How can I buy tickets for a prospective trip from London to Hel?

[miklcct]

I am planning a trip to Hel in August this year, and I have searched a possible itinerary as follows:

Outward journey:
2024-08-22
EST9106 06:04 London St Pancras International - 09:38 Bruxelles-Midi
ICE15 10:25 Bruxelles-Midi - 12:15 Köln Hbf
ICE559 12:45 Köln Hbf - 17:17 Berlin Ostbahnhof
EC249 18:03 Berlin Ostbahnhof - 22:10 Kutno
TLK35190 23:17 Kutno - 06:15 Hel (sleeper)

Return journey:
2024-08-25
TLK55190 21:32 Hel - 04:08 Kutno (sleeper)
EC248 05:50 Kutno - 09:55 Berlin Ostbahnhof
ICE650 10:44 Berlin Ostbahnhof - 15:15 Köln Hbf
RB38 15:29 Köln Hbf - 15:34 Köln-Ehrenfeld
ICE14 15:47 Köln-Ehrenfeld - 17:35 Bruxelles-Midi
EST9153 18:22 Bruxelles-Midi Eurostar - London St. Pancras International

However, I have no idea how to obtain tickets for this itinerary. int.bahn.de does not produce tickets for my search result. In particular, the PKP Intercity website tells me that the sale for the sleeper train will open 1 month before departure.

What is the best way to buy tickets for such itinerary?

 

[The exile]

First of all - replan. That 30 minute connection in Cologne is not to be relied upon for a start. Long distance services in Germany currently make ours appear to have exemplary punctuality - and even before the current woes the Brussels - Cologne ICE was notorious.

 

[A S Leib]

Assuming you're aged 28-59 and want a seat reservation for everything except Köln Hbf to Ehrenfeld, and sole occupancy of a cabin each way from Kutno to Hel, a standard class Interrail pass and reservations should* be, at most, £241 + €270, or ~£470. I'd be surprised if that's the cheapest option, but I wouldn't be prepared to pay more than that.

Given that your location's shown as Cricklewood, the inbound / outbound journey probably aren't massively useful, but as the Kutno to Hel sleeper leaves before midnight, you'd have an extra day of travel to use abroad as well.

*As long as Eurostar Interrail passholder places don't run out.

 

[rg177]

Seconded that the connections in Köln on the way back are asking for trouble. Apart from the fact that the (Frankfurt) - Köln - Brussels ICE is beyond unreliable.

It's also been mentioned on the forum that Germany has been undertaking border checks at Frankfurt an der Oder, delaying trains from Poland.

 

[rvdborgt]

First of all - replan. That 30 minute connection in Cologne is not to be relied upon for a start.

Agreed, but as long as you have a plan B, that's OK. Missing a connection will result in a flexible ticket.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Jun 2024 ==

However, I have no idea how to obtain tickets for this itinerary. int.bahn.de does not produce tickets for my search result. In particular, the PKP Intercity website tells me that the sale for the sleeper train will open 1 month before departure.

What is the best way to buy tickets for such itinerary?

Theoretically, tickets London-Hel should be bookable via DB from 60 days in advance. Polish sleeper reservations are available 30 days in advance, but since the night train doesn't have mandatory reservations, booking the ticket should be possible earlier (sleeper reservations can be booked separately online via cd.cz). However, bahn.de doesn't show a price, not even from Brussels. Maybe a ticket office/DB agent can do it, I can't say. Their new online booking system still has a number of bugs and can in some cases still do less than the old system.
You could split the booking in Kutno; To Kutno can be booked now; from Kutno then 30 days in advance, since that's then a domestic ticket.

 

[miklcct]

Seconded that the connections in Köln on the way back are asking for trouble. Apart from the fact that the (Frankfurt) - Köln - Brussels ICE is beyond unreliable.

It's also been mentioned on the forum that Germany has been undertaking border checks at Frankfurt an der Oder, delaying trains from Poland.

I'll probably book a later Eurostar than the one mentioned for the return journey since £39 fares are still available for the later trains so I will absorb the connection risk at Brussels.

However, I would like to have a good night on the sleeper as I'm heading straight to a race in Hel which starts at noon for the outward journey. What will happen if the connection to the sleeper is fouled? Are there enough alternative options to get me there?

 

[rg177]

I'll probably book a later Eurostar than the one mentioned for the return journey since £39 fares are still available for the later trains so I will absorb the connection risk at Brussels.

However, I would like to have a good night on the sleeper as I'm heading straight to a race in Hel which starts at noon for the outward journey. What will happen if the connection to the sleeper is fouled? Are there enough alternative options to get me there?

If you're feeling brave, it looks like there's...

IC38190 0228 Kutno-Toruń Główny 0337
IC5130 0526 Toruń Główny-Iława Glówna 0632
TLK35170 0652 Iława Glówna-Gdynia Glówna 0829
R90507 0836 Gdynia Główna-Hel 1003

Just don't expect much sleep of course. The first three trains will be compulsory reservations IIRC.

The Hel connection on this could well wait a few minutes if you're running with a minor delay. Poland isn't quite as "generous" as the likes of the Czech Republic (where local trains will generally wait unless the delay is absurdly long) but it isn't impossible.

 

[miklcct]

Assuming you're aged 28-59 and want a seat reservation for everything except Köln Hbf to Ehrenfeld, and sole occupancy of a cabin each way from Kutno to Hel, a standard class Interrail pass and reservations should* be, at most, £241 + €270, or ~£470. I'd be surprised if that's the cheapest option, but I wouldn't be prepared to pay more than that.

