Night Train Particulars

Berlin needs 4-5 days. Save it for a next trip.

Question 1: Can you get off the train at the earlier Munich stop on this kind of train?

Yes, of course. Just buy a ticket from Duesseldorf to Munich. NJ 424, dep Duesseldrorf 20:54, arr Munich Ostbahnhof 7:34.

German Railpass is valid to Innsbruck on EC trains, in fact its valid all the way to Venice or Bologna. But they have to be to be EC trains, not NJ trains.

Hi MarkK, I think I have come to that conclusion! I think we'll just go as far as Munich. I am thinking we'll just go down to Trier first. The Roman ruins and history there look really interesting to me. I think I'd rather not try to pack too much in! Thanks for your input. Christine

Ah, thank you, Sam (just saw your post). I appreciate your help! Thanks so much! Now I am thinking that is the best plan. I can hit Trier on the way back up. Did you search the DB Bahn site for that? Also, any idea how to buy just the couchette and not the train ride since we have the rail pass? I know I can do it once there; I just wonder if it's better to reserve ahead of time if possible. I wonder if they might be sold out if I don't get it ahead of time. Thank you so much, Christine

I don't think you can do it on-line as far as I can tell.

If you have confirmed the night train schedule for your date, you should be able to book it at any staffed station in Amsterdam or Germany, or by phone to the operator in Austria. These "Eurail/Interrail" rates apply to the German Pass also, since it covers the whole route of your trip. Rail Europe isn't reflecting these tickets right now, perhaps connected to the DB issue below.

DB is not showing these NightJet trains running in June, for instance, which is strange since www.OEBB.at does have tickets for sale. If you see an overnight train labeled InterCity or ICE through Germany, that does not have sleepers and couchettes, only seats. The same trip does only take 5 hours by direct daytime ICE.

The night route Düsseldorf to Munich is done by the ICE train, not the Night Jet.

In 2017 I took that night ICE, got on in Düsseldorf, went to Munich. The surprising thing was that ca midnight a ton of people got on at FRA or the Fernbahnhof., so much that the entire coach was filled up.

That ICE train has no couchettes, only general seating. When it reaches Munich, the terminus, you can change to Innsbruck.

Hi all, thank you for the suggestions. :-) I was able to contact the English information line and get answers, as you suggested Laura. There is a Nightjet (NJ - what Sam said) from Cologne to Munich (which does go on to Innsbruck) on the day I need in July. Cologne is about 30 min (or so) from Dusseldorf, and we are arriving in plenty of time to catch that one from Cologne (21:21 - 7:12 - maybe longer than it needs to be, but a night's sleep)! As Sam said, you can't reserve it online. So you either have to reserve it in Germany or by phone. The guy on the phone did say they fill up quickly, so I'm glad I called. He said they may be gone next week (about 2 weeks out next week). I know it's not a huge distance, but if it gets me from point A to point B while I'm sleeping (hopefully!) that works for me. I did a couchette back in the day when I backpacked Europe a million years ago, so I have some idea of what it's like. Hopefully not too uncomfortable! Best, Christine

The NJ train does not stop at Munich Hbf. It stops at Munich Ostbahnhof, thus it does not show up if you do a search to Munich. But put in München Ost as the destination and it shows up,