Make a direct journey from the Dutch capital to central Germany on a fabulous ICE train
Final Destination: Frankfurt (Main) Hbf
Connect for Dresden, Leipzig, Nurnberg, Munchen/Munich, Linz and Wien/Vienna
All trains also call at: Frankfurt Flughafen/Airport
Connect for Stuttgart, Ulm and Augsburg
Some trains also call at: Seigburg/Bonn
Monday to Saturday: 5 x trains per day
Sunday: 4 x trains
The usual first train of the day does not depart on Sundays
However, due to ongoing technical problems with the international type of ICE trains used on this route, many of the departures by ICE train are currently experiencing short notice cancellations.
This is also the reason why the train which typically departs for Frankfurt (Main) at around 12:30 is being terminated in Dusseldorf until Dec 9th; though it has a well timed connection in Dusseldorf with a train on to Koln and Frankfurt (Main).
Book early and save: Yes
Online bookings open: up to 6 months ahead of the travel date
When making an online booking, check that you’re looking at booking info for these direct trains.
Look for journeys that have the corresponding journey time of between 3hr 50min - and 4hrs.
However, when there are works on the line, it's not unusual for these trains to take a different route between Amsterdam and Koln/Cologne, particularly at weekends; and when they do so, the journey time will be longer.
Trains departing at different times can be cheaper than others leaving on the same day, so you may need to look through the day's departures to find the cheapest fares.
Seat reservations:
Book 1st class tickets for this train journey from Amsterdam to Frankfurt (Main) and your seat reservation should be included with your booking; it definitely will be if you book with DB.
However, if you book a 2nd class ticket, or will be travelling with a 1st class or 2nd class InterRail or Eurail pass, then a seat reservation is an optional extra.
Meaning that available seats aren't guaranteed for the entire journey.
Though this is a route on which reservations are recommended, particularly after midday on Fridays and Sundays.
Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
---|---|---|
NS Intl | from €39 | |
DB Bahn | from €39 | |
Trainline | from €39 | |
Happy rail | from €39 |
When construction work is being carried out on the usual railway lines that these trains take between Koln and Amsterdam, these trains are often diverted on to longer alternative routes between Germany and The Netherlands.
There are few scenic highlights on this trip, though you'll be travelling beside a canal between Amsterdam and Utrecht; it can be seen on the left when travelling in this direction.
But what makes this journey fascinating is the multiple towns that the train will pass through, there is an interest contrast between the Dutch and German cityscapes
What gives the journey the wow factor is when the train travels on Germany's fastest high speed line
between Seigburg/Bonn and Frankfurt Flughafen.
Though the train will only be travelling at more than 280 km/h for around 50 mins of this journey; between Amsterdam and Seigburg/Bonn the train won't be travelling exceptionally fast.
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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.