Recommendations for Cologne area

[alex397]

On Wednesday, I will be travelling by Eurostar from Ashford to Brussels, then the ICE to Cologne where I will stay for 4 nights. I have an 18-min connection in Brussels, so the short cut at Midi will come in handy! Its also SNCF strike day, but my train should not be affected according to Eurostar (fingers crossed!)

So in Cologne, as well as a few touristy things, I plan to explore the transport network. I will also pay a visit to Bonn, Dusseldorf and Wuppertal (for the Schwebebahn obviously!).

My question is, is there any recommendations for transport-related things in this area, and other places fairly close by in North Rhine-Westphalia? Not just railway, but also bus and tram. I enjoy finding scenic/interesting routes , older rolling stock/vehicles, unique or rare transport (e.g. the Schebebahn).

Also, I often seem to miss out on heritage events - are there any planned while I am there? Also, any heritage bus/tram/train routes, similar to those found in Berlin? Any heritage museums?

I have been doing lots of research, but I often seem to miss things!

Many thanks!

 

[duesselmartin]

There is a wonderful steel arch bridge called Müngstener Brücke between Solingen and Remscheid. The stop would be Solingen Scharberg then walk into the valley to see it. The line continues to Wuppertal Oberbarmen for the Schwebebahn. Wuppertal also has a tram museum located at Wuppertal Kohlfurt.
If that is too much the tram museum at Cologne Thielenbruch is also recommended.
Freight yards in Cologne are at Eifeltor and Gremberg.
Railway museums are about an hour away at Koblenz Lützel or Bochum Dahlhausen.
Martin.

 

[Segedunum]

This may well be of interest-

https://europeantraction.com/2018/01/30/rb48-heritage-traction-in-nordrhein-westfalen/

There's a BR110 hauled diagram in the region in place of accident damaged TALENT EMUs at present. Workings are as follows (credit to the site above)-

RB32508 (RB20170) 06:08 Bonn Hbf – Wuppertal-Oberbarmen 07:45
RB32423 (RB20157) 08:13 Wuppertal-Oberbarmen – Köln Hbf 09:05
RB32428 (RB20158) 09:52 Köln Hbf – Wuppertal-Oberbarmen 10:45
RB32441 (RB20159) 11:13 Wuppertal-Oberbarmen – Köln Hbf 12:05
RB32446 (RB20160) 12:52 Köln Hbf – Wuppertal-Oberbarmen 13:45
RB32457 (RB20161) 14:13 Wuppertal-Oberbarmen – Köln Hbf 15:05
RB32458 (RB20162) 15:52 Köln Hbf – Wuppertal-Oberbarmen 16:45
RB32519 (RB20163) 17:13 Wuppertal-Oberbarmen – Bonn Hbf 18:44

 

[30907]

A few more:
At Vohwinkel the Schwebebahn connects with the 683 trolleybus up to Solingen, operated by hybrid vehicles so they can run off the wires at the Vohwinkel end (the absence of wires at the bus stop caused me a momentary panic on my last visit!).
The S-Bahn north from Vohwinkel to Essen, and then the back route to Duesseldorf, is pleasantly scenic.
The Köln-Gummersbach line (which I haven't visited) has now reopened right through to Lüdenscheid.

 

[317666]

If you want some older light rail rolling stock, check out the U75 of Düsseldorf's Stadtbahn (most of the other lines also use newer but still fairly old stock).

You might already know this but if you fancy a day riding (regional) trains around NRW, the SchönerTagTicket for around €30 is a good bet (valid after 09:00 on weekdays or any time at the weekend). It's also valid on buses, trams, light rail etc. throughout the region: https://www.bahn.de/p/view/mdb/bahn...lverkehrsplan_2018_a3_klebefolie_rz_db_1_.pdf

A lot of the RegionalExpress trains are hauled by modern TRAXX locos, with RE4 (and some trains on RE9) using older locos (111s on RE4 and 111s/120s on RE9). You also find old EMUs on the S-Bahn (weekdays only), some trains on the S12 and most trains on the S68 (peak hours only) are old ET420 units.

I stayed in Duisburg for a few nights at the end of last year and really enjoyed the varied transport in the area, so I hope you do too!

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

If you have enough time, you could try travelling from Krefeld (or Tönisvorst) to Witten just by tram (takes about 7 hours I think).

Interesting tram routes are U76 (interurban Krefeld-Düsseldorf), U72 (new tunnel in Düsseldorf and interurban to Ratingen), U79 (interurban Düsseldorf-Duisburg), 901/903 (local trams through Duisburg, not much nature but much industrial atmosphere if that's your thing), 112 (modern tram route through newly-built centre of Oberhausen), U18 (70s state-of-the-art Stadtbahn model route from Mülheim to Essen, sometimes operated with old DLR stock), 302 (Gelsenkirchen to Bochum through classic "Pott" atmosphere), 310 (still a bit rural between Bochum and Witten, also old rolling stock), U43 (classic street-running tram in eastern Dortmund). Or in the Cologne area: 7, 16 and 18 run as real main-line railways outside of Cologne. Routes 5 and 17 use the newly-built North-South Stadtbahn line.

Other transport:
- Skytrain at Düsseldorf Airport and H-Bahn at Dortmund university: modern hanging railways.
- Spurbus guided bus route inbetween A40 motorway in eastern Essen (buses 145 and 146 between Wasserturm and Kray Mitte).
- Tram museums can be found in Thielenbruch (3, 18) and Wuppertal-Kohlfurth (bus CE64).

Arnhem, the Netherlands, is not too far away and has a trolleybus system, a modern central station, trolleybus museum, open-air museum with heritage trams (Nederlandse Openluchtmuseum) and a nice zoo (Burgers Zoo).

Beware that main-line train service are completely withdrawn between Duisburg, Mülheim and Essen at the moment, with many diversions and cancellations.

These are just the first things in mind, maybe I can add more tomorrow

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

There is a cable car at Koln too as well as a Lindt Chocolate Factory/museum and shop, plus boat trips along the river Rhine. Very good brauhauses for great food and drink too.

 

[duesselmartin]

I keep mentioning it, for those intetested in WW2, the bridge and museum at Remagen, roughly 45 min south of Cologne is a must.
For a stunning view of the Rhine, take a train to Königswinter and the up the cog railway onto Drachenfels mountain.

 

[superalbs]

I think there is some ex-DLR stock on the Essen U-Bahn?

EDIT: There is! Lines U11 and U17 see them for sure.

 

[duesselmartin]

I think there is some ex-DLR stock on the Essen U-Bahn?

EDIT: There is! Lines U11 and U17 see them for sure.

Yes, still in operation, although unlike London driver operated.

 

[alex397]

There is a wonderful steel arch bridge called Müngstener Brücke between Solingen and Remscheid. The stop would be Solingen Scharberg then walk into the valley to see it. The line continues to Wuppertal Oberbarmen for the Schwebebahn. Wuppertal also has a tram museum located at Wuppertal Kohlfurt.
If that is too much the tram museum at Cologne Thielenbruch is also recommended.
Freight yards in Cologne are at Eifeltor and Gremberg.
Railway museums are about an hour away at Koblenz Lützel or Bochum Dahlhausen.
Martin.

Thanks for that info! I may divert to Solingen when heading to Wuppertal.
Had no idea about those tram museums. They both look great, but I've just seen they will both be closed when I am in Germany sadly.
Will possibly visit a railway museum instead. I've just seen there is one in Dieringhausen which looks closer to Cologne - is that any good?

This may well be of interest-

https://europeantraction.com/2018/01/30/rb48-heritage-traction-in-nordrhein-westfalen/

There's a BR110 hauled diagram in the region in place of accident damaged TALENT EMUs at present. Workings are as follows (credit to the site above)-

RB32508 (RB20170) 06:08 Bonn Hbf – Wuppertal-Oberbarmen 07:45
RB32423 (RB20157) 08:13 Wuppertal-Oberbarmen – Köln Hbf 09:05
RB32428 (RB20158) 09:52 Köln Hbf – Wuppertal-Oberbarmen 10:45
RB32441 (RB20159) 11:13 Wuppertal-Oberbarmen – Köln Hbf 12:05
RB32446 (RB20160) 12:52 Köln Hbf – Wuppertal-Oberbarmen 13:45
RB32457 (RB20161) 14:13 Wuppertal-Oberbarmen – Köln Hbf 15:05
RB32458 (RB20162) 15:52 Köln Hbf – Wuppertal-Oberbarmen 16:45
RB32519 (RB20163) 17:13 Wuppertal-Oberbarmen – Bonn Hbf 18:44

Thanks for that - I shall try and use that when getting to Wuppertal.

A few more:
At Vohwinkel the Schwebebahn connects with the 683 trolleybus up to Solingen, operated by hybrid vehicles so they can run off the wires at the Vohwinkel end (the absence of wires at the bus stop caused me a momentary panic on my last visit!).
The S-Bahn north from Vohwinkel to Essen, and then the back route to Duesseldorf, is pleasantly scenic.
The Köln-Gummersbach line (which I haven't visited) has now reopened right through to Lüdenscheid.

I had no idea there were trolleybuses in the area! I shall certainly pay that a visit. I have just thought of a plan - The BR110 as shown by rg117 to Solingen (if it stops there), trolleybus 681 to Solingen centre, then the 683 to Vohwinkel for the Schwebebahn - sorted!

If you want some older light rail rolling stock, check out the U75 of Düsseldorf's Stadtbahn (most of the other lines also use newer but still fairly old stock).

You might already know this but if you fancy a day riding (regional) trains around NRW, the SchönerTagTicket for around €30 is a good bet (valid after 09:00 on weekdays or any time at the weekend). It's also valid on buses, trams, light rail etc. throughout the region: https://www.bahn.de/p/view/mdb/bahn...lverkehrsplan_2018_a3_klebefolie_rz_db_1_.pdf

A lot of the RegionalExpress trains are hauled by modern TRAXX locos, with RE4 (and some trains on RE9) using older locos (111s on RE4 and 111s/120s on RE9). You also find old EMUs on the S-Bahn (weekdays only), some trains on the S12 and most trains on the S68 (peak hours only) are old ET420 units.

I stayed in Duisburg for a few nights at the end of last year and really enjoyed the varied transport in the area, so I hope you do too!

I will try the U75 while in Dusseldorf - a quick google search shows quite old rolling stock for German standards!
I shall look out for those train types too! Thanks - it looks like a very varied transport system!

If you have enough time, you could try travelling from Krefeld (or Tönisvorst) to Witten just by tram (takes about 7 hours I think).

Interesting tram routes are U76 (interurban Krefeld-Düsseldorf), U72 (new tunnel in Düsseldorf and interurban to Ratingen), U79 (interurban Düsseldorf-Duisburg), 901/903 (local trams through Duisburg, not much nature but much industrial atmosphere if that's your thing), 112 (modern tram route through newly-built centre of Oberhausen), U18 (70s state-of-the-art Stadtbahn model route from Mülheim to Essen, sometimes operated with old DLR stock), 302 (Gelsenkirchen to Bochum through classic "Pott" atmosphere), 310 (still a bit rural between Bochum and Witten, also old rolling stock), U43 (classic street-running tram in eastern Dortmund). Or in the Cologne area: 7, 16 and 18 run as real main-line railways outside of Cologne. Routes 5 and 17 use the newly-built North-South Stadtbahn line.

Other transport:
- Skytrain at Düsseldorf Airport and H-Bahn at Dortmund university: modern hanging railways.
- Spurbus guided bus route inbetween A40 motorway in eastern Essen (buses 145 and 146 between Wasserturm and Kray Mitte).
- Tram museums can be found in Thielenbruch (3, 18) and Wuppertal-Kohlfurth (bus CE64).

Beware that main-line train service are completely withdrawn between Duisburg, Mülheim and Essen at the moment, with many diversions and cancellations.

