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Luxembourg to Germany Trains --- how far in advance to book?

Posted by on

I'm planning a long-weekend trip in about 3 weeks from now (Mid November) from Luxembourg city to Krefeld. We would be travelling on a Friday and a Monday, departing both locations earlier in the day (7am from Lux and 11am from Krefeld). Part of me wants to just book it and be done with it but part of me thinks that I should wait until it gets closer on the slight chance the plans should change. It'll just be me and my 6 year old son and I'm thinking 2nd class tickets and no seat reservation (as I've read the various articles on that topic).

For obvious reasons, the articles say that booking ahead depends on the popularity of the route and the time of year, but am I completely off base in thinking that a winter train to a non-touristy city in Germany shouldn't be packed to the gills with riders?

Here's the schedule I'm looking at, if anyone is curious about the exact route.

Luxembourg dep 08:31 RE 5111 Koblenz Hbf arr 10:56 9
Transfer time 17 min.

Koblenz Hbf dep 11:13 3 IC 2226 Köln Hbf arr 12:10 4
Transfer time 32 min.

Köln Hbf dep 12:42 9 D-G RE 32535 Krefeld Hbf 13:24

Returning:
Krefeld Hbf dep 12:35 5 RE 32538 Köln Hbf arr 13:18 2 A-C
Transfer time 35 min.

Köln Hbf dep 13:53 7 IC 2025 Koblenz Hbf arr 14:46 4
Transfer time 20 min.

Koblenz Hbf dep 15:06 9 RE 5118 Luxembourg arr 17:29

Thanks for any of your help!

Posted by
20103 posts

OK, if you buy tickets now for Friday Nov 24, and return Monday, Sparpreis ticket is 59.80 EUR to Krefeld and 39.80 EUR back to Luxembourg for 2 people (you did say "we", assume 2). Wait till the last minute and it is 131.20 EUR each way, so you will save a lot of money if you buy now.

Be aware that the first and third legs have nothing to do with when you buy tickets, they are unreserved regional trains and you have the same rights to a seat if you buy 3 weeks in advance or 3 seconds. It is all about getting on the trains early. Fortunately, you get to them at their point of origin in plenty of time.

The middle leg on the IC trains you can buy reserved seats for an extra 4.50 EUR per person each way.

Posted by
14510 posts

I've been to Krefeld Hbf but certainly not recently and the times I was there, it was always in the summer. Your local trains could still be packed with school kids and commuters.

Posted by
19092 posts

Your 6 year old son will be free with any Deutsche Bahn ticket, so ignore previous advice about fares. They assumed 2 adults.

Your least expensive option would be a Savings Fare (Sparpreis) ticket. That requires at least one leg by long distance train (ICE/IC/EC), which would be from Koblenz to Köln, and you would be held to that specific train (date and time), so you should probably only buy that kind of ticket when you can commit. The later you book, the higher prices might be. Depending on the specific train and when you buy the ticket, your fare could be as low as 19,90€ each way.

You could also make the trip by regional trains only. Full fare would be 65€ each way (again the 6 yo child is free with you). You could also buy a regular ticket from Luxembourg to Igel (for 16,20€) and use a 44€ Quer-durchs-Land-Ticket from there to Krefeld, but you would have to find a place to buy the QdLT. If you put in Igel to Krefeld on the Bahn website, it would allow you to buy the ticket in advance. You need to have access to a printer when you purchase the ticket or a way to purchase it on your cell phone. Those tickets are the same price regardless of when you buy them, right up to the time of travel.

On you way back, you could buy the QdLT at the station in Krefeld.

If you buy Sparpreis tickets, even though your son is free, you need to show him on the ticket when you purchase it. That is, specify 2 travelers, one adult and one child, 6-14.

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