[DE] Leer to Weener replacement bus

[Segedunum]

Hi all,

I'm travelling from Hamburg to Groningen with an Interrail pass at the weekend and would prefer to use the railway for as much of the journey as possible.

I see that there's a replacement bus between Leer and Weener operated by Weser-Ems Bus (Line 620) where you can connect onto the rail service to Groningen.

I'll have an Interrail pass - would this be accepted? I'd imagine it's accepted on the direct service to Groningen but it seems like the bus to Weener is just a normal bus service rather than a proper Ersatzbus.

If a ticket is required, I'm a bit baffled as to how it'd be obtained. Arriva NL's website advises that eTickets are available, but then refuses to sell one.

The DB Navigator app tells me it's 25€, which is actually just a Niedersachsen Ticket.

It looks like the Verkehrsverbund for this area is "VEJ" - and I've managed to get a different app to quote 4,50€ for the fare. I assume there's no such mobile ticketing and it's cash to the driver only?

Had anyone taken this route before?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DanielB]

Yes, Interrail is valid on that bus. As are all other rail tickets: you could even use it with a checked-in OV-chipcard.
There are special fast services on that route, labeled "Zugzubringer" on the destination blind, which are the ones offering a fast transfer onto the train in Weener as the regular 620 bus has a rather poor connection.

The bus is operated by DB by the way, should that comfort you.
Here are some photos of what to expect in Weener. The trains look "new" from the outside, but the Germany capable sets actually only got the new livery but where not refurbished internally thus look pretty worn.

 

[dutchflyer]

HInt: there is also a 2hourly direct express bus Leer-Groningen-which of course thus let you avoid the tiny Arriva dieselset. Is some 30 mins quicker as tis combo.
From Leer (odd hrs)-.30, takes 55 mins, via motorway. (like 7-9-11.30 etc.)
If you still decide for this combo: do not worry too much, I have just travelled a day or 3 via Germany (mis)using my new 49/month Deutschland ticket and in buses you are generally just waved on or there is not any boarding check at all. It works there quite a lot different from GB-practice.
Also check via ns.nl if there not again works along the line from Groningen, as they seem to be running several weekends lately. Will only be announced via the travelplanner a day or 2 before.

 

[DanielB]

HInt: there is also a 2hourly direct express bus Leer-Groningen-which of course thus let you avoid the tiny Arriva dieselset. Is some 30 mins quicker as tis combo.
From Leer (odd hrs)-.30, takes 55 mins, via motorway. (like 7-9-11.30 etc.)

But the OP mentioned wanting to travel by train and was already aware of the direct bus.

Also check via ns.nl if there not again works along the line from Groningen, as they seem to be running several weekends lately. Will only be announced via the travelplanner a day or 2 before.

There are no works on the line from Weener, only between Groningen and Zwolle. And those are announced 10 days in advance on the planner and longer in advance at the page with track works.

 

[Segedunum]

Thank you both - appreciated. I did notice the faster Zugzubringer journeys in Google Maps so will aim for one of those.

As for bus drivers in Germany, yes for the most part they're pretty indifferent to what you show them. I have a mobile pass so I'm sure it'll just blend in with the rest of the QR codes people flash at them.

I've done about 90% of the rail lines in the Netherlands - but the Arriva network radiating out of Groningen (other than across to Leeuwarden) is a major omission.

 

[DanielB]

I've done about 90% of the rail lines in the Netherlands - but the Arriva network radiating out of Groningen (other than across to Leeuwarden) is a major omission.

Another tip for doing that: to avoid having to travel both ways on all lines have a look into local bus timetables.
For example you could travel to Eemshaven, back to Roodeschool, take the number 41 bus to Appingedam, train to Delfzijl and then back to Groningen.

That will save quite some time, though the buses in that far corner of the country are not that frequent and some won't run on weekends.

Similarly there are options to get from Veendam to Emmen by bus, should you still need to do the Emmen to Zwolle line.
Planning carefully might even give options to do the Veendam - Stadskanaal section of the route to Emmen by steam train.

 

[Segedunum]

Another tip for doing that: to avoid having to travel both ways on all lines have a look into local bus timetables.
For example you could travel to Eemshaven, back to Roodeschool, take the number 41 bus to Appingedam, train to Delfzijl and then back to Groningen.

That will save quite some time, though the buses in that far corner of the country are not that frequent and some won't run on weekends.

Similarly there are options to get from Veendam to Emmen by bus, should you still need to do the Emmen to Zwolle line.

Thanks - I did have a look but alas on a weekend evening there wasn't much running that way. I think the only thing I could see was a parallel-ish bus route going from Groningen to Delfzijl.

I think when I get there I'll have the time (and energy) to have a run up to Delfzijl and back. I'll probably leave the other line til I can go all the way out to Eemshaven another time - unfortunately no more by the time I arrive ca. 6pm.

Looks like I need Emmen still as well - so that's duly noted for a future trip.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 11 Jun 2023 ==

Just an update that my Interrail was indeed accepted. The driver had a scroll on my phone to look at the itinerary on the ticket (though the stopping bus isn't in the Interrail planner) - not sure what he was after but he was happy with what I showed him.

He also spoke decent English - I speak decent enough German to get by but there were some tourists looking for the direct bus that he pointed in the right direction.