How to take the rail journey from Cologne/Köln to Lyon

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Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Lyon by train

When looking up a journey by train from north-west Germany to central and southern France most of the options on the ticket booking services will involve taking a Thalys train from Köln to Paris and then a TGV on from Paris to Lyon.
However that routing involves an awkward cross Paris transfer, which can be avoided when following the two journey options set out below.
So they're worth looking out for when travelling by train between these areas of Europe.

Routes you can take to go from Köln / Cologne / Koeln to Lyon

When travelling between most cities by train there is only one logical option, though on other journeys there is a choice between different trains or alternative routes. If different options are available you can use the info to decide which is best for you.

Choose one of the following options:

Route Information

Via stations: Bruxelles-Midi/Brussel Zuid

Option 1: travelling via Bruxelles
Travel Time (approx)

6hr 17min - 7hr 16min (approx)

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

2 or 3* x optimum connections per day

*Depart Koln daily at 07:42 and 09:42

Additional connection departs Friday and Sunday only at 16:47.

Change trains in: Bruxelles/Brussels

Route Information

Via stations: Mannheim Hbf

Option 2: travelling via Mannheim
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This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.