LH Express / AirRail as part of the travel - can I skip, get off earlier, join later?
Oct 31, 2017, 3:35 am
#46
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: BNE/OOL temporarily-permanently at CAK/PIT
Programs: UA*1K & UA Club, National Ex. Elite, Hertz Pres. Circ., Amex Plat., CLEAR
Posts: 1,703
I'd take an earlier train from Aachen to Cologne to be on the safe side. I don't see any point buying a ticket from Aachen to FRA as most trains involve a change at Cologne anyway. If you're up for a bit of risk, take the 10 mins connection at Cologne but you only need a small delay (and it happens) for you to miss the connection. Better to give yourself more time and less stress/worry. A longer connection will maybe give you time to pop outside the station at Cologne and see the wonderful cathedral which is just outside the station or get yourself a coffee in one of the many outlets in the station.
Oct 31, 2017, 5:21 am
#47
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,752
If I was in your position I would:
- check in online
- take the RE at 0651, with a plan to connect to your booked ICE at 0755 in Köln.
- if you miss the connection, then take the ICE at 0827.
In general, I would aim to take the train before the last possible one to make your flight, unless you have a flexible ticket at no time pressure. Long Distance Trains in Germany are 75% on-time (defined as arriving within 6 minutes of the scheduled time).
- check in online
- take the RE at 0651, with a plan to connect to your booked ICE at 0755 in Köln.
- if you miss the connection, then take the ICE at 0827.
In general, I would aim to take the train before the last possible one to make your flight, unless you have a flexible ticket at no time pressure. Long Distance Trains in Germany are 75% on-time (defined as arriving within 6 minutes of the scheduled time).
Nov 15, 2017, 6:12 am
#49
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: BNE/OOL temporarily-permanently at CAK/PIT
Programs: UA*1K & UA Club, National Ex. Elite, Hertz Pres. Circ., Amex Plat., CLEAR
Posts: 1,703
If I was in your position I would:
- check in online
- take the RE at 0651, with a plan to connect to your booked ICE at 0755 in Köln.
- if you miss the connection, then take the ICE at 0827.
In general, I would aim to take the train before the last possible one to make your flight, unless you have a flexible ticket at no time pressure. Long Distance Trains in Germany are 75% on-time (defined as arriving within 6 minutes of the scheduled time).
- check in online
- take the RE at 0651, with a plan to connect to your booked ICE at 0755 in Köln.
- if you miss the connection, then take the ICE at 0827.
In general, I would aim to take the train before the last possible one to make your flight, unless you have a flexible ticket at no time pressure. Long Distance Trains in Germany are 75% on-time (defined as arriving within 6 minutes of the scheduled time).
One odd thing riding the ICE: it was two different trains, same train number. In my rush, I boarded the "wrong" train (the first one that arrived). My assigned coach and seat were in the next train.
The conductor first told me to get off at Bonn and wait for the next train to arrive, but then he decided there was plenty of space and just stay on the train since my destination was the next stop (Frankfurt airport) anyway.
Nov 15, 2017, 12:29 pm
#50
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: EDI, CGN, NYC
Programs: LH-SEN, DL-Platinum
Posts: 973
Hmm... there are two segments of the train that join in Cologne, so it's a bizarre suggestion to get off in Siegburg and wait for the "next" train.
Nov 16, 2017, 7:33 am
#51
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Plat, M&M FTL, BA Blue, QR Gold
Posts: 3,720
He meant: get off the front one (preferably at the very last door of the very last carriage) and, while the train is at the station, walk to the first door of the first carriage of the second EMU and get back on.
Nov 18, 2017, 3:16 am
#52
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,670
HTB.
Nov 19, 2017, 5:05 am
#53
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2017
Programs: M&S, Radisson
Posts: 758
Well, it happens pretty frequently with DB that they have two multi-unit train sets joined together which are then split at a later station (and continuing in different directions).
They make announcements at the stations and on the train regarding which train set goes where and also tell you that might have to exit and re-enter at some station (if you entered in a wrong car initially).
Probably, the confusion arose from some language issue (either the conductor not expressing himself correctly in English, the OP misunderstood him speaking German or something...)
They make announcements at the stations and on the train regarding which train set goes where and also tell you that might have to exit and re-enter at some station (if you entered in a wrong car initially).
Probably, the confusion arose from some language issue (either the conductor not expressing himself correctly in English, the OP misunderstood him speaking German or something...)
Nov 22, 2017, 2:08 am
#54
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: Miles&More Blue, SPG Silver
Posts: 3,378
I ended up doing that. The RE at 0651 ran 10 minutes late, so I boarded the ICE within maybe 30 seconds of it departing. I don't recommend anyone else try that.
One odd thing riding the ICE: it was two different trains, same train number. In my rush, I boarded the "wrong" train (the first one that arrived). My assigned coach and seat were in the next train.
The conductor first told me to get off at Bonn and wait for the next train to arrive, but then he decided there was plenty of space and just stay on the train since my destination was the next stop (Frankfurt airport) anyway.
One odd thing riding the ICE: it was two different trains, same train number. In my rush, I boarded the "wrong" train (the first one that arrived). My assigned coach and seat were in the next train.
The conductor first told me to get off at Bonn and wait for the next train to arrive, but then he decided there was plenty of space and just stay on the train since my destination was the next stop (Frankfurt airport) anyway.
Nov 22, 2017, 2:20 pm
#55
Join Date: Aug 2005
Programs: UA*G(1K), PC Diamond Amb, Marriott Titanium, Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,670
HTB.
Nov 22, 2017, 4:14 pm
#56
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Plat, M&M FTL, BA Blue, QR Gold
Posts: 3,720
You haven't been on a DB train on a Friday or Sunday for some time I suppose... you really don't want to lose the seat reservation. It didn't make sense for OP, which is why the conductor let him stay where he was.
Nov 22, 2017, 4:23 pm
#57
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Karlsruhe, Germany
Posts: 123
Nov 24, 2017, 2:31 pm
#58
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: ZRH / YUL
Programs: UA, TK, Starwood > Marriott, Hilton, Accor
Posts: 7,295
I believe I know the answer to this but I wanted to check nonetheless:
Travelling with checked bags, can I book a ticket xxx-FRA-Dusseldorf Hbf via Express Rail, reclaim my bag at these AirRail counters at FRA Fernbahnhof, and then not get on the train?
Travelling with checked bags, can I book a ticket xxx-FRA-Dusseldorf Hbf via Express Rail, reclaim my bag at these AirRail counters at FRA Fernbahnhof, and then not get on the train?
Nov 25, 2017, 9:39 am
#59
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: IHG Diamond Ambassador, Accor Plat, M&M FTL, BA Blue, QR Gold
Posts: 3,720
Yes you can. Get your bags, clear customs, and walk to where you like. If you care for the miles, better don't book another flight on LH that takes places at the same point in time as your train trip.
Feb 14, 2018, 11:29 pm
#60
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 948
I think my question is even more obvious, but want to make sure I don't screw up my ticket.
Coming from US, flying LH to FRA, then have a DB segment to CGN.
Same ticket, return flight, direct from CGN back to US.
No checked bag. Do I need to do anything at the train station in FRA, or can I walk away upon landing and not lose my CGN-USA return segment?
Thanks everyone.
Coming from US, flying LH to FRA, then have a DB segment to CGN.
Same ticket, return flight, direct from CGN back to US.
No checked bag. Do I need to do anything at the train station in FRA, or can I walk away upon landing and not lose my CGN-USA return segment?
Thanks everyone.