Paris - Cologne: avoiding the expensive Thalys train

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

Hi.


[b]A[/b] You can travel the whole trip for free:

1) [b]Paris - Brussels[/b]: select one of the free connections - [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-brussels[/u]
2) [b]Brussels - Cologne[/b]: by a free ICE train - [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/brussels-to-cologne[/u]


[b]B[/b] Other option via Frankfurt including TGV train which has EUR 13 as reservation fee:

1) [b]Paris - Frankfurt[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-frankfurt-am-main[/u]
2) [b]Frankfurt - Cologne[/b]: all trains are free on this route - [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/frankfurt-am-main-to-cologne[/u]


[b]C[/b] Option via Luxembourg using a cheaper TGV train:

1) [b]Paris - Luxembourg[/b]: by TGV but cheaper as the one above - [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail/paris-to-luxembourg[/u]
2) [b]Luxembourg - Cologne[/b]: by local trains or IC, both free. Schedules here: [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux]


More schedules (also for Paris to Luxembourg) here: [ux]https://rail.shop/bahn[/ux]

Peter :)

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

There is also option [b]D[/b]: ;)

Paris - Lille with one of the frequent TGV services (6€ regular reservation or you get an Abo Forfait :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation/tgv-sncf/42#p13819[/u]
From Lille with TER to Tournai, then with IC to Liège, then with IR to Aachen and finally with RE to Cologne - no reservations needed on that part of the route:

Example:
Paris 1046 - 1148 Lille
Lille 1209 - 1244 Tournai
Tournai 1300 - 1513 Liège
Liège 1533 - 1625 Aachen
Aachen 1651 - 1744 Köln

This is running more or less every two hours. And a good alternative when the Bruxelles - Köln ICE is not running (which operates only thrice daily).


Flo 8)

Peter
Traveller
9337 comments

:)

anonymous
Traveller
2469 comments

Thanks guys :D Option B or C seems like a good compromise maybe!