I am getting really confused when trying to book a train from the Frankfurt Airport (FRA) to Cologne because of the many different names used and whether we take a regional or long distance train. When looking at the booking sites, what is the name used for the train station at the FRA, and also the name used for the train station in Cologne? We are three women traveling so want the easiest and fastest way to get to Cologne, so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Posted by
Green Bay
21163 posts
The name of the train station at Frankfurt Airport if you want long distance trains (ICE, IC, trains) it is Frankfurt (M) Fernbahnhof. For regional trains (RB, RE, S trains) Frankfurt (M) Regionalbahnhof.
Cologne's main station is Köln Hbf (Hauptbahnhof).
Posted by
New York, NY
4071 posts
The easiest & fastest route to Cologne’s main train station (Köln HBF) from Frankfurt Flughafen (airport) is on the ICE train. ICE is the Intercity Express train which is the Deutsche Bahn’s high-speed train. You can pick a train that is nonstop to Köln HBF & arrive within an hour!
The Frankfurt Flughafen station is in Terminal 1. I recommend downloading the Deutsche Bahn app to buy your tickets. Don’t use a third-party.
Posted by
Paradise
7072 posts
Nearly all ICE trains will be very fast. About 1 hour. These superfast trains take the route in red on the map below.
https://media0.faz.net/ppmedia/aktuell/gesellschaft/2912341531/1.75194/default/ice-neu.GIF
You will also find the occasional 2-hour ICE train, which takes you through the scenic Middle Rhine Valley (castles, vineyards, villages, etc.) via Koblenz. See the black/white route on the map. This is the same route that the regional trains use.
Easiest:
DIRECT ICE trains from FRA's Fernbahnhof station. 8:07 - 9:04, for example. 8:30 - 9:33, just a little later.
There are also ICE departures that include ONE CHANGE of train that take about the same amount of time, but direct is just easier.
Direct ICE trains along the fastest route will cost roughly €75 each for "flex-preis" tickets (which can be used at any hour on the date of your ticket.) The cheaper saver fares are train-specific, non-refundable, and will be useless to you if your plane is delayed significantly.
An alternative is to shop for a flexible train ticket from your airline; some offer such tickets at a discounted price.