Rails Down The Rhine: Cologne to Basel by EuroCity train EC9

Ride the train along the Rhine Valley from Cologne to Basel, in the Swiss first class panorama car on EuroCity train EC9. See the (lack of) Bridge at Remagen, the twin castles of the Hostile Brothers, the castles of Cat and Mouse, the legendary Lorelei and the fabulous Pfalzgrafenstein castle, a 14th century Rhine toll-house, plus more Rhine valley vineyards and river cruisers than you can shake a stick at. After the train leaves the Rhine valley, retire to the SBB restaurant car for some lunch with wine...
On this occasion I was coming from Utrecht and had intended to join the EuroCity train at Cologne, but I instead switched trains at Duisburg. Crossing the Rhine into Cologne in the SBB Panorama car was a bonus!
00:00 EuroCity train EC9 rolls into Duisburg
00:25 Boarding the SBB first class panorama car
00:45 Crossing the river Rhine into Cologne Hbf
01:10 Cologne Hbf & Cologne cathedral
01:55 Bonn Hbf
02:29 The Bridge at Remagen
02:40 Remagen station
03:11 Mariendom, Andernach
03:21 Crossing the river Moselle into Koblenz Hbf
03:55 Scharfer Turm, Rhens
04:08 Markburg Castle
04:50 Passing Boppard station & town walls
05:44 The Hostile Brothers - Castles Sterrenberg & Liebenstein
06:42 Mouse Castle (Burg Maus)
07:30 Passing St Goar
07:50 Cats Castle (Burg Katz)
08:05 The Lorelei of Rhine myth & legend
09:10 Gutenfels Castle
09:22 Pfalzgrafenstein Castle, a Rhine toll-house
10:29 The train arrives at Mainz Hbf
10:57 Lunch in the SBB restaurant car
11:18 Basel Bad Bf.

[@seat61]

For practical information about this journey - and how to book the panorama car on this particular EC9 EuroCity train - see www.seat61.com/places-of-interest/rails-down-the-rhine.htm

[@jonhartley]

Fabulous journey - thankfully not ruined by someone trying to be a TV presenter.

[@rommyczaplicki6107]

Guess you're new to M61

[@golledgestravels326]

Anyone in particular? ;)

[@jonhartley]

@@golledgestravels326 Several. Those that speak too fast, those that try to impersonate national language interpretations of towns, cities, and historic sites. Those who take a girl friend along for the ride at the expense of the Patrons. YET one or two get it right. Can you tell I'm not a fan of some!!

[@pbsteamatspeed7683]

Great video! I've done this Swiss EC train first class too. However the panoramic carriage can get very busy, whilst the last first class carriage is often much quieter. Steward service is excellent throughout!

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip. When the train running parallel with Rhine and passing some barges and river cruise is my favourite.

[@ScottishRollo]

Such a scenic route. My wife and I travelled in a Panorama Car 2 weeks ago. Ironically, you were lucky to have a cloudy day. We travelled on a hot and sunny day..... resulting in other travellers lowering window blinds and obstructing our view!

[@erichhouchens3711]

This looks to be a reincarnation of the famous "dome car" that used to run on the TEE Rhinegold. I'll have to add this to my bucket list if I ever get back to that part of Europe.

[@KaiHenningsen]

I seem to recall the original it is still running for _railadventure_ (the ones with the white-gray livery) now as "Luxon", sometimes even pulled by their BR 103.

[@SteveMikre44]

I enjoyed watching every minute of this fantastic train journey...

[@artfuldodger4850]

Thank you for the video. You brought back many happy memories of a school trip at Easter 1963, staying in Koblenz, 121 Moselleweisse Strasse. Would love to know whether the hotel is still there. We walked through the forests from Koblenz to Boppard, saw Die Lorelei, Cologne cathedral, and Beethoven’s monument in Bonn during the trip, as well as the Deutsches Eck, as well as a mysterious green light,in the Ehrenbreitstein Castle. Lovely memories 60 years on, thank you. Grateful for the opportunity to say thank you to Mr. Walker who led the trip, assisted by Mr. White and Mr. Sibley, all long departed I guess.

