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Hamburg Köln Express starts operations in Germany

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  • 24-07-2012 7:49am
    #1
    CIE
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,463 ✭✭✭


    The Local
    A new train service challenged Deutsche Bahn's monopoly of the German rail network on Monday, hitting the rails to take passengers between Hamburg and Cologne for as little as €20. …

    The wagons were Rheingold models, which date back to the 1970s, but fully cleaned for the start of their second maiden journey. …
    1970s stock, eh? Irish Rail certainly is quick to get rid of stock that is only two decades old. Do they really fear this kind of competition that much?

    The trip on HKE will be four hours (very classic average speed of about 56 mph), but it's a budget service and not meant to compete directly with ICE.


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    #2
    Franticfrank
    Registered Users Posts: 260 ✭✭Franticfrank


    I heard from people who tried to book tickets late for that train that its still quite expensive. But the more competition for Deutsche Bahn, the better.


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    #3
    CIE
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,463 ✭✭✭CIE


    How high do the fares go?


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    #4
    flyingsnail
    Registered Users Posts: 2,752 ✭✭✭flyingsnail


    CIE wrote: »
    How high do the fares go?

    http://www.thelocal.de/money/20120723-43921.html
    The new service costs €20 from Cologne to Hamburg, €40 for the same trip in the other direction – as long as tickets are booked online - but €60 for either stretch when bought from the conductor on the train.


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    #5
    Franticfrank
    Registered Users Posts: 260 ✭✭Franticfrank


    Interesting. I just checked their website out of curiosity. For example, if you want to travel in two days time from Hamburg to Cologne, the only €20 fare would be at 06:30 in the morning, and the rest of the one-way tickets are €60 if booked online. If its possible to do the trip for €20 and you book in advance, then great. But still, they shouldn't say all online tickets are €20 in their press release.


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    #6
    OurLadyofKnock
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 558 ✭✭✭OurLadyofKnock


    Hmmmm? While CIE go on a mad Mrk3 wrecking frenzy...


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    #7
    dowlingm
    Registered Users Posts: 5,319 ✭✭✭dowlingm


    Hamburg-Koln = 420km which is pretty much Cork to Belfast.


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    #8
    CIE
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,463 ✭✭✭CIE


    flyingsnail wrote: »
    The new service costs €20 from Cologne to Hamburg, €40 for the same trip in the other direction – as long as tickets are booked online - but €60 for either stretch when bought from the conductor on the train
    I was put under the impression that the fares went higher than that, so as to make them uncompetitive with DB. Not too many folk would buy tickets on the train, which is always more expensive.


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