SBB down the Rhine

[bob]

I have just come back from a jaunt down the Rhine to Düsseldorf and noticed
a significant number of SBB sets of EC coaches operating between Basel and
somewhere in north Germany, taking the classic line through the Rhine
gorge. Is there a reason these services are not using DB stock? What route
do these take through Köln? I saw one pass through without reversing, so I
assume there is a route round the back.

Robin

[Recliner]

Post by bob
I have just come back from a jaunt down the Rhine to Düsseldorf and noticed
a significant number of SBB sets of EC coaches operating between Basel and
somewhere in north Germany, taking the classic line through the Rhine
gorge. Is there a reason these services are not using DB stock? What route
do these take through Köln? I saw one pass through without reversing, so I
assume there is a route round the back.

I've been on one of those EuroCity trains, which started at Chur. It became
a DB train once in Germany, with a DB loco and DB staff. I didn't travel
beyond Koln, but it goes on to Hamburg. Equally, of course, you see plenty
of DB trains in Switzerland.

See http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rätia_(train)

[Oliver Schnell]

Post by bob
I have just come back from a jaunt down the Rhine to Düsseldorf and noticed
a significant number of SBB sets of EC coaches operating between Basel and
somewhere in north Germany, taking the classic line through the Rhine
gorge. Is there a reason these services are not using DB stock?

These trains, two per day and direction, are running Zurich - Dortmund
(- Hamburg). You may have heard of the concept of international through
trains we have on the continent, which implies there is some rolling
stock, which is operated outside a railways' company own network.

So in Germany you can see rolling stock from Sweden, Denmark, Poland,
Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, France, ...

SCNR

Post by bob
What route
do these take through Köln? I saw one pass through without reversing, so I
assume there is a route round the back.

See
Loading Image...

for details. These trains come from South via Hürth-Kalscheuren - (Köln)
Süd to (Köln) Hbf. They leave Hbf by crossing River Rhine to Deutz -
Köln-Mühlheim - Leverkusen-Mitte

Oliver Schnell

[bob]

Post by bob
I have just come back from a jaunt down the Rhine to Düsseldorf and noticed
a significant number of SBB sets of EC coaches operating between Basel and
somewhere in north Germany, taking the classic line through the Rhine
gorge. Is there a reason these services are not using DB stock?

These trains, two per day and direction, are running Zurich - Dortmund (-
Hamburg). You may have heard of the concept of international through
trains we have on the continent, which implies there is some rolling
stock, which is operated outside a railways' company own network.

I am generally familiar with the concept, and look out for such interesting
features on my travels. In the past whenever I have travelled north from
Basel, I have invariably travelled on ICE stock, ICE1 for trains
penetrating Switzerland beyond Basel and ICE3 for some going no further
south than Basel SBB. Whenever I have used trains within Switzerland that
pass north of Basel they have also always been ICE1 stock. I guess I must
have been travelling at a slightly different time of day this time and
happen to have encountered these trains, I had previously assumed that all
long distance trains involving Basle-Karlsruhe as part of their routes were
ICE. As we have just has the June timetable change I was wondering whether
something might have changed.

So in Germany you can see rolling stock from Sweden, Denmark, Poland,
Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, France, ...

Indeed, they offer interesting colour to long distance trips.

Post by bob
What route
do these take through Köln? I saw one pass through without reversing, > so I
assume there is a route round the back.

See
http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/map.php?file=maps/rhein-ruhr-area/rhein-ruhr-area.gif
for details. These trains come from South via Hürth-Kalscheuren - (Köln)
Süd to (Köln) Hbf. They leave Hbf by crossing River Rhine to Deutz -
Köln-Mühlheim - Leverkusen-Mitte

Thanks.

Robin

[Giovanni Drogo]

Post by Oliver Schnell
So in Germany you can see rolling stock from Sweden, Denmark, Poland,
Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Switzerland, France, ...

Unfortunately no longer from Italy ... and not only in Germany :-(