Bahn question.
 

Hi all. We'll be arriving in Cologne from Paris on the day we fly home to Australia (11.55pm flight from Frannkfurt on June 27th). I've purchased PREMs for the Thalys train from Paris-Cologne. Do I need to pre-book tickets for the Cologne-Frankfurt part of the journey? Or could I easily buy them on the day of arrival in Cologne? Or what about getting them when we first arrive in Frankfurt 5 weeks earlier? What is the safest option? Thanks in anticipation.

There are lots of trains from Köln to Frankfurt: fast trains via the high-speed line or slow trains which go along the scenic route through the Rhine valley. Most do not require reservations so will never sell out. None of the trains will sell out five weeks in advance. People simply do not buy train tickets that far in advance.

Just make sure your connection Cologne-Frankfurt is direct to the FRA airport station via the high speed ICE route which only takes 57 minutes vs. the longer/older river route.

Most trains within Germany do not require reservations. You can purchase the Koln - Frankfurt tickets at any time, as you do not need to specify a specific train nor make reservations.

If you will be making the Frankfurt - Koln journey upon arrival, you can get a savings fare for the R/T, however you must purchase at least 3 days in advance, the tickets are only good on the specified train and are limited in number but can save a lot of money if you can make it work.

First, there is a difference between tickets and reservations.

1) Tickets. You can buy tickets any time, even onboard (onboard is just a little more expensive). You can buy them via www.bahn.de, at train stations (ticket machines or counter, but usually long lines at the counter). However, if you want to get discount tickets ("Sparpreis") then you have to buy them in advance. The disadvantage of Sparpreis-tickets: There are valid on a certain train only - if you change your plans you need new tickets.

2) Reservation. In constrast to the Thalys, you do not have to reserve German trains. You can just enter the train. However, sometimes trains are crowded and it can be hard to get a seat (you can still stand, but that is not much fun). So, it is wise to get reservations for a nominal fee. Sometimes, I even make double reservations (if I am not sure which train I can catch). You can reserve up to 15 minutes before the train starts, but it is a good idea to make reservations a couple of weeks in advance, especially if you want reservations for a party of travellers.

HI M,

If you know which trains you want, why not buy them in advance?
((I))

My family is taking the opposite direction in two weeks: Frankfurt airport to Köln. We have four people (2 adults, 2 kids). I also wanted the option of sitting around a table. I easily reserved our tix on-line & printed out the tix. The advance cost (for 4) was 90E vs. 115E. The savings & knowledge we'll all be sitting together around a table was worth it. A relative told me you can easily make the connection to this train after your airplane lands within an hour...but to be safe, I reserved the train that leaves the Frankfurt airport 90 minutes after our arrival. Just make sure you select the Frankfurt Flughafen as your departure point! Good luck!

And hope your train isn't sidetracked at Mannheim (which happened to us two years ago).

I think getting to Frankfurt before the day of your return home would be prudent. We invariably provide for at least two ways of getting from our last hotel to the airport.

Thank-you for your responses and advice. I've checked the Bahn website and they show tickets for 112 euro (for 2). Does this sound about right or expensive? Will the price differ if buying from a counter?

The price sounds right. There is no different price at the counter. Only if you buy onboard you pay a little more (3 Euros or so).