[@80Vikram]

Thanks a zillion for your efforts, god bless you. Please keep sharing more such videos

[@ce1834]

Beautiful landscapes! These panorama cars need to become more common imo

[@rogerschuerch7768]

A panorama coach is also on EC 163/164 Zürich-Graz/Graz-Zürich and on some IC trains between Zürich and Chur. But most of them are used in the Gotthard Panorama Express, a train to discover the old Gotthard line.

[@sob1843]

Love it. Always love your videos more please. Best site on the internet

[@raymondmiller5098]

Always a fun and scenic trip! Ive done it several times over the past 3 decades of travel.

[@keithkyli]

Thanks for the fantastic video. I rode EC8 in the opposite direction from Cologne to Hamburg in summer 2014 on the first day of my 14-day Germany trip. I didn't plan to take that particular train but it just happened to be there when I finished sightseeing in Cologne. The panorama car was perhaps too full so I settled in another 1st class carriage. There were only a few people in that car and the journey was scenic and tranquil. At Hamburg I didn't want to leave, even after 4 hours on the train. I think I would still say the same if I rode the whole 10.5 hours of it!

[@manmeetsinghmahajan6183]

Amazing 👏

[@manmeetsinghmahajan6183]

Amazing trip.

[@LynneFarr]

Great journey as always. There was a 1969 Film about the distruction of the Ramage Bridge.

[@zuixianwangyue]

Having been on this route twice, 2012 and 2018.

[@Baetzibaer]

From Cologne to Basel ist rather UP than DOWN the Rhine 😁

[@HotelPapa100]

Yep. that really stuck in my craw.

[@seat61]

Correct. But Rails up the Rhine doesn’t work aesthetically does it? So we use a little literary licence here… And in any case, the RAILS run in BOTH directions, you’re thinking about the TRAIN. Isn’t pedantry great? ;0)

[@HotelPapa100]

@@seat61 There's always "along"...

[@seat61]

@@HotelPapa100 that might have worked. But I’m not really that fussed about it!

[@MrMittens1974]

@@seat61 'Rails up the Rhine' sounds somewhat painful or at the very least like a new Carry On film. 😅

[@uncinarynin]

Nice overview of all the sights I have seen so many times. Now the river section is bypassed by a high speed line but there are still enough trains serving the towns along the rhine.

[@basfinnis]

Ooh cool bananas. I was just thinking about doing this trip. Might try get Munich into it as well! Thanks for this 😘

[@evazampa1237]

tolles Video bin einen Teil der Strecke vor paar Monaten gefahren Köln-Frankfurt-Wien allerdings mit ICE

[@Astonyshing]

Wonderfully scenic route. When I first travelled round Germany by train (in 1985), this was actually the main route between Cologne and Frankfurt. After the fast ICE line was introduced (on a far less scenic route, but an hour quicker) fewer intercity trains travel that way, sadly. I would also recommend the Regional Express service from Frankfurt via Rüdesheim (a town which in itself is well worth the visit) to Koblenz which gives you the view from the other side of the river. and which makes for equally attractive viewing.

[@vicsams4431]

Lovely to see the SBB/CFF/FFS panoramic cars still running. I used to get them on Train EC97 "Iris" that ran from Bruxelles Midi to Luxembourg (the train carried on to Chur), departing at 12.15 back in the 1990s. The train was a very limited stop service, and was in my humble opinion, a far better option that the all-station AM82 Break Unit. Back then it was hauled by a SNCB/NMBS Class 20 Co-Co electric loco, as far as Luxembourg.

[@usamayousry6718]

I loved koln train station

[@CoraVanLincolnius]

I booked this train from Koblenz to Zurich on Interrail! Im very looking forward to trying SBB Panorama coach!

[@maxwyss7447]

A bit surprised how busy the river is, and the cruise boats are all back… Plus the long container transporter at the Loreley… still tricky, and requires concentration of the crew. If you have time, take a river boat from Mainz (or Rüdesheim) to Koblenz.

