Cologne Germany Transportation

Lee, Thanks for the . Changing trains in Duisburg to ICE 27 would be a big help so I didn't have to transfer in Koln. Thanks for the tip. As forthe car; I had originally planned to stay with the trains from Amsterdam, through Bacharach, Rothenburg to Munich and rent in Munich for convenience (Hallstatt, Salzburg, Fussen). I then realized that Bacharach to Rothenburg by train is about 4.5 hours of elasped time. Driving is about 2.5 hours so I checked to see if I could pick up a car in Bacharach and save some time. No car rentals in Bacharach. Further, with a car I would be able to easily take the 'Romantic Road' on my way to Hallstatt. So, I'm now leaning to picking up the car in Koln and keeping it for a week (a better per day rate than a 2 or 3 day rental espcially if I decide to pay for the SLDW (which, as I recall, appears to be a per rental cost, not per day cost). Am I missing something in my thinking? Any advice is welcome. You already helped me solve a problem in Koln! :) Thanks. Tom

Tom, your comparison of the travel times for the two modes of transportation is compelling. It sounds like you have been to Europe before, so I presume you know that it can be irritating to have a car in medieval towns ... . I would just urge you to be sure that all the benefits outweigh all of the disadvantages. I had a car in Germany this summer and I also found it hard to get a good deal. In my experience, the Collision Waiver is by the day, and very, very expensive. Although I was nervous all the time (especially on microscopic streets, and took 15 photos of the car before dropping it off), I went with my credit card's PRIMARY coverage. You should let your own comfort be your guide on this, however. Because parking happened to be free in Andernach, we left the car there and trained to Koblenz, Bingen, and Boppard, with the KD boat ride in between. (Remember that you might want the boat downstream, or Northbound because it's faster-which isn't that fast!)

Where are you getting you schedules? On the German Rail website, if I put in Amsterdam to Köln Messe/Deutz, it gives me a connection that either stops at Köln Hbf first, then goes on to Deutz, or, with an ICE, doesn't stop in Deutz, but does stop at the Hbf and shows the S-Bahn to Deutz. The main track through Deutz goes into the Hbf. There is another track through Deutz that parallels the river and doesn't go to the Hbf, but I don't see any connections from Amsterdam using that track. Where are you getting your ticket? If you get it online from the Bahn or at a counter in Amsterdam as Amsterdam to Köln Hbf and the train only stops at Deutz, the S-Bahn to Köln Hbf should be included on the ticket. If not, it is a €2,50 VRS city fare. I would definitely take the S-Bahn, not a taxi. During the day, the S-Bahn leaves every 4 min from the same station.

OK, checking further on times, I did find a connection leaving Amsterdam at 7:04 and going through Deutz without also stopping at the Hbf. However, it you specify Köln Hbf, there is another connection, using that 7:04 train out of Amsterdam with a connection in Duisburg, going to the Hbf. Same fare.

Thanks Lee, I was on the DB Bahn site and it said that the ICE 121 stopped at K Messe. Deutz. What I didn't see at the time is that it looks like I can buy a ticket to Koln Hbf and transfer trains at Messe Deutz for a 5 minute ride to Koln Hbf. No subway needed. That helps. Actually the our plan is to stop in Koln only to see the Cathedral for an hour or so and then rent a car to travel on to Bacharach, Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Salzburg and evenutually making our way to drop the car off in Munich. Thanks again. Tom

"No subway needed." The fastest connection from Koeln Messe/Deutz is by S-Bahn, 2 min every 4-5 min. Technically it's not a subway (that's the U-Bahn) but it is a commuter train. All of the train tracks (1-10) that go across the bridge to the Hbf are on an elevated platform. ICE 121 uses track 11, which along with track 12, is below the elevated platform and turns and goes along the river, not into Koeln Hbf. To get from track 11 to the S-Bahn (track 10), you need to get up to the elevated platform, a 7 min walk according to the Bahn. I'm sure there will be adequate signs. On the other hand, you can get the ticket for a change of trains in Duisburg to ICE 27, which goes directly into the Hbf. The change in Duisburg is a one platform change in 6 min.

Have you fully investigated using rail from Koeln to go to Bacharach. There are very good rail connections to Bacharach and you don't need a car on the middle Rhine. If you are using a rail pass, you'll have already validated it for Amsterdam to Koeln, you can continue using it that day. It will cost nothing more to go from Koeln to Bacharach. If you are using one of the discounted, advance purchase Sparpreis tickets, and you purchase far enough in advance, it might cost €10 more per person, not much more than the cost of fuel, to go all the way to Bacharach, and you save at least one day's car rental.

Tim, I doubled checked. You are right SLDW is by day not by rental and what wasn't in my rate was the Loss Damage waiver for another $170 per rental which is required if you take the SLDW. What a racket!!!! Hmmmmm.. Back to my drawing board for further analysis. Tom