Train from basel to amsterdam

Check the rome2rio.com website, there’s direct trains without transfers from Basel to Amsterdam.

Check on int.bahn.de - you can do the trip with anything from 1 transfer to 6, depending on the route you choose. The simplest is Basel to Paris, change stations in Paris, then direct to Amsterdam. You might want to check if there’s a direct flight as well.

use the bahn for accurate info.

The 08:13 and 13:13 are two good train solutions depending on when you will get off the boat.

Basel SBB to Amsterdam Centraal in a little over 7 hours with one simple and well timed change in Frankfurt Hbf. ICE to ICE.

You don't need to go via Paris with the change of stations, or take 5 changes. Look for the easy answer.

Am I missing something? Everything I google says there are directs trains, no transfers from Basel to Amsterdam including SBB and RailEurope. Why recommend a train with transfers?

Because the only direct train availble is the night train from Zürich to Amsterdam via Basel. If that doesn't fit the plan, then you need to change somewhere, and I agree that the route via Germany is better than via France.

Am I missing something? Everything I google says there are directs trains, no transfers from Basel to Amsterdam including SBB and RailEurope. Why recommend a train with transfers?

Yes you are. SBB does not show direct trains. On the SBB schedule for each departure each little circle represents a change of train. Click on the departure and it will show the full route, where you change and length of change time. If Rail Europe is showing through trains (which I very much doubt) it is a lie. More likely you just need to learn how to read the results. And as for the twaddle on rome2rio, less said the better.

From the SBB website:

Direct connections mean you can get to Amsterdam quickly and comfortably without changing trains.
From Basel SBB to Amsterdam: journey time around 7 hours; direct connections in the online timetable.

Basel at 15:13 and gets into Amsterdam at 21:59. This is from their link for direct connections.

Just curious as to why you are going back to Amsterdam? Can you fly home from Switzerland or Germny

We thought we were saving money by flying in and out of the same location on delta. Plus, we thought it might be nice to to see the countryside.

The day time rides are too inconsistent for my comfort ie, too many cancelled trains plus too many transfers.

No need to go from Basel to Frankfurt, another way, maybe a less crowded way is to go the lower Rhine area, then transfer to Amsterdam.

I would suggest Basel to Duisburg Hbf, change to Amsterdam. A direct connection exist between Basel to Duisburg, as Duisburg Hbf is trunk line junction station. You can do the Night Jet Basel to Duisburg, then change to Amsterdam.

I did this route (part of it) last in 2014 as a day trip to Amsterdam via Duisburg.

There is one direct day time train from Basel to Amsterdam. It leaves at 15:13.

When you look up trains on www.bahn.de or www.sbb.ch you are not shown all the trains. You are only shown a couple of trains around the time you entered in the search field. If you want to see more trains you have to click on "later" and "earlier".

You have trains about every hour, but indeed most require a change. I would not worry about that though. Changing trains is a normal and expected feature of train travel. From the town where I grew up to where I live now requires about 5 to 6 changes. I, and members of my extended family do that trip regularly. Usually everyone arrives on time...

I knew about the direct one, I thought our traveller would want to get to Amsterdam before night.

For me, one easy change in Frankfurt would be worth an earlier arrival at the destination, assuming that everybody will be off the boat relatively early in the morning so it can be turned around for the return voyage for the next gang of tourists.

I like Basel a lot, but I'm not sure I'd want several hours just wandering with luggage, or even with luggage in a locker. Some cruisers have a LOT of luggage.