Cologne to Frankfurt Airport

Old Aug 19th, 2004, 08:35 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Cologne to Frankfurt Airport

In looking at the Deutsche Bahn website, I see that there is an ICE train several times a day going from the main Cologne rail station to the Frankfurt airport in just under an hour. It's a tempting option for me to spend my last night in Germany in Cologne. My bad experiences with rail transit here in California, however, have left me wary. If my flight back to the U.S. were about 2:00 p.m. or so, how much time should I allow to leave Cologne and make it to the airport with plenty of time for check-in? Thank you.
dovima is offline  
Old Aug 19th, 2004, 10:00 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 5,641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well it takes one hour from Koln to the Frankfurt Airport station - the Fernbahnhof, long-distance train station, which though in the airport, is quite a walk from your gate. Leaving at 9am should be fine. There have been a few train strikes in Germany recently, so pay attention to that. These trains go over the new high-speed line between Koln and Frankfurt and not the older more scenic line that went along the Rhine. You see little on the new line except for trees planted as a wind block and tunnels; too bad you don't have time to take the old route that goes through the lovely Rhine gorge.
PalQ is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2004, 10:46 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 356
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How long does the old scenic route take? How to I book that one?
mmyk72 is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2004, 05:43 PM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I just took this very trip in June 2005. The ICE takes exactly 57 minutes from the station in Cologne to the airport station in Frankfurt and makes two brief stops in between. This is a much shorter time than the old 2-2 1/2 hours trip. The route is so efficient that Lufthansa has discontinued flights between the Cologne-Bonn airport and Frankfurt.

A word of caution: make CERTAIN you are getting on the right train because the "old" route is still in service.

The trains are punctual, clean, and reliable. You'll feel great as you whizz by the autobahn at 160-180 mph as the auto traffic has slowed to a creep.

Enjoy it!
TopMan is offline  
Old Aug 27th, 2004, 05:47 PM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To book the "old" route: check schedules and train NUMBERS on the Bahn site and you'll know which train to book.

The "old" route usually includes stops in Koblenz and sometimes Mainz as well as Boppard and Bingen.

The "new" route usually only has stops at Cologne Deutz and sometimes Siegburg/Bonn.
TopMan is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
limonade21
Europe
5
Jun 23rd, 2012 10:03 AM
john61
Europe
7
Jan 5th, 2010 12:57 PM
chocomania
Europe
12
Apr 29th, 2009 09:09 AM
DJE
Europe
6
Jan 19th, 2005 10:07 AM
shannon
Europe
4
Dec 5th, 2002 12:27 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -