Extreme weather in Germany, Poland, Austria, Czechia - Travel Disruptions Expected - and cancelled nightjet question

[DanielB]

I've just spotted that RE18 is operated by Arriva Nederlands. RE4 is operated by National Express. That's got to complicate things. Is it worth chancing it or buying tickets for those and claiming them back or what?

I'd presume staff in that region is well aware of international tickets, if you're checked at all as both don't have a guard on all trains but just spot checks.
The only issue might be when you want to cross the Netherlands with the RE18 with FIP, as those tickets are not valid at Arriva. However Liège - Herzogenrath is covered by the Euregioticket as an alternative that's not too expensive (should you be travelling in a weekend it's valid for up to two adults).
Sit on the right side for the best views from the Netherlands into Belgium by the way, RE18 is one of the more scenic Dutch routes.

 

[Austriantrain]

Thanks for that - that would be an impressive service considering that the new line is completely out of action.

It helps that the old Tullnerfeld line Tulln - Traismauer - St. Pölten is open again. Passenger trains operate with RRB and the line is reserved for freight (it's single-track, but better than nothing), so there will be little daytime freight on the Westbahn (during the night, a "one way freight system" operates - towards the West via Tulln, towards the East, via the Westbahn).

 

[The exile]

I'd presume staff in that region is well aware of international tickets, if you're checked at all as both don't have a guard on all trains but just spot checks.
The only issue might be when you want to cross the Netherlands with the RE18 with FIP, as those tickets are not valid at Arriva. However Liège - Herzogenrath is covered by the Euregioticket as an alternative that's not too expensive (should you be travelling in a weekend it's valid for up to two adults).
Sit on the right side for the best views from the Netherlands into Belgium by the way, RE18 is one of the more scenic Dutch routes.

Have you tried putting Welkenraedt in as a “via” on the planner? (With 0 minutes “stay”). It’s possible that the route via there may be a few minutes slower but AFAIK it is still SNCB / DB. Alternatively there’s the IC to Eupen and the number 14 (?) bus to Aachen for a RE on to Koeln.

 

[Krokodil]

I'd presume staff in that region is well aware of international tickets, if you're checked at all as both don't have a guard on all trains but just spot checks.
The only issue might be when you want to cross the Netherlands with the RE18 with FIP, as those tickets are not valid at Arriva. However Liège - Herzogenrath is covered by the Euregioticket as an alternative that's not too expensive (should you be travelling in a weekend it's valid for up to two adults).
Sit on the right side for the best views from the Netherlands into Belgium by the way, RE18 is one of the more scenic Dutch routes.

Thanks, I'll look into that ticket. Then there's the next leg to Düsseldorf. What about the RE4? Operated by National Express so presumably similar issues. There's an alternative route of RB33+RE13. The former is operated by DB AG NRW which I assume will be fine, but the latter is operated by a company called "eurobahn"

 

[DanielB]

I wouldn't be too worried for ticket acceptance on German operators other than DB. They will probably have seen all kinds of fernverkehr tickets already.

 

[30907]

Have you tried putting Welkenraedt in as a “via” on the planner? (With 0 minutes “stay”). It’s possible that the route via there may be a few minutes slower but AFAIK it is still SNCB / DB. Alternatively there’s the IC to Eupen and the number 14 (?) bus to Aachen for a RE on to Koeln.

That route will put you on a RRB from Horrem nonstop to Messe/Deutz - based on a recent experience it will be an urban bus and crowded but will get you there.

As you have loads of time to spare you could go Liege-Aachen-Duesseldorf-Deutz all by rail.

 

[Krokodil]

Off to a good start, the 10:01 Eurostar is cancelled. Hopefully they can move us to the 11:04.

Edit: that was a "no"

 

[rvdborgt]

Off to a good start, the 10:01 Eurostar is cancelled. Hopefully they can move us to the 11:04.

Edit: that was a "no"

There are 27 seats left on the 11:04. Yes, it's in Business premier but they're refusing to rebook you on the next available train. I'm sure that's a breach of the passengers rights legislation, also in the UK (where AFAIK the previous EU Regulation is still in force as transposed into UK law).

 

[Krokodil]

As it is the 1301 is acceptable, it just leaves less margin for error. I'll certainly be asking for the difference in fare back though, given that moving to an earlier train in the first place cost £40. Eurostar's chatbot was useless in that regard, when I've got the time I'll try and see if there's a human to talk to.

As long as it runs on time we can stand on the 1625 ICE. The 1825 ICE is available as a backup but that only leaves half an hour for the connection at Cologne - chancing it on an ICE at the best of times, let alone with engineering work on.

Meanwhile, the London Canal Museum turned out to be a good place to kill a couple of hours.