These are just the first things in mind, maybe I can add more tomorrow

Thanks for that detailed info, very useful!
I've heard about the Spurbus / O-Bahn in Essen - is the A40 motorway section the only part left of the original ambitious plans?

There is a cable car at Koln too as well as a Lindt Chocolate Factory/museum and shop, plus boat trips along the river Rhine. Very good brauhauses for great food and drink too.

Thanks for that, I do like a cable car, even if they usually are short and overpriced!
I will be in the brauhauses every night while planning the next day

I keep mentioning it, for those intetested in WW2, the bridge and museum at Remagen, roughly 45 min south of Cologne is a must.
For a stunning view of the Rhine, take a train to Königswinter and the up the cog railway onto Drachenfels mountain.

I have a great interest in WW2 history, so I shall pay that a visit (if I have time that is!)

I think there is some ex-DLR stock on the Essen U-Bahn?

EDIT: There is! Lines U11 and U17 see them for sure.

I was trying to avoid Essen to save time, but hearing about the ex-DLR stock and the Spurbus has persuaded me to try and have a quick visit.

--------

Thanks for all the information so far everyone - its really useful. I just wish I had more time out there now!

I've also heard the line along the Sieg river is rather scenic - is this worth a visit?

 

[davetheguard]

If you want some older light rail rolling stock, check out the U75 of Düsseldorf's Stadtbahn (most of the other lines also use newer but still fairly old stock).

You might already know this but if you fancy a day riding (regional) trains around NRW, the SchönerTagTicket for around €30 is a good bet (valid after 09:00 on weekdays or any time at the weekend). It's also valid on buses, trams, light rail etc. throughout the region: https://www.bahn.de/p/view/mdb/bahn...lverkehrsplan_2018_a3_klebefolie_rz_db_1_.pdf

A lot of the RegionalExpress trains are hauled by modern TRAXX locos, with RE4 (and some trains on RE9) using older locos (111s on RE4 and 111s/120s on RE9). You also find old EMUs on the S-Bahn (weekdays only), some trains on the S12 and most trains on the S68 (peak hours only) are old ET420 units.

I stayed in Duisburg for a few nights at the end of last year and really enjoyed the varied transport in the area, so I hope you do too!

Regarding the SchoenerTagTicket, and looking at the area of validity map you've helpfully linked, is the ticket valid on the lines that extend into the grey area beyond the region's boundaries?. For example, south of Bonn, a line extends to a grey zone including Remagen & Brohl - is the ticket still valid at these stations?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Segedunum]

Indeed the Loco Hauled service stops at Solingen- indeed most if not all stations to Wuppertal-Oberbarmen including W-Vohwinkel, W-Hbf and W-Barmen.

 

[317666]

Regarding the SchoenerTagTicket, and looking at the area of validity map you've helpfully linked, is the ticket valid on the lines that extend into the grey area beyond the region's boundaries?. For example, south of Bonn, a line extends to a grey zone including Remagen & Brohl - is the ticket still valid at these stations?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I believe it is but I've never done it myself - a friend of mine was allowed to use one on RE9 all the way through to Siegen, passing through a grey area after Au. It might be worth sending DB an e-mail or asking at a ticket office over there to clarify!

To add to the 'old locos' list - many trains on RB27 are hauled by 143s (former East German electric locos), although some services use fairly modern ET425 EMUs (which sound broadly similar to the 1996 Stock on the Jubilee line, so still make for an interesting ride if you're into that sort of thing!). Now that I think of it, you might find this page useful (in German), it's a list of all of the regional train routes in NRW with what stock usually operates them: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_der_SPNV-Linien_in_Nordrhein-Westfalen

I should add with regards to the SchönerTagTicket, as with all of DB's 'Länder Tickets' it is not valid on long-distance trains (ICE, IC, EC).

 

[30907]

AFAIK it is valid at ALL the stations shown on the map - other Laendertickets are similarly flexible.
On the Soligen trolleybuses, bear in mind that the station now called Soligen Hbf is well away from the town centre. Soligen Mitte, as the name implies, is better located.

