How to take a rail journey from Basel to Cologne/Köln

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Basel / Bâle to Köln / Cologne / Koeln by train

There are theree options available when taking a direct train from Basel to Cologne/Köln:

  1. Taking the scenic option of travelling through the gorgeous Rhine Gorge on an EC train.
  2. The fastest option of travelling during the day on an ICE train, which rushes along Germany's fastest railway during its journey.
  3. Taking a new sleeper train, though it has an early arrival time.

Departing from Basel:

All three services depart from Basel SBB station, the main station in the city, and then call at Basel Bad bf.
Though if you'll be commencing an end-to-end journey in Basel city center, the quickest option is to join these trains at Basel Bad bf.
It will be cheaper too as the German national operator classifies the journey from Basel Bad bf as a national journey, but the trip from Basel SBB is classified as international route.

Though join the trains at Basel SBB station if you will be connecting from other destinations in Switzerland.
Rail pass users are also more like to find unoccupied seats on these trains, on which reservations are optional, when boarding at Basel SBB.

Routes you can take to go from Basel / Bâle to Köln / Cologne / Koeln

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

Option 1: taking the most scenic route

Route Information

Option 2: the fastest
Travel Time (approx)

3hr 39min (approx)

Frequency

Daily

Travel Info

1 x train every other hour

Route Information

Option 3: travelling overnight
Travel Time (approx)

6hr 30min

Frequency

Nightly

Travel Info

1 x train per night

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