Given that your location's shown as Cricklewood, the inbound / outbound journey probably aren't massively useful, but as the Kutno to Hel sleeper leaves before midnight, you'd have an extra day of travel to use abroad as well.

*As long as Eurostar Interrail passholder places don't run out.

I don't really plan to buy a pass as there are a lot of reservation fees involved, and I plan to sleep in a shared couchette as well to keep my cost down.

 

[rvdborgt]

If you're feeling brave, it looks like there's...

IC38190 0228 Kutno-Toruń Główny 0337
IC5130 0526 Toruń Główny-Iława Glówna 0632
TLK35170 0652 Iława Glówna-Gdynia Glówna 0829
R90507 0836 Gdynia Główna-Hel 1003

Just don't expect much sleep of course. The first three trains will be compulsory reservations IIRC.

Only the 2nd one.

 

[30907]

On the Polish side there's a (Wroclaw-)Poznan-Hel TLK at 0149 - but I can't find a way to reach it if you miss the connection in Köln. My guess is that EC 249 would be held for ICE 559 as it's the last train to Warsaw but...

 

[The exile]

On the Polish side there's a (Wroclaw-)Poznan-Hel TLK at 0149 - but I can't find a way to reach it if you miss the connection in Köln. My guess is that EC 249 would be held for ICE 559 as it's the last train to Warsaw but...

Would suggest the weakest link is the connection off ICE15, closely followed by the double connection in Cologne on the way back - where I would check to see if a non ICE option (ie change at Aachen and (?) Liege or even if desperate, bus (14?) from Aachen to Eupen and train on from there) from there after a missed connection will still enable you to get the later Eurostar.

 

[stuu]

Would suggest the weakest link is the connection off ICE15, closely followed by the double connection in Cologne on the way back - where I would check to see if a non ICE option (ie change at Aachen and (?) Liege or even if desperate, bus (14?) from Aachen to Eupen and train on from there) from there after a missed connection will still enable you to get the later Eurostar.

The non-high speed options are very, very slow - I'm doing a long journey in August which I'm a bit worried about so have been checking the options. It's a minimum of two changes, and takes 4+ hours.

There's direct trains from Koln Hbf later which have sensible connections in Brussels to a later Eurostar

 

[Dai Corner]

Unless the trains are an integral part of the trip, I'd fly from Luton to Gdansk then get the train from there to Hel..

 

[Watershed]

Unless the trains are an integral part of the trip, I'd fly from Luton to Gdansk then get the train from there to Hel..

Ah, but then the OP wouldn't be able to say they'd taken the "train to Hel and back"

 

[52290]

Ah, but then the OP wouldn't be able to say they'd taken the "train to Hel and back"

I've been to Hell and back but my Hell was in Norway not Poland.

 

[The exile]

I've been to Hell and back but my Hell was in Norway not Poland.

Not that far from Paradis, though I believe that is no longer served by rail. Indication of where the greater passenger numbers are to be found!

 

[miklcct]

Unless the trains are an integral part of the trip, I'd fly from Luton to Gdansk then get the train from there to Hel..

I'm considering flying there and train back due to the vast difference in the air fares both ways, but as the one-way Eurostar fare on my day back has gone up to £64 the price competitiveness of the train back isn't that great as well.

 

[52290]

Not that far from Paradis, though I believe that is no longer served by rail. Indication of where the greater passenger numbers are to be found!

I suppose it's like living in Sinn in Germany!

 

[Tester]

Not that far from Paradis, though I believe that is no longer served by rail. Indication of where the greater passenger numbers are to be found!

No so - Paradis to Hell (or v.v.) remains a valid journey!

[Photos show nameboards at Paradis and Hell]

 

[Zamracene749]

I suppose it's like living in Sinn in Germany!

Well, if you do you could always go to Hungary to find God? Ok, it's actually Göd but you get the idea

 

[miklcct]

Well, if you do you could always go to Hungary to find God? Ok, it's actually Göd but you get the idea

I have been there two years ago! There was a two-day race so I commuted to the race from a hostel in Budapest. It was very convenient to get there by suburban train.

Here's one of the ticket I used.

 

[class ep-09]

Well, if you do you could always go to Hungary to find God? Ok, it's actually Göd but you get the idea

Angel is not far at all if Hungary was too far .

 

[nwales58]

This is Silly.

(Hainaut, Eurostar passes through it).

 

[railfan99]

I don't really plan to buy a pass as there are a lot of reservation fees involved, and I plan to sleep in a shared couchette as well to keep my cost down.

Buying an Interrail pass would be the best option.

 

[The exile]

Since I don’t think you like plans being disrupted I’d go for the 19.22 (or even the 21.22) from Brussels to London on the way back to build in resilience on the stretch of the route where alternatives are fewest.

 

[miklcct]

Since I don’t think you like plans being disrupted I’d go for the 19.22 (or even the 21.22) from Brussels to London on the way back to build in resilience on the stretch of the route where alternatives are fewest.

This is my plan as well because the later Eurostar back are cheaper.

 

[The exile]

This is my plan as well because the later Eurostar back are cheaper.

The DB website therefore gives an itinerary leaving Berlin at the same time but avoiding the double change at Cologne. This drops you back an hour into Brussels but gains you the best part of an hour’s “Buffer” at Cologne and still leaves plenty of time for the 21.22 in Brussels.

 

[miklcct]

I have decided to fly both ways instead. The Eurostar fare from Brussels to London has already gone up to £74 on my day of return and the hostel fare in Gdynia is cheap enough for me to stay one more night instead of taking the sleeper train from Hel.