We will be booking a Ns international train from Amsterdam Central to Offenburg this July.
I know that it is to early to book for this July.
When looking at earlier dates,, the site gives me an option to reserve seating,, at a cost.
What I am wondering has anyone taken this train, if so do you think I really need to reserve seats?
or is there plenty of seating?
I will probably book 1st class.
Thanks John
Posted by
Sweden
6415 posts
If you're planning to travel all the way to Offenburg you really should reserve seats. But it's a very early arrival in Offenburg, does that suit your plans?
Posted by
OP
Canada
69 posts
Yes this is our plan, to travel from Offenburg to Strasberg for their fete national day
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32795 posts
do you intend to have a sleeper or seats?
Posted by
Wengen
1684 posts
This is actually not an "NS International train", as there is no such thing. NS International is just a booking agent albeit the official one of the Dutch railways for international trips.
This train is an odd one. This is actually the Nightjet from Amsterdam to Zurich. That trains is operated by the Austrian Railways, and has sleeper and couchette cars. To that train are attached a couple of Deutsche Bahn seating cars, and these are marketed as "IC", and operated by NS and DB.
If you look carefully on the NS International you will see it shows you two trains with the same schedule. This is actually one train, with two sections. If you want a sleeper in the Nightjet section book that on www.nightjet.com.
I would not choose to do this trip in the seating car. You will not sleep, and arrive in Offenburg exhausted, early in the morning, with nowhere to go. Take a day time train.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
32795 posts
I wonder what you would plan to do after a 04:50 arrival. And it takes 8hours22.
The day train is 3 hours faster and travels at very civilised hours.
But, as they say, you pays your money and takes your choice...
Posted by
Wengen
1684 posts
If it is Strasbourg you are actually going to, why not just take a high speed train via Paris? It takes a bit over 6 hours that way.
Better then having to hang around Offenburg Railway station early in the morning (where nothing will be open) and arrive in Strasbourg to exhausted to take part in the festivities.
Posted by
OP
Canada
69 posts
Thanks for all the reply's
I just booked with OBB, Austrian trains,
Night jet with Couchette (sleeper), it was only a 100 Euro more then 1st class seating for the 2 of us. Bonus!!!
The reason for taking the night train, is not to waste days while in Europe.
We always land in Amsterdam, as KLM is the only direct flight from Vancouver Canada, this is our5 time in Amsterdam.
For this reason we are only spending the day we land in the city.
The next day we are leaving our luggage at Ams train station and heading for the day to Hoorn,
arriving back at Ams central later that day, get the luggage, and catching the night train to Offenburg, yes arriving very early,
but most of the time the train is a hour late on arrival.
We will have slept, then training it to Strasbourg from Offenburg,
we wanted to arrive early in Strasbourg, so to have time to see the town, and also see the day and night events,
as it it the Fete National on July 14th, France's B Day
Thanks again
Posted by
Wengen
1684 posts
We will have slept, then training it to Strasbourg from Offenburg,
You will not sleep wel on the train. And usually it is on time, so you will have 2 hours to kill in a place where everything will be closed. If you do this, at least stay on the train till Basel, and then take the train to Strasbourg from there.
But is your trip. Drink lots of coffee on july 14th so you make it till the fireworks...