 

[rvdborgt]

As it is the 1301 is acceptable, it just leaves less margin for error.

If you're aiming to use ICE 317 (dep. 16:25) from Brussels, then keep an eye on ICE 314 arriving there at 15:35. Because of the engineering works between Aachen and Cologne, the ICEs are diverted and that's prone to delays. If the delays become too big, then ICEs can be turned around at Brussels North or Liège.
The diversion is interesting by the way. A friend of mine was diverted yesterday from Köln Deutz (tief) via Duisburg-Wedau and Krefeld.

I'll certainly be asking for the difference in fare back though, given that moving to an earlier train in the first place cost £40. Eurostar's chatbot was useless in that regard, when I've got the time I'll try and see if there's a human to talk to.

Don't they have a normal complaint/contact form you can fill out? This page seems to suggest they have.

 

[Krokodil]

If you're aiming to use ICE 317 (dep. 16:25) from Brussels, then keep an eye on ICE 314 arriving there at 15:35.

Thanks, it's already lost 25 minutes but that on its own shouldn't result in premature termination. It's not in Aachen yet though.

Don't they have a normal complaint/contact form you can fill out? This page seems to suggest they have.

I've submitted a form now. Funnily enough they don't make it easy to find, I get that they redirect you through all manner of FAQ pages to reduce the amount of stupid questions their staff end up dealing with but it's very irritating when you've got a less usual query.

Made ICE 317 and even found unreserved seats (eventually)

I got into Vienna fine, thanks for everyone's help. Hopefully the return journey will be as smooth.

What do I do next about refunding the unused tickets? Both the Cologne and the Brussels sleepers were the same price. The Brussels one will have been scanned by the DB guard as we used it to get to Cologne.

 

[daodao]

A little further afield in the former Austrian territory of Bosnia-Herzegovina, the line between Sarajevo and Mostar has been closed since 4th October 2024 due to weather-related damage near Jablanica.

Interruption of railway traffic on the Sarajevo-Capljina-Sarajevo route due to natural disasters
FBiH Railways informs the public that due to the natural disaster that affected most of Bosnia and Herzegovina on October 3 and 4, 2024. In 2008, there was serious damage to the railway and railway facilities on the section Ostrožac-Grabovica in a length of 17 kilometers, as a result of which the complete passenger and freight traffic on the Sarajevo-Capljina-Sarajevo line was suspended.

Interruption of railway traffic on the Sarajevo-Čapljina-Sarajevo route due to the natural disaster

Railways of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina inform the public that, due to the natural disaster that affected most of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 3 and 4 October 2024, there were serious dam…

www.zfbh.ba

 

[nwales58]

In German/Austrian news that it will take months to rebuild. Iron ore mine in Prijedor, steelworks in Zenica and chemical works in Tuzla depend on the line to reach the port at Ploce.

 

[tynesider]

Related to the ongoing disruption, could anyone with local knowledge advise if RJX262 is scheduled to run from Vienna to Munich on Friday 18th October?

OBB Trip planner shows this as running Wien Hbf 07:57, Meidling 08:02/08:24, St. Polten 08:57/08:59, Linz 09:43/09:45, Passau (No time shown), arrive Munich Hbf 12:57.
DB shows this as starting at Passau at 10:52.

I've contacted both operators via the medium formerly known as Twitter. OBB state it is starting in Wien; DB state it is starting in Passau.

 

[paul_munich]

OBB Trip planner shows this as running Wien Hbf 07:57, Meidling 08:02/08:24, St. Polten 08:57/08:59, Linz 09:43/09:45, Passau (No time shown), arrive Munich Hbf 12:57.
DB shows this as starting at Passau at 10:52.

Where do you have the information from with Passau? RJX Vienna-Munich were never supposed to run via Passau...
This is the valid ÖBB timetable from 10.10 on. It shows your RJX departing Vienna at 07:57 and arriving in Munich at 12:32 o'clock.

 

[tynesider]

The OBB online journey planner showed the times I mentioned when I searched earlier this afternoon.They now show via Salzburg.

However, Passu still shows on the DB Navigator app

 

[rvdborgt]

This looks like engineering works somewhere along the normal route, for which DB hasn't loaded the Austrian timetables yet.

 

[paul_munich]

According to bahn.de the mentioned RJX runs from Passau only, non stop to Munich, nearly impossible... I guess DB didn't upload the new ÖBB schedule, valid from 10.10, when they reopen the second track of the old West-line.

 

[nwales58]

Surely ÖBB’s own is more likely to be up up-to-the-minute than what they upload for other planners.

