Hello, I'll be traveling to FRA from the U.S. in October, and need to transfer from FRA to Cologne-Bonn airport (CGN) for a low-cost carrier to Italy.

I have the following questions:

1. How long is the journey from FRA to CGN via train? I've heard there is an express ICE train that connects the two airports.

2. How much is the trainfare from FRA to CGN? Is it advisable to reserve seats in advance (even if I don't know what the exact timing will be)?

3. With a U.S. passport, how long should I expect it will take to clear customs at FRA, collect baggage, and get on the train? I've got just over 5 hours between scheduled landing in FRA, and scheduled take-off from CGN.

Thank you!

Hope this answers your questions. Check here for detail and fares. (Upper left corner just put in date and FRA-CDG codes and hit enter. Then proceed.

here is a link how the outcome will look like:
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/que...fasScrollDir=1

My experiences at FRA usually entail quick (5 min or less) immigration followed by a painful wait for luggage to arrive. In any case, it shouldn't cause you to miss your connection at CGN.

I'd be a little worried about a 5 hour connection with everything that can go wrong, and then a train ride between two major cities. The ICE that you will pick up in FRA will go directly to the K�ln Hbf and then you will have to get on an S-bahn train to the airport (15 minute or so trip). You should make it just fine, but my stress-o-meter would probably be pinging.

Thanks for the very helpful info! I'll have to hope the flight lands on time in FRA, and that I can get on one of those fast trains.

One more question: if I don't reserve a seat in advance, should I expect considerably higher train fare at the airport station?

Thanks again.

i recently traveled CGN to FRA airport

first class was sold out (a week in advance) so i had to take second- (to reserve a seat)

the seats were not comfortable (close and crowded) but the car was PACKED with standees

very claustrophobic

and i had a briefcase and carry-on suitcase- its a lot of shlepping and lifting

quite unpleasant

you must reserve seats

but then you are screwed if you miss your train

how much cheaper is your ex-CGN flight v. FRA or HHN? is it worth it?

Wow, that doesn't sound too good.

We're going on to Bari, Italy (BRI). There's a non-stop from CGN for 32 USD (including all taxes/fees) on TUIfly. There are no non-stops from FRA to BRI, and it's considerably more expensive to fly from there on LH or AlItalia. Nothing from HHN either.

We get in early Sunday morning (around 7am). If it's like the U.S., maybe there will be fewer train travelers at that time?

What are you usually taking? Amtrack? Deutsche Bahn can easily compete with Amtrack and will ALWAYS do better...

theenpati, it's unlikely as bad as described, don't get scared

I travel DUS - Frankfurt somestimes three times a week and this includes the portion between CGN and FRA. If you travel 8 am or 6 pm there are plenty of commuters on these trains, no doubt. However - refrain from entering a coach close to the elvator to the platform but go to one of the far ends of this train - even at those times of the day no problem. Not being able to reserve a seat means that 75% of the seats are taken. There are always 25% of the seats available for passengers without reservations. I) would have no concerns at all on a Sunday morning.

If you make reservations and miss your train, no problem. The 56 Euro fare is an open ticket and you can use every train and there are high speed connections -9 and -32 minutes past the hour. BTW: 56 Euro is 2nd Class, 88 Euro is 1st Class. Tickets on the train cost (as far as I recollect) 3 Euro extra. Your can check everything on

http://www.bahn.de/p/view/internatio...l_guests.shtml

7 am on a Sunday is most definitely NOT peak time. Sunday afternoon is (with people travelling home from week-end breaks), but I don't think you need to worry about overcrowded trains early on a Sunday morning.

You should be able to buy your ticket online and print it out yourself (that's what I did for an ICE journey from FRA last year). Make sure you buy a full-fare ticket (as opposed to a saver fare that is only valid on a particular train) - as others have said, full-fare tickets are valid on any train, so if you miss the one that you planned to catch you just hop on the next one and find an unoccupied seat - of which there should be plenty at that time on a Sunday morning.

Just to be pedantic here is a list of direct train connections FRA - CGN:

ICE 828 dep FRA 5:02am arr CGN 6:08am (not Sat,Sun)

ICE 914 dep FRA 6:32pm arr CGN 7:37pm (not Sat)

ICE 910 dep FRA 8:46pm arr CGN 9:46 pm (not Sat)

ICE 924 dep FRA 10:25pm arr CGN 11:28pm (not Sun)

And two ICEs departing from Wiesbaden with easy connections from FRA:

ICE 716 dep Wiseb. 9:49am arr CGN 10:47am (not Sun)

ICE 710 dep Wiesb. 6:49pm arr CGN 7:47pm (not Sat)

All other connections require a change at Cologne main station or Messe/Deutz.

I am somehow surprised about the number of connections. On Bahn.de I only get three direct trains between the two airports a day: 5:02, 18:32 and 20:46. Where does your information come from? And what am I missing?

Followed a link I found on the CGN homepage: http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/bhf...1101&start=yes

And there arrivals/Ankunft.

And I did not see the AM / PM - my bad

Hey theenpati,

I also believe that there shouldn't be issues about seats on a Sunday morning, but then reservations are also quite cheap... If you're not sure which train you'll be able to catch you can just reserve seats in two to be on the safe side.
In my opinion (and I'm tall), seats are quite comfortable and offer plenty of legroom in 2nd class , definitely much better than any eco-product of the major airlines. Just when you reserve seats at a table legroom can be restricted because of another person sitting across from you. So I would advise to reserve standard seats w/o table unless you're with three or more other people.
Another thing you probably already know: make sure to take an ICE and not an IC. Much more comfortable for almost the same price.
Enjoy Bari!

-txl.

certainly DB is a better experience than any USA train, no argument

i did travel friday afternoon, and was only able to get a table seat

being over six foot, i found it super tight- like the LIRR

and since every sq.cm. was filled with passengers or luggage it was brutally claustrophobic- and hot and steamy

the snack cart could not make it through the cars due to the crowds

but yes, sunday mornings should be lightly traveled

did you look for another airport to fly into in europe other than FRA with a better bari connection?

there are morning flites from BRU, FCU, MUC, MXP, any of which will be less of a hassle than going to CGN