[@Markus_P]

I love this train, too. But you actually went up the Rhine. With respect to rivers, down always means the direction the water flows. Not south 😉

[@tombombadil9123]

fantastic. especially the bit between Koblenz and Mainz. would be useful to se the same route covered by regional trains - 9 eur pass and all that 🙂

[@maxwyss7447]

There are regional trains, actually on both sides of the river.

[@vrkoven]

Many and many a year ago I took the Rhine Valley trip from Koblenz to Mainz on the boat. Magnificent journey! The cruise line had a guide to the sights--is there anything like that for the train (other than your helpful flagging here)?

[@WIgirl26]

That's a loud cabin. That's alright, go with the flow so to speak. Lol

[@travelbuzz1]

Thanks, interesting video! Are these the same panoramic coaches used on the Gotthard Express? If so, really good.

[@Dachrinnensaeufer]

Yes, that’s the same type of coach. SBB only owns 12 of them.

[@simonholliday9874]

Stand by for services from Germany going forward to Switzerland (and vice versa) omitting Basel SBB and taking the current freight only line between Bad Bhf and Muttenz. It won't happen tomorrow, but it's been announced. This will lop a good 15-20 mins off. Services which currently terminate / originate at SBB will continue to do so, thus maintaining connections to other Swiss destinations. As for serving Euroairport; well how long is a piece of string? Little or no movement on that front.

[@wocket42]

You missed the cold water geysir. The installation is visible shortly before Andernach.

[@momo1435]

Anyone who wants to take this trip in the panorama car should not wait too long. Although nothing has been announced yet it is very likely that the train will be replaced by an ICE via the high-speed line in the next couple of years. But SBB will renovate the panorama cars as part of the renovation project of all their EC cars, so they will still be used, but probably mainly in Switzerland.

[@briangentle5515]

There was an ICE leaving Basel at about the same time to Frankfurt and Berlin, so you could get to Cologne that way too. The tickets for that route were more expensive when I looked though.

[@SJ-vi1bl]

Shouldn't it be "UP the Rhin", rather than "DOWN"?

[@vandodasilvacamargo1511]

Europa é linda !!

[@mrkennyw87]

How much is ticket from cologne to Basel by euro city Ec9

[@user-me2lf6qo8g]

Kindly advice me how to purchaser this train ticket.

[@lauralimas7572]

Was there Wi-Fi on board? I’m thinking of taking this train but I would have to do some work on my laptop during the ride

[@wolfgang6915]

Yes, in Germany is WIFI (all ICE and IC Trains, also in Trains driving through Germany). Greetings from Hamburg Germany. 2nd largest Harbour in Europe after Rotterdam..

[@shootz1789]

@@wolfgang6915 Dont give wrong information! the Wifi is bad!

[@spiders-tours]

I wonder if Mark took advantage of the 9 Euro offer while he was out and about?

[@helenmoese9551]

If you plan it right you can take local trains they ran at the same track. But you probably have to change a few times since the 9 Euro ticket does not cover intercity trains. Might take you more than 1 day. PS I traveled the stretch between Cologne and Mainz on a bike in the late 1950s when I was young. That was a beautiful trip and took 2 days.

[@nicolasblume1046]

Great video! But why did you write "Cologne" in the title and not Duisburg? 57km between them is quite a distance :D

[@seat61]

Cologne to Basel is the headline message - no-one's heard of Duisburg. In fact, I was starting from Utrecht and had intended to change into EC9 at Cologne (a 7-minute connection), but decided last minute to 'bank' the ICE being on time by switching at Duisburg.

[@golledgestravels326]

@@seat61 Duisburg I believe is twinned with Fareham in Hampshire.

[@spiders-tours]

@@golledgestravels326 And also featured in the League of Gentlemen.

[@golledgestravels326]

oops---my bad---twinned with Portsmouth my home city not Fareham

[@MercSLRFan]

That’s a long train

[@jeromebano1125]

Where the does the DB 101 get uncoupled is it at Basel SBB.