ÖBB are still uploading rubbish to MERITS. Recent RJs flew non-stop from Hegyeshalom to Salzburg. On another day Budapest-Wiens were marked as cancelled in international planners when they ran.

Even ÖBB Scotty has rubbish in its notes, RJX stating no business, no first or restaurant when that only applied to the Flughafen shuttle.

Just ignore DB Navigator for ÖBB Weststrecke at present. I’m not sure Westbahn hhave uploaded times consistennt with their webi site either.

 

[Austriantrain]

Don’t know about your date, but Vienna - Munich railjet occasionally get diverted via Passau because of works on the Salzburg - Munich line. Usually no advertised passenger stop on the German side.

If ÖBB say it’s via Passau, it probably will be. The stop in Wien Meidling from 8:02 to 8:24 seems to be a database error though; it will leave Wien Meidling at 8:05.

 

[Krokodil]

NJ40490 and a number of others cancelled tonight due to forecast severe weather. Now on my way to the booking office at Wien Hbf to ask what to do.

 

[nwales58]

NJ40490 and a number of others cancelled tonight due to forecast severe weather. Now on my way to the booking office at Wien Hbf to ask what to do.

Bad luck. Yesterday morning and the previous evening were glorious weather thriugh NÖ, ÖÖ and Nordbayern/Franken

 

[rvdborgt]

NJ40490 and a number of others cancelled tonight due to forecast severe weather. Now on my way to the booking office at Wien Hbf to ask what to do.

Basically Vienna/Innsbruck/Zurich <-> Amsterdam have been cancelled. The night trains Vienna/Innsbruck <-> Hamburg will run but I'm not sure if that's of much use, although there's still some availability even in the sleeper.
ÖBB say you can use day trains instead, with the original ticket. ÖBB will have to pay for extra expenses such as an extra hotel night.

 

[Krokodil]

On RJ740 to Wels, then ICE20 to Frankfurt and ICE18 to Brussels.

That's a long time in Frankfurt at an unsocial hour. Part of me is tempted to book a hotel for the night and wait for ICE 316. But if the Rhine is at risk of flooding I want to make it as far as possible in the right direction.

 

[rvdborgt]

On RJ740 to Wels, then ICE20 to Frankfurt and ICE18 to Brussels.

That's a long time in Frankfurt at an unsocial hour. Part of me is tempted to book a hotel for the night and wait for ICE 316. But if the Rhine is at risk of flooding I want to make it as far as possible in the right direction.

I'd also be tempted to take a hotel in Frankfurt and then ICE 316. DB doesn't have any warnings. As far as I can see, there's currently no risk of flooding, the Rhine area down from Bad Honnef has the pre-warning status.

 

[Krokodil]

What facilities are there at Frankfurt if we do decide to doss there rather than go to a hotel? ICE20 running 1hr late

 

[E94]

What facilities are there at Frankfurt if we do decide to doss there rather than go to a hotel? ICE20 running 1hr late

There are a handful of kiosks, some of which are open 24/7, most shut at 10pm or midnight.
The area around the station doesn’t have a great reputation

 

[rvdborgt]

What facilities are there at Frankfurt if we do decide to doss there rather than go to a hotel? ICE20 running 1hr late

Not a lot, I'm afraid. There used to be seats in the main hall but IIRC there's some construction going on and the station plan doesn't indicate a waiting area there anymore.
Even with this delay, I'd still be inclined to book a hotel (no breakfast) and then ICE 316 (with breakfast).

 

[Krokodil]

Left Regensburg 65L and stopped just outside for another 5 minutes. Tempted to get ICE1918 to Köln to cut down on the hanging around at any given location. The 0300 IC has been cancelled (presumably because it follows the Rhine). The bonus of waiting for the planned ICE is that it's at least a through train.

I have an "also valid on other trains" endorsement from the booking office at Vienna. Are Thalys likely to accept this or should I just wait for the ICE?

Even with this delay, I'd still be inclined to book a hotel (no breakfast) and then ICE 316 (with breakfast).

My travelling companion vetoed this option when I suggested it

 

[rvdborgt]

Left Regensburg 65L and stopped just outside for another 5 minutes. Tempted to get ICE1918 to Köln to cut down on the hanging around at any given location.

I have an "also valid on other trains" endorsement from the booking office at Vienna. Are Thalys likely to accept this or should I just wait for the ICE?

Thalys will only accept it with a HOTNAT stamp, which you can maybe get at the Köln Hbf ticket office, which should open at 6. Maybe, because you didn't miss your connection there and you planned to travel with a night train, not a high-speed train.
If there's plenty of time, then I'd just wait for the ICE though and sit somewhere warm with a coffee. Cologne also has a proper wating area at platform 1, next to the DB Lounge, and kiosks will also be opening around 6.