Dusseldorf Airport to Cologne

[Masbroughlad]

I am travelling to Cologne in a couple of weeks time. Flight times that I needed dictated that I fly into Dusseldorf and get the train from there.

I have researched and found that there is an hourly direct service from the airport into Cologne. There are also many regular services with one connection in Dusseldorf main station.

Few questions for anyone in the know:

1) Is there a cheap return ticket (for 2) available? Out 3/12 return 5/12?
2) Are all services run by DB (I see the direct one is)?
3) Are tickets interchangeable (if the answer to (2)) is some private services?
4) I take it there are ticket machines at Dusseldorf airport station?
5) Will a return be any cheaper than 2 singles?

Thanks in advance. Any other useful tips welcome!

 

[306024]

Can answer 4. Yes.

There are two Düsseldorf Airport stations, the one on the main line connected to the airport terminal by a sort of Wuppertal style dangle railway (free travel) and the S Bahn line within the terminal which would involve changing at Düsseldorf Hbf.

 

[blackfive460]

The Düsseldorf Airport Sky Train isn't actually free. It is included in any valid VRR or VRS tariff and most other tickets ticket but, when travelling from the Airport, you do need to buy your ticket before using it, don't wait until you get to the main line station to buy one.

Edit: See http://www.dus.com/dus_en/b_skytrain/

 

[Masbroughlad]

The Düsseldorf Airport Sky Train isn't actually free. It is included in any valid VRR or VRS tariff and most other tickets ticket but, when travelling from the Airport, you do need to buy your ticket before using it, don't wait until you get to the main line station to buy one.

Edit: See http://www.dus.com/dus_en/b_skytrain/

What are VRR & VRS please?

 

[306024]

The Düsseldorf Airport Sky Train isn't actually free. It is included in any valid VRR or VRS tariff and most other tickets ticket but, when travelling from the Airport, you do need to buy your ticket before using it, don't wait until you get to the main line station to buy one.

Edit: See http://www.dus.com/dus_en/b_skytrain/

Ah thanks for correcting me and providing the link. Fortunately I had bought a ticket but could easily have assumed it was just part of the airport infrastructure.

 

[starrymarkb]

What are VRR & VRS please?

Verkersverbunds - Roughly equivalent to a PTE in the UK. They co-ordinate regional fares and multi-mode tickets (not sure if they set the fares but their tickets are equally valid on regional trains (NOT IC/ICE), bus, U-bahn or tram)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verkehrsverbund_Rhein-Ruhr
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verkehrsverbund_Rhein-Sieg

 

[Bletchleyite]

A notable difference is that single operator / mode single and return tickets tend not to exist within them.