Train Station.

Sam, Thank you. I figure it will take us all day to get to Trier. I think we land around 11am. After an all night flight.

There are buses, but you still have to change buses at Hahn airport. Takes about the same amount of time and is slightly cheaper, but there are only a couple of buses every day. The trains I gave you are only the fastest, most direct. There are lots of other train possibilities. If you are not in a huge hurry, you can travel from the Regionalbahnhof (just a short walk from the Fernbahnhof) and travel on a Quer-durch-Land ticket (ask about it from the agent) for about half the cost of the fast trains taking about an extra hour to get to Trier. If you are stressing about missing a connection, you can always take the next train because the QDL ticket lets you ride any regional train in Germany for the whole day.
I find the trains in Germany relaxing, you can get up and walk around, stroll down to the snack car and have a coffee (on the fast trains, the regional trains usually don't have these). The fast connections will get you to Trier in between 2 3/4 and 3 hours. The regional connections in 3 3/4 to 4 1/2 hours.

Sam, we would like to travel to Trier as quickly as possible.
Any thoughts on weather on the GAS tour starting late Sept. Trying to pack light.
Thanks

If you had asked me last month what to wear on a visit to Wisconsin in early September, I would have told you shorts, T shirts and maybe a light jacket.
The temperature did not get above 49 today.
Especially in the Alps, have some warm clothes in case of a cold snap. Getting frost would not surprise me at all and a dusting of snow is not unheard of above 1500 meters that time of year.

There are direct busses, no change: Flixbus.com, flibco.com, MeinFernBus.de and there even is an IC bus from Deutsche Bahn. Busses start at €8 one-way, the DB is from €14 one-way (but also at shorter notice)...

Does the fast train go to Trier? I have read about ICE, IC and EC any suggestions?

We used Meinfern bus a couple of weeks ago from Dresden to Berlin. The bus was scheduled to leave at 6pm but didn't arrive until 9.10pm. When it arrived, the destination changed from Berlin Alexanderplatz to Berlin Zob. We arrived at the hotel past 1 am instead of the scheduled 10pm. It wasn't a big deal for us cause we had no luggage, we were determined to experience bus travel in Germany and we've lived in Africa so we're not bothered by such chaos. And, it gave us a chance to moan with locals. However, it might be quite annoying right after a transatlantic journey and with luggage.

Pluses: the fare was 6 euro per person from Dresden to Berlin, much cheaper than the 29 euros supersaver fare we paid to get to Dresden. The bus was comfortable, had a clean toilet and free wifi. They sent us a text at 6.45pm to let us know that the bus was delayed however they didn't know when it would arrive. They sent us a 6 euro voucher for future travel as compensation for the inconvenience.

We would definitely use them again but just want to let you know the possible cons.

Look at the schedule at www.bahn.com. The train from the airport to Koblenz is an IC train. The train from Koblenz to Trier is a Regional train.

Sue, you can go to the Deutsche Bahn website, and put in your information, and you'll get the info you need. You can decide if you want to change trains once or twice. And don't be afraid of changes. Keep track of the time, get up and be ready to get off (it's good to know which Gleis you come in on, and your next one), then get on your next train....you can always ask a DB person. Trier? To confirm you're on the right train. You can print out your whole schedule, including the intermediate stops.

Others can give you more specific ticket information, but I just want to reassure you that the trains are easy to use if you have all your info. And if you're at the door and ready to get off.

Re packing....layers layers layers. :)

You'll have a great trip, I'm sure.

Sue, when you get to the train station at the airport, look for the Reisezentrum (Travel Center Office) and they will have English-speaking ticket agents that will be able to get you on the right track (so to speak). It really is easy. Changing trains is not difficult. It helps to know the names of one or two stops before the one at which you need to change so that you are ready to get off.

I prefer this link to the German Rail website. It will take you directly to the Query page in English. Other starting pages will get you here eventually, so why not go here in the first place.

Considering that the flight could be late and cause you to miss a specific train on a non-refundable ticket, I would pay for a full fare ticket. Instead of buying a non-refundable ticket and leaving extra time in case the flight is late, just take the regional trains and leave immediately.

One comment, the Regional Bahnhof is as short distance from the Fernbahnhof, but you don't have to go to the Fernbahnhof. You should go past the Regional Bahnhof first - it's the closest one.

How much time do we need to change trains? I looked at schedules today and just played with possibilities and the site came back and said you only have an hour to change trains. They made it sound like that wasn't enough time. I am so clueless when it comes to trains.
Also, Can I find a map online of the train route? Will there be several stops before mine ?

Sue all that information can be seen on the Bahn website. Including the intermediate stops and change time: usually in minutes not hours. If you put in Frankfurt Flughaven (airport) in the departure station, and Trier Hbf as destination, then click the little down arrow for "details, and you will see the minutes needed for change, and the platform numbers. There's another button lower down that you click and it will show all the intermediate stops. there's another button that can show you drawings of the stations at which you will change.

Look at Sam's reply -the first one to your post. With the two stop trains (via Mainz and Koblenz) ts a 5 minute change in Mainz - just a walk across a platform- and 11 minutes change in Koblenz. With the one-stop train (via Koblenz), you have has 29 minutes to change in Koblenz. That's plenty of time. Think of it as being like a bus transfer, not like connecting flight at airport. The ticket agent can explain it all to you at the Reisezentrum.

Stan, Thank you . I think I understand it better now. Doesn't look too difficult. I was just worried about missing our stop. Thanks for the tips.

I don't think it will take all day, probably all morning, but I'd grab a snack before leaving the airport. Catch the first train from the airport station to Koblenz (not sure if waiting for a faster train helps here), then the first train to Trier from Koblenz.