Time to get from plane to train in AMS
May 1, 2015, 11:23 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM 2MM; EK Silver; HH Gold
Posts: 927
Time to get from plane to train in AMS
I'm flying DL to AMS on 5/16 (arriving 5/17 at 0945 hrs). I'm in J and won't have any checked luggage and I can move pretty fast when needed. I need to get a train to Berlin and can do either from Schipol or from Centraal.
First question is how long should I expect it to take to get from deplaning to clearing immigration/customs and getting to the train?
Second question is for those who've taken the train from AMS to Berlin before, would you recommend leaving from Schipol (via Hannover) or just the direct from Centraal?
Thanks in advance for any advice you might have and, if you think I'd have more luck posting over at the Flying Blue forum, let me know.
First question is how long should I expect it to take to get from deplaning to clearing immigration/customs and getting to the train?
Second question is for those who've taken the train from AMS to Berlin before, would you recommend leaving from Schipol (via Hannover) or just the direct from Centraal?
Thanks in advance for any advice you might have and, if you think I'd have more luck posting over at the Flying Blue forum, let me know.
May 1, 2015, 11:29 am
#2
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Long Beach, CA
Programs: DL DM
Posts: 5,292
If you can move, you SHOULD be able to be at the train within about 15 minutes. Immigration is usually pretty quick
I PERSONALLY would leave from Schipol...unless the Centraal stop would mean a shorter layover than Hannover.
I PERSONALLY would leave from Schipol...unless the Centraal stop would mean a shorter layover than Hannover.
May 1, 2015, 11:44 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,079
If I'm not mistaken, most of the Centraal trains connect through Hannover to the express as well. From the airport, you can take two trains or three. If you go through Centraal, you will have two or three trains total as well. Probably quickest and easiest to leave from Schiphol and connect to the express in Hannover.
May 1, 2015, 11:59 am
#4
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Pagus Bracbatensis, Kingdom of the Netherlands
Programs: DL SPlat, KLM Bump, Privium Plus, GOES
Posts: 2,066
10 minutes if your arrival gate is E3 or so. If it is further away (D43 for example) add another 5-10 minutes.
Depending on your schedule you can either use Schiphol (to Amsterdam Centraal and then directly to Berlin) or Amsterdam Centraal
http://www.ns.nl/en/travellers/home
Depending on your schedule you can either use Schiphol (to Amsterdam Centraal and then directly to Berlin) or Amsterdam Centraal
http://www.ns.nl/en/travellers/home
Last edited by Grouchy; May 1, 2015 at 12:04 pm
May 1, 2015, 12:48 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM 2MM; EK Silver; HH Gold
Posts: 927
Thank you everybody for the quick and helpful responses. That's really encouraging.
And, as Grouchy indicates, you can actually go directly from AMS Centraal to Berlin.
If you take Bahn.de, you can take ICE directly from Centraal or you can change in Hannover. If you go from the airport, it's either 1 stop in Hilversum, or 2 (Hilversum and Hannover).
If you take NS, you can go from the airport via Centraal or via Zwoll and Almelo.
Thanks again.
And, as Grouchy indicates, you can actually go directly from AMS Centraal to Berlin.
If you take Bahn.de, you can take ICE directly from Centraal or you can change in Hannover. If you go from the airport, it's either 1 stop in Hilversum, or 2 (Hilversum and Hannover).
If you take NS, you can go from the airport via Centraal or via Zwoll and Almelo.
Thanks again.
May 1, 2015, 12:52 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM 2MM; EK Silver; HH Gold
Posts: 927
Cheers!
May 1, 2015, 1:46 pm
#7
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC, BOS, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM
Posts: 843
I echo the others here - Train is under Arrivals 2 so 15-25 minutes depending on your gate. Also depends on what kind of passport you carry - I've never waited more than 5-10 minutes as a terminating passenger with a US passport, but keep in mind the wait won't be 0 minutes (as it would be if you carry an EU passport)...
How tight of a transfer are you trying to make?
How tight of a transfer are you trying to make?
May 2, 2015, 9:08 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Center City, MN
Programs: DL Diamond, MM, Hilton, Marriott, Priority Club, etc
Posts: 436
Granted, depending at what time your flight arrives, you might have a tight or a loose connection until your train's next scheduled departure but make sure you have your train ticket in advance.
I've spent more time in line buying train tickets at Schipol than I have getting through immigration.
I've spent more time in line buying train tickets at Schipol than I have getting through immigration.
May 2, 2015, 9:59 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM 2MM; EK Silver; HH Gold
Posts: 927
I echo the others here - Train is under Arrivals 2 so 15-25 minutes depending on your gate. Also depends on what kind of passport you carry - I've never waited more than 5-10 minutes as a terminating passenger with a US passport, but keep in mind the wait won't be 0 minutes (as it would be if you carry an EU passport)...
How tight of a transfer are you trying to make?
How tight of a transfer are you trying to make?
Thanks for the advice.
May 3, 2015, 4:34 am
#11
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: near DTW
Posts: 247
True! Getting a train ticket quickly is a roll of the dice unless you have a credit card that works in the ticket machines. An added problem right now is that international arrivals is a congested mess due to construction.
May 3, 2015, 6:26 am
#12
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Amsterdam
Programs: FB Club 2000, M&M Hon
Posts: 242
To do this, you need to buy a full flex trainticket. The discounted ones "sparpreis in german" are only valid on the train you book in advance. "sparpreis" means no change, no refund, no credit.
May 3, 2015, 10:08 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: DCA
Programs: DL DM 2MM; EK Silver; HH Gold
Posts: 927
May 3, 2015, 10:19 pm
#14
In memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2005
Location: PIT
Programs: DM life is over 2MM PM now & NW MillionAir Wyndham Rewards Plat -Hotels.com Silver -Accor Silver
Posts: 15,408
Since you've got a work dinner, may I ask why you're not simply flying to Berlin, vs taking such a long train ride?
May 4, 2015, 10:28 am
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I'd try to take a train from the airport. Centraal can be crowded with long walks from the airport to long distance trains, depending on track assignments and where your car stops on the track (zones?). Even with just carryon bags, it can be a hassle.
OTOH, at German train stations, it's often organized so that you simply walk across the track for the connection. In principle, this should work for the ICE (to ICE) trains.
OTOH, at German train stations, it's often organized so that you simply walk across the track for the connection. In principle, this should work for the ICE (to ICE) trains.