 

[30907]

Sorry, duplicate.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I did not know from reading all the above that UK DLR Stock was being used in Germany.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

On Wednesday, I will be travelling by Eurostar from Ashford to Brussels, then the ICE to Cologne where I will stay for 4 nights. I have an 18-min connection in Brussels, so the short cut at Midi will come in handy! Its also SNCF strike day, but my train should not be affected according to Eurostar (fingers crossed!)

So in Cologne, as well as a few touristy things, I plan to explore the transport network. I will also pay a visit to Bonn, Dusseldorf and Wuppertal (for the Schwebebahn obviously!).

My question is, is there any recommendations for transport-related things in this area, and other places fairly close by in North Rhine-Westphalia? Not just railway, but also bus and tram. I enjoy finding scenic/interesting routes , older rolling stock/vehicles, unique or rare transport (e.g. the Schebebahn).

Also, I often seem to miss out on heritage events - are there any planned while I am there? Also, any heritage bus/tram/train routes, similar to those found in Berlin? Any heritage museums?

I have been doing lots of research, but I often seem to miss things!

Many thanks!

Is the short cut at Midi open again?

 

[radamfi]

Bus route 133 is run by fully electric VDL Citea articulated buses.

 

[MarcVD]

Is the short cut at Midi open again?

Yes it is open.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Yes it is open.

Ok, thanks, handy to know.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

On Wednesday, I will be travelling by Eurostar from Ashford to Brussels, then the ICE to Cologne where I will stay for 4 nights. I have an 18-min connection in Brussels, so the short cut at Midi will come in handy! Its also SNCF strike day, but my train should not be affected according to Eurostar (fingers crossed!)

So in Cologne, as well as a few touristy things, I plan to explore the transport network. I will also pay a visit to Bonn, Dusseldorf and Wuppertal (for the Schwebebahn obviously!).

My question is, is there any recommendations for transport-related things in this area, and other places fairly close by in North Rhine-Westphalia? Not just railway, but also bus and tram. I enjoy finding scenic/interesting routes , older rolling stock/vehicles, unique or rare transport (e.g. the Schebebahn).

Also, I often seem to miss out on heritage events - are there any planned while I am there? Also, any heritage bus/tram/train routes, similar to those found in Berlin? Any heritage museums?

I have been doing lots of research, but I often seem to miss things!

Many thanks!

Hope you have a good trip to Koln, let us know how it all went and what you did whilst you were there.

 

[Spoorslag '70]

Some things that have not been posted so far:
M-F: 111+n-Wagen on the peak Kaldenkirchen-Deutz working (06.02 ex Kaldenkirchen, 16.23 ex Deutz, sometimes replaced with a far more boring 425 EMU)
Sa&Su: "RB 28" between Düren&Euskirchen, every 3 hours over a quite rural line. Kind of a parlimentary service (but good hopes for the future as an upgrade to the line and the timetable is well under way, kind of a preview service, if you want)
The Bonn "Stadbahn Stammstrecke" has some very 70-esque stations (think plastic in all colours from brown to yellow). I fullly support visting the U75 (better on a weekday) for some nice GT8SU action, but the B-Wagen are quite OK as well. There are some 1970s 420 units still working on the S-Bahn Köln: diagrams.

A quick correction: A "SchönerTagTicket NRW" is valid in NRW and on the lines outside of NRW listed here.
(in earlier versions of the map, there was a distinction between "Erweiter Gültigkeitsbereich Pauschalpreistickets" and "Zielrichtung ohne Gültigkeit" roughly translating to: Fixed price ticket valid and fixed price ticket not valid).

Enjoy your stay (but I prefer Düsseldorf in the local North-South rivality).