[@simonholliday9874]

Yes. They work into SBB.

[@simonholliday9874]

I'd have titled it Cologne to Mainz, which is undoubtedly the most scenic section......well once you're south of Bonn anyway. I've lived in Freiburg since 1989, and can understand why you didn't include anything between Mainz and, say, Offenburg. Thereafter, the line follows the western edge of the Black Forest as far as Mülheim. There's nothing to see on the other side, and once past Mülheim, the run-in to Basel is as unscenic as the rest of what was left out. Perhaps a bit either side of Freiburg showing the vineyards may have been worth a few seconds, to be fair.

[@BubblesBub434]

It's a beautiful trip that I also once took (Münster -> Zürich), and was lucky to do so in an almost empty panorama car, just like you. I will say that travelling in one of those seats for 8 hours was quite physically destroying. They are good, but not ICE or German IC(1) good. And if there's someone sitting opposite / next to you, that becomes even worse. Not much table space either. And note there are no airline style seats on swiss trains like this one. So I'd say it's a trade-off for people here, the beautiful panoramic view on this section or the comfort and privacy of better-interior, more modern trains. If you got a 2nd class interrail and are looking at this train though, I'd say don't bother and just take a German IC or ICE on the Rhine valley portion instead. Because again, better interior comfort and the panorama car is only for 1st class.

[@briangentle5515]

As I was to travel to Geneva for a week, I decided to do the return journey in this train, so I did this trip in the opposite direction last Saturday, 11 August 2022. I had taken your advice and had booked a seat in the panorama car, which I was really looking forward to. However, on entering the car, it was like a sauna; the air conditioning was out of order, though it was fine in the rest of the train. As the journey progressed, more and more of the panorama car passengers fled to the other two first class carriages, so that these were almost full to the brim.Though we left more or less on time, the train became later and later as we travelled northbound. Due to engineering works mainly, but this also meant that we went up the right bank of the Rhine and missed a lot of the expected scenery. By the time we reached Cologne, where I was to change to a train for Brussels, we were 63 minutes late. Needless to say, I missed my onward connection. I am sure it can be a great experience, but not for me this time, I’m afraid. In fact rail travel was a disaster; on the outward journey, I was supposed to go via Paris with Thalys and TGV. However a breakdown in the catenary just outside Paris Gare du Nord meant all trains from Brussels to Paris were cancelled on that day until 16:00. As my ongoing connection was at 16:10, and I really had to be in Geneva that evening, I had to buy a plane ticket at the last minute; financial ouch! So, rail travel can be great, but not always.

[@golledgestravels326]

11 August 2022. A typo surely ;)

[@briangentle5515]

@@golledgestravels326 Ouch, yes; June of course!

[@andrewbrown6293]

Booked a seat reservation on the EC at 1220 from Basel to Koln last Thursday 11th August. Unfortunately there was no Panorama Car that day. I had a first class Interrail. The 1st class was fully reserved so I had to move seats several times as just one seat reservation was not taken up. Overall a disappointment a crowded very hot train which arrived in Koln 35 late.The next day my ICE from Koln to Bruxelles arrived two hours late.

[@subrat40]

What is the Max Speed?

[@seat61]

Rolling stock is 200km/h. Doubt it reaches that along the Rhine!

[@maxwyss7447]

For the line speeds, look at OpenRailwayMap; it is mostly around 120 km/h, but around St. Goar and the Loreley, it is 90 km/h

[@Dachrinnensaeufer]

That train runs at 200 km/h between Hamburg and Münster, Duisburg and Cologne, Mannheim and Offenburg. But not (as mentioned) on the scenic part along the Rhine.

[@juliansutherland6364]

Are masks still mandatory?

[@bluebear6570]

Unfortunately, yes!

[@KaiHenningsen]

@@bluebear6570 Fortunately, yes!

[@shootz1789]

Worst train ever!!! to crowded and cramped.... After one hour no toiletpaper available anywhere on the train... and then the 40 minute delay!