(Oct 18, 2014) Frankfurt Main - Koblenz - Montabaur - Tokyo [ドイツ・オーストリア鉄道旅行 2014]
After checking out the hotel in front of Frankfurt Main Hauptbahnhof at 8:30, I dropped in at the ticket counter “Reisezentrum” (Travel Center) of the station. Because train driver’s union GDL took place a strike, it was very crowded and it took about thirty minutes to get the refund of the CNL train which had been cancelled last night. Then, I moved to Frankfurt am Main International Airport by S-Bahn train. I performed the check-in the flight LH 716 bound for Tokyo/Haneda and dropped of my suitcase at the AIRail terminal located next to Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof (Frankfurt Airport Long-distance station). Over eight hours left until the departure of LH716, so I decided to enjoy a railway travel. I took the S-Bahn train using class 420 from the underground platform of Frankfurt Airport.
It smelled nasty inside the train and I found the reason soon. Someone had vomited at the 1st class area. Leaving Frankfurt Airport, the S-Bahn train went east an arrived at Mainz Hbf at eleven. Class 420 would be retire soon, so that was a last opportunity for me to enjoy the trip on class 420.
In spite of the GDL strike, trains were operated every one or two hours in main lines. I took the train IC 2218 from Stuttgart Hbf to Hamburg-Altona. The train left Mainz Hbf at 11:20 on time. Because of the short supply of trains, IC 2218 was very crowded, but I succeeded in finding out a vacant seat in the 1st class area. I enjoyed the beautiful world-heritage scenery alongside the Rhine through the window. IC 2218 arrived at Koblenz Hbf at 12:18.
I’d like to visit DB Museum Koblenz, but I gave up because I did not have enough time. I went to the central bus station ZOB in front of Koblenz Hbf and took the bus bound for Montabaur ICE station departing at 12:20. The bus crossed over the Rhine, and ran along a country road. I enjoyed the impressive landscapes form the bus window. The bus reached to the ICE station Montabaur at 13:20.
There was no passenger in the station. I visited the ticket counter and asked the staff about the next train. She told me that the next train would come in an hour. I spent the time by taking pictures of ICE trains.
The train ICE 519 was coming with a 10-minute delay. Two sets of class 403 ICE 3 (Tz 328 “Aachen” + Tz 325 “Ravensburg”) were used for this train. Since there were few passengers in the 1st class coaches, I sat on a comfortable seat. Though the train did not run so fast, I enjoyed the trip of my favorite train and watched the scenery in the hilly terrain. Calling at Limburg Süd, ICE 519 arrived at Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof (Frankfurt Airport Long-distance station) at 15:15.
Then I took part in an airport tour. During the one-hour tour, various aircrafts including huge A380 and B747-8 could be seen from a bus. The tour was enjoyable despite all the explanations only in German.
After the tour, I passed the security check and passport control. I enjoyed German bier and sausages before boarding.
Boeing 747-400 D-ABVR “Köln” being used for the flight had been waiting on the gate Z69. I was a bit sad because it had been decided that the latest version of “Jumbo” Boeing 747-8 would be introduced to the route ten days later. The boarding was started at 17:40. Almost all seats inside the cabin seemed to be booked. I sat on an economy class seat which has extra space to extend my legs. The aircraft was pushed back at 18:15 and took off at 18:32. I was extremely impressed at the beautiful scenery with a sunset. After dinner with bier and white wine, I fell asleep. When I woke up, only two hours were left for Tokyo, and breakfast was served. The aircraft descended and landed smoothly on Tokyo/Haneda International Airport at 12:08. I was absolutely content with the comfortable Lufthansa flight.
It smelled nasty inside the train and I found the reason soon. Someone had vomited at the 1st class area. Leaving Frankfurt Airport, the S-Bahn train went east an arrived at Mainz Hbf at eleven. Class 420 would be retire soon, so that was a last opportunity for me to enjoy the trip on class 420.
In spite of the GDL strike, trains were operated every one or two hours in main lines. I took the train IC 2218 from Stuttgart Hbf to Hamburg-Altona. The train left Mainz Hbf at 11:20 on time. Because of the short supply of trains, IC 2218 was very crowded, but I succeeded in finding out a vacant seat in the 1st class area. I enjoyed the beautiful world-heritage scenery alongside the Rhine through the window. IC 2218 arrived at Koblenz Hbf at 12:18.
I’d like to visit DB Museum Koblenz, but I gave up because I did not have enough time. I went to the central bus station ZOB in front of Koblenz Hbf and took the bus bound for Montabaur ICE station departing at 12:20. The bus crossed over the Rhine, and ran along a country road. I enjoyed the impressive landscapes form the bus window. The bus reached to the ICE station Montabaur at 13:20.
There was no passenger in the station. I visited the ticket counter and asked the staff about the next train. She told me that the next train would come in an hour. I spent the time by taking pictures of ICE trains.
The train ICE 519 was coming with a 10-minute delay. Two sets of class 403 ICE 3 (Tz 328 “Aachen” + Tz 325 “Ravensburg”) were used for this train. Since there were few passengers in the 1st class coaches, I sat on a comfortable seat. Though the train did not run so fast, I enjoyed the trip of my favorite train and watched the scenery in the hilly terrain. Calling at Limburg Süd, ICE 519 arrived at Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof (Frankfurt Airport Long-distance station) at 15:15.
Then I took part in an airport tour. During the one-hour tour, various aircrafts including huge A380 and B747-8 could be seen from a bus. The tour was enjoyable despite all the explanations only in German.
After the tour, I passed the security check and passport control. I enjoyed German bier and sausages before boarding.
Boeing 747-400 D-ABVR “Köln” being used for the flight had been waiting on the gate Z69. I was a bit sad because it had been decided that the latest version of “Jumbo” Boeing 747-8 would be introduced to the route ten days later. The boarding was started at 17:40. Almost all seats inside the cabin seemed to be booked. I sat on an economy class seat which has extra space to extend my legs. The aircraft was pushed back at 18:15 and took off at 18:32. I was extremely impressed at the beautiful scenery with a sunset. After dinner with bier and white wine, I fell asleep. When I woke up, only two hours were left for Tokyo, and breakfast was served. The aircraft descended and landed smoothly on Tokyo/Haneda International Airport at 12:08. I was absolutely content with the comfortable Lufthansa flight.
2015-04-13 00:15
nice!(3)
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