As an epilogue to this thread, I'll talk about the return journey to the Netherlands.
Initially, the outward train journey was part of our holiday to Italy and Croatia, driving back to Holland at the end. However, Covid 19 mean't our holiday being put back to next year. Unfortunately, our train tickets could not be cancelled as the train was still running so we decided to use the train tickets and just have a short break in Austria instead.
I did not fancy driving back through the night with the kids, so I investigated taking the train back. The train was fully booked for sleeping accommodation and for the car, but there was still a seating compartment available for exclusive use of the family, for the bargain price of 71 euros total for my wife and three kids for a distance of roughly 800kms. I would rough it and drive the car back to Dusseldorf overnight to pick them up in the morning. It would be a Top Gear style challenge (if anyone has watched the motoring programme on tv). A race between the car and the train. Who would get from Innsbruck to Dusseldorf first?
On departure day, we spent the morning and afternoon on a nice family walk in the sunshine in the Austrian alps, taking Sound of Music style photos of each other with the lovely back drops. The hotel had allowed us a late check out for no charge. Around 4pm, we set off for Innsbruck Hbf, stopping at the IKEA store for a pre departure dinner. We arrived at the loading area for the cars where my wife and kids got out with pillows and blankets to use in the seating compartment. The OBB rail staff were a bit confused as they thought I was loading the car. I explained that I had no ticket for the car, and jokingly offered the Turkish rail worker 40 euros in the top pocket of his orange hi vis if he could sneak the car onto the wagon. He shrugged his shoulders and politely said sorry. All the cars had to match the manifest he was holding. I said no problem, I was only kidding. It was hard though seeing the other cars driving onto the wagons and me knowing I had a long night ahead of me.
I kissed my wife and kids goodbye at 20:15 (the train left at 20:44) so I had 30 minutes head start. I had arranged with my wife that I would maybe drop in at Nurnberg during the 90 minute stop and say hello, depending on my progress. I drove out of Innsbruck and headed to the motorway. I had put Dusseldorf into Google Maps but hadn't looked at the route in full detail. It took me to the motorway, and then 30 kms further, it took me off at a junction signposted Reutte. As I drove further on, I realized I was starting to climb and was heading for a mountain pass (Ferhne Pass if anyone knows it). It was too late now so I just carried on. The pass was about 60 kms long and very beautiful as the sun was starting to set over the mountains. When I eventually traversed the pass and crossed the German border, I looked at the map and was dismayed that I didn't seem to have covered much ground and I was sure the train must be in front of me now despite it having to go via Munich first, whilst I could cut a corner and bypass the Munich area.
To cut a long story short, despite the unexpected mountain pass crossing, I pulled into the parking area of Nurnberg Hbf at 00:47, and I was on the platform in time to see the Nightjet pull in at 01:16. I walked up to the designated seating car and found the compartment of my family. You can pull the seats across in the compartment to make beds so my kids were spread out asleep in a jumble of blankets and pillows. My wife came out into the corridor and we chatted quietly before I headed off onto the next leg. I was dying to stay behind on the platform to watch the shunting taking place but I had to get down the road.
I headed back to the autobahn after filling up the petrol tank at an all night station, and followed the route down towards, Wurzberg, Frankfurt, Koblenz and Koln.
So, I am going to leave you with a question now. Did the car or train make it to Dusseldorf Hbf first? Just make a post stating the train or the car. Don't cheat by going on Google maps and comparing the road distance with the online schedule of the train. Just make an off the cuff guess. I will just say that I maintained a steady speed of 100kmh (62mph) throughout the journey from Innsbruck (mountain pass excepted), roughly the speed of the train so I wasn't blatting it down the no speed limit autobahns all night. Make a guess and I will reveal who the winner was.