Great! Thank you supermasterphil- I have connected in Cologne HBF many times so that should work also- just have never gone from the airport CGN to Dusseldorf HBF before- sounds perfect.

There is even at least one earlier train but I don't want to rush you ;)

Ah... come on now- why not rush :)

Regional Express (RE) leaving at 11:08 (from track one), change at Messe/Deutz to RE 10014 leaving 11:34 from track 2 (you have 16 minutes in Deutz) and get into DUS main station at 12:01.

Happy? ;)

If you don't buy in advance, you can just take every train. So just rush and see which one you are getting.

Just a remindert, that it is officially not possible to buy train tickets on board regional trains (RE / RB / S-Bahn), only on long distance trains like ICE, IC, EC.

Very happy- and that is exactly what I ended up doing. It was perfect. Thanks.

Last time I took a RE train (on a weekend) from DUS it was so full that I barely got a seat in 1st class. Otherwise it would have been standing room only or sitting on the stairs between upper and lower deck.

Just as a note of caution if travelling with luggage. The 1st class supplement is a few euros only between Ddorf and Cologne.

Arriving Saturday morning with carry on only, the RE train was full but not that full. The ticket was 9,80 EUR total from CGN to Dusseldorf HBF, with a travel time of an hour more or less (supermaster phil posted the exact times in this thread which I was able to follow). Returning on Sunday, trains were superfull, so I took the ICE connecting to S-Bahn at Koln HBF- total travel time was again just around an hour- it was a beautiful new ICE, however the cost is 18.50 EUR per person- were I not a train buff, and had the helpful staff at DB not been able to tell me it was a new ICE (gorgeous train really), I would not have spent the extra money, as the only difference really is you have more connecting time at Koln (well enough to have a coffee at Starbucks and buy something to read at the great bookstore in the train station). The station at the airport would only accept cash- there seemed to be something wrong with the credit/debit card transactions (not just me- a lot of people were having a problem)- returning the machine happily accepted a European bank (debit) card (Maestro or V Pay seemed to work as long as it is a chip card). Overall, the logistics in Germany are always one of the things which are surprisingly eash and very comofortable- also excellent value unless you want to ride the "fancy train". Ciao!

Thanks for reporting back and good for you that you had a quick change of mods of transports. ^

Hi

Some excellent detailed advice here with times, price and everything. I wonder if anyone could give me some similar sound advice. I am flying into dusseldorf airport at 20:30 on thurs 25th November and need to get to Cologne. I am then flying out of dusseldorf airport on the 28th November at 9:00 and need to know the best way of travelling and times for both journeys. Any advice greatly appreciated

There are a few options.

Arriving at 20:30, there is a RE (Regional Express) leaving at 20:50 from the Train Station connected by tje so called skytrain. If your flight is on time and you do not have luggage, you could make this train. Arriving time in Cologne would be 21:29.

An ICE trian is leaving 9 minutes later.

The way back could be done by taking the ICE leaving Cologne at 06:26 arriving at Düsseldorf Airport at 06:58 or an RE (Regional Express) leaving Cologne at 06:49 arriving at Düsseldorf Airport at 07:27.

Further information are available at www.bahn.de.

Please note, that you could bot buy tickets on board of a RE / RB / S-Bahn, only onboard an ICE, IC or EC it is possible to buy tickets.

Vending machines and a manned counter are available at Düsseldorf Airport Station.

thanks for the quick response

This was excellent. I am on the train platform now!

Thanks for the flowers. It is great that my more thank 9 (nine) years old advice is still valuable. Tells me that I am getting to age. ROFL