 

[317666]

Some things that have not been posted so far:
M-F: 111+n-Wagen on the peak Kaldenkirchen-Deutz working (06.02 ex Kaldenkirchen, 16.23 ex Deutz, sometimes replaced with a far more boring 425 EMU)
Sa&Su: "RB 28" between Düren&Euskirchen, every 3 hours over a quite rural line. Kind of a parlimentary service (but good hopes for the future as an upgrade to the line and the timetable is well under way, kind of a preview service, if you want)
The Bonn "Stadbahn Stammstrecke" has some very 70-esque stations (think plastic in all colours from brown to yellow). I fullly support visting the U75 (better on a weekday) for some nice GT8SU action, but the B-Wagen are quite OK as well. There are some 1970s 420 units still working on the S-Bahn Köln: diagrams.

A quick correction: A "SchönerTagTicket NRW" is valid in NRW and on the lines outside of NRW listed here.
(in earlier versions of the map, there was a distinction between "Erweiter Gültigkeitsbereich Pauschalpreistickets" and "Zielrichtung ohne Gültigkeit" roughly translating to: Fixed price ticket valid and fixed price ticket not valid).

Enjoy your stay (but I prefer Düsseldorf in the local North-South rivality).

Thanks for this info (the 420 diagrams and a confirmation of the NRW ticket being valid on those lines)! I managed to do the 111 on RE8 last year, as well as a 143 + x-Wagen on one of the Düsseldorf - Solingen peak S1 trains (I was too late for them running through the tunnel in Dortmund sadly). I don't know if the latter is diagrammed or whether they only turn up as 'Ersatzzüge' though!

 

[Spoorslag '70]

143 + x-Wagen on one of the Düsseldorf - Solingen peak S1 trains (I was too late for them running through the tunnel in Dortmund sadly). I don't know if the latter is diagrammed or whether they only turn up as 'Ersatzzüge' though!

There are indeed some booked workings between Wehrhahn and Solingen. Some 420s are also found doing some S68 (Wuppertal)-Düsseldorf-Langenfeld peak workings. They should (hopefully) be with us for some time (but the 143s on the Dortmund based sets are partialy replaced by 111s, so returning back to the original traction). Dortmund-Bochum also sees (term times) peak extras with 143s/111s+x-Wagen, if you return.

 

[morrisobrien]

A couple of weeks ago the Schwebebahn was closed due to strike action.

 

[duesselmartin]

A couple of weeks ago the Schwebebahn was closed due to strike action.

Likely to be repeated from mid April. Also affecting buses and trams but not mainline rail.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Some things that have not been posted so far:
M-F: 111+n-Wagen on the peak Kaldenkirchen-Deutz working (06.02 ex Kaldenkirchen, 16.23 ex Deutz, sometimes replaced with a far more boring 425 EMU)
Sa&Su: "RB 28" between Düren&Euskirchen, every 3 hours over a quite rural line. Kind of a parlimentary service (but good hopes for the future as an upgrade to the line and the timetable is well under way, kind of a preview service, if you want)
The Bonn "Stadbahn Stammstrecke" has some very 70-esque stations (think plastic in all colours from brown to yellow). I fullly support visting the U75 (better on a weekday) for some nice GT8SU action, but the B-Wagen are quite OK as well. There are some 1970s 420 units still working on the S-Bahn Köln: diagrams.

A quick correction: A "SchönerTagTicket NRW" is valid in NRW and on the lines outside of NRW listed here.
(in earlier versions of the map, there was a distinction between "Erweiter Gültigkeitsbereich Pauschalpreistickets" and "Zielrichtung ohne Gültigkeit" roughly translating to: Fixed price ticket valid and fixed price ticket not valid).

Enjoy your stay (but I prefer Düsseldorf in the local North-South rivality).

Yes, I did the Düren&Euskirchen line a couple of years ago, glad to hear that it is still operating, when I did it, it was very slightly arriving at the station where you take a train back to Koln, but they held that train and it was just a cross platform transfer, infact most of the passengers seemed to transfer to the same train. It was a good trip to do and the staff on board were very friendly.

 

[alex397]

Thanks everyone for all the very interesting replies! Theres quite a few things I wouldn't have even thought of, which I am now interesting in trying to fit in.

 

[bunnahabhain]

Try the Chocolate Museum in Köln as well, it's really quite interesting, and a very unique building too!