We leave in 3.5 weeks (YIKES) for our GAS tour, but first we will spend 2 nights on the Rhine. My question is for transportation from Bacharach to Trier. It has been mentioned that we can just buy tickets from the machine in Bacharach train station but I like to be extra prepared so decided to look for a schedule so we could pick out ahead of time when we would like to be in Trier by and that would decide when we left Bacharach. When I did I noticed either of the 2 options we would take on the Bahn website had 3 changes, 2 train station and one a bus which manages to get us to Trier faster than just 2 train station changes. Is this normal? It isn't a big deal as I've done this type of thing in other European countries, but just thought I'd check to make sure. Also, is there any advantage to buying it online vs. at the machine in Bacharach's train station? Just thinking if we know which journey we want we should just get the tickets so we know what our schedule is. Of course, I can just print the schedule off without buying the tickets too. Thanks!
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
You say "we" so I will assume that there are 2 of you. Just buy a Rheinland-Pfalz Ticket out of the station vending machine. Cost is 29 EUR for 2 people and you can ride any regional train in the region (German Land of Rheinland-Pfalz) after 9 am for the rest of the day. Hop on, hop off, take a side trip, just so you end up in Trier in time for your welcome dinner. Its that easy.
They cost 2 EUR extra to buy at the ticket window, if there is one in Bacharach. No advantage what so ever to buying in advance.
Oh, buses too.
Posted by
Paradise
7067 posts
If you are using the right station names, you should not be pulling up any buses.
From Bacharach to Trier Hbf
Sample date: May 9, depart at 8:21... arrive Trier 10:30, ONE change of train at Koblenz Hbf
No buses come up at all throughout that day.
You should check again for your travel date.
The R-P ticket mentioned above will work on any weekday after 9 am, at any hour on Sat or Sun.
Posted by
OP
1258 posts
I thought those are the stations I had but the bus change came up. Will try again for May 12th. We would like to leave before 9 am as we'd like to arrive before noon, and there are 3 of us.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8967 posts
....or you can buy the tickets from a human at the train station in Frankfurt Flughafen on arrival, where I think you start out. There was a bus segment when we took this trip, but it was due to some repairs on the line.
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
May 12 is a Saturday, so you can leave as early as you want. 3rd person over 14? R-P ticket is 34 EUR.
Looks like that bus is a train replacement bus, so there is a section of track closed between Treis Karden and Cochem. There will be a bus waiting at the station to haul you around the section of track that is closed.
Posted by
Paradise
7067 posts
OH - repairs will be underway on that date = SEV = replacement buses
Posted by
OP
1258 posts
It keeps telling me 'train replacement bus' and I can't find anything with just 1 change. Wonder what I'm doing wrong.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
They cost 2 EUR extra to buy at the ticket window, if there is one in Bacharach.
Don't hold your breath. There was only a ticket automat in Bacharach when I was there in 2004 and again in 2008. German Rail has been moving away from manned ticket counters to automats in recent years. I have no reason to think they would go back to counters.
There was no ticket counter in St. Goar last October, just an automat.
These are probably all regional tickets, so if you buy the regional ticket in advance you have to use it that day (unless you change it up to the day before.)
Posted by
OP
1258 posts
Repairs make sense for the bus being in use. Thanks! Like the idea of buying it in Frankfurt too, we will be starting from the airport there to Bacharach. The only other train tickets we need yet are Bacharach to St. Goar but will just get those from the machine. Thanks!!
Posted by
Paradise
7067 posts
You aren't doing anything wrong. The SEV buses are in place for Saturday and Sunday that weekend. You'll need to use them to make the trip on the 12th from Bacharach.
If you prefer you could spend your time elsewhere and travel on the 12th by train only on the normal train schedules. Heading to Cochem (lovely Mosel River town) instead of Bacharach for overnight on the 10th or 11th - then leaving for Trier from Cochem on the 12th - will NOT involve any buses (direct train from Cochem to Trier.)
Or you could visit Bacharach on the 11th and travel in the evening by train to Trier (no construction that day.
Posted by
OP
1258 posts
Thanks Russ but we already have our B&B booked etc...the bus in there is fine. It is only 10 minutes long anyway.