(Jun 24, 2015) Düsseldorf - Frankfurt (M) - Tokyo [ドイツ鉄道旅行 2015]
Am 24.06.2015 freute ich an die Reise mit den ICE Zügen von Düsseldorf nach Frankfurt am Main und fotografierte sie. Dann flog ich mit dem Lufhansa-Retro-Jumbo nach Tokio.
It’s the day I left Germany for Japan. I had planned to enjoy traveling with ICE trains. After checking out from the hotel, I came to Düsseldorf Hbf at 6:40 and took ICE 721 (Dortmund Hbf – Stuttagart Hbf). The train was operated with set 713 of class 407, Velaro D.
今日は帰国日、東京へのフライトまでICEの旅を楽しむことにする。ホテルをチェックインして、徒歩でDüsseldorf Hbfに向かう。6時40分に到着し、無事にStuttgart Hbf行ICE 721に間に合った。この列車には407形Velaro DのTz 713編成が使用されている。
The train was far from crowded, so I easily found a vacant seat on the 1st class car. ICE 721 left Düsseldorf Hbf on time and running southbound at the speed of 200 km/h. After passing Kӧln-Mühlheim station, the train changed the truck and ran over a single truck to reach the low level platform of Kӧln Messe/Deutz station.
ICE 721は空いており、1等車の空席に腰を下ろす。ICE 721はDüsseldorf Hbfを発車すると200km/hで南方へ向かう。Kӧln-Mühlheimを通過すると単線の短絡線に入り、Kӧln Messe/Deutzの地上ホームに到着する。
The train left the station after 6-minute stop and join the line from Kӧln Hbf. There were six parallel trucks and the speed limit was 200 km/h. In Troisdorf, the Right Rhine Railway left our line and ran towards Koblenz. Soon the train passed Siegburg/Bonn station and accelerated to 300 km/h on the high speed railway Kӧln-Rhein/Main. It ran along with A3 expressway through Siebengebirge, a Central Uplandish hill range on the east bank of the middle Rhein toward Westerwald. As a result, the train ran over steep climbs and descents repeatedly, whose maximum grade reached 4%. It passed Montabaur and Limburg Süd, and arrived at Frankfurt(M)Flughafen Fernbf at 8:05, 2 minutes earlier than scheduled. I got off ICE 721 here.
Kӧln Messe/Deutzを発車するとKӧln Hbfからの路線と合流する。ここからは6複線の間中を最高200km/hで走る。Troisdorfでライン川右岸線と分かれ、まもなくSiegburg/Bonnを通過すると高速新線区間に入り、300km/hへ加速していく。高速新線はアウトバーンA3に沿って、ライン川の東側に広がるSiebengebirgeの丘陵地帯をWesterwaldへと抜けるように敷設されているおり、列車は最高40パーミルの勾配を超えていく。Montabaur とLimburg Südの2駅を通過し、, Frankfurt(M)Flughafen Fernbfには8時05分に到着する。私はここで下車する。
I walked around the station and checked in for the flight LH 716 which was going to depart at 18:05. moved to the other platform. I had reserved a seat in the lounge, just behind the driver’s cab, of ICE 614, in order to enjoy the scenery. ICE 614, operating with ICE 3 set 315 “Singen (Hohentwiel)”, approached soon.
空港をぶらついた後、18時05分に出発するLH716便の搭乗手続きを済ませ、再び駅のプラットフォームに戻る。まもなくICE 614が到着する。ICE 3の国内用403形Tz 315編成による運行である。この列車のラウンジ席を事に予約してあり、前方からの高速新線の展望を楽しみながらケルンに戻ることにする。
ICE 614 left Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernabanhof at 9:09, and accelerated smoothly. About 10 minutes after the departure, the train reduced its speed and stopped. Over there, ICE 529 slowly changed from the left truck to the right, and passed our train. Just after our train pulling out, it passed ICE 815 using a Velaro D set. I understood the situation. ICE 529 had moved to the left truck to overtake ICE 815, running on the right truck.
ICE 614 kept on accelerating, and reached 300 km/h. It maintained the speed and passed Limburg Süd and Montabaur stations. It arrived at Siebug/Bonn at 9:49, two minutes behind the schedule. After leaving the station, ICE 614 ran at the speed between 160 and 200 km/h to the central area of Kӧln. It slowly passed Kӧln Messe/Deutz, crossed over the Rhein and arrived at Kӧln Hbf at 10:08, 3 minuted behind the schedule. Here the train changed its direction of travel and went to Dormund via Düsseldorf and Essen.
ICE 614はフランクフルト空港駅を9時09分に発車するとスムーズに加速していくが、10分程して再び減速していき、ついに停車してしまった。前方をみると、フランクフルト空港方面へ向かうICE 529が複線の左側 (ICE 614の走る軌道)から右側へのポイントを渡っている。ICE 529とすれ違うと、まもなくICE 614はゆっくり発車、すると間もなくVelaro Dが使用されているICE 815とすれ違う。これで合点がいった。高速新線上の全ての駅に停車するICE 815を、通過タイプのICE 529が左側から追い抜いたのであった。複線を方向別に運用する日本と異なり、単線並列として扱うシステムが垣間見えた瞬間であった。
その後はICE 614は最高300km/hで快調に走り、Limburg SüdとMontabaurを通過し、Siebug/Bonnには9時49分に到着する。ここからは最高200km/h走行区間となり、ゆっくりKӧln Messe/Deutzと通過してライン川を渡り、Kӧln Hbfには3分遅れの10時08分に到着する。デュッセルドルフ・エッセン経由でドルトムントへ向かうICE 614とはここでお別れである。
I change for ICE 623, operated with two of ICE 3 class 403 sets, set 317 “Recklinghausen” + 354 “Mittenwald”. Fortunately, I found a seat on the 2nd class lounge. ICE 623 departed at 10:20. After passing Kӧln-Kalk S-Bahn station, the train changed the truck, branching off from the high-speed line. It was the Kӧln-Bonn Airport loop, whose length was 15.19 km. ICE trains shared the truck with S-Bahn train in the section. The train passed Frankfurter Strasse S-Bahn station, and passed Schloß-Röttgen tunnel. Then ICE 623 entered into the 4,210 m Airport Tunnel and arrived at Köln/Bonn Flughafen station at 10:33.
急いでホームを移動し、同じくICE 3により運行されるICE 623に乗車する。幸いにも2等のラウンジの最前席が空席だったので、ここに座ることにする。Kӧln Hbfを10時20分に発車したICE 623はS-BahnのKӧln-Kalk駅付近で転線し、ケルン・ボン空港ループ線に入る。ここではS-Bahnと路線を共有する。Frankfurter Strasse駅を通過し、Schloß-Röttgenトンネルを抜けると、全長4210mに空港トンネルに入り、ケルン・ボン空港駅には10時33分に到着する。
ICE 623 departed and ran to the westward to rejoin the high-speed line again. It reached Sieburg/Bonn station at 10:42 on time. Then the train ran over the high-speed line at the maximum speed of 300 km/h, with stops at Montabaur and Limburg Süd. I enjoyed the spectacular scenery from the cockpit lounge. Finally, I was back in Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof at 11:29, 4 minutes earlier than scheduled.
ケルン・ボン空港駅を発車すると西へ向かい、高速新線に再び合流して、10時42分定刻にSieburg/Bonnに着く、その後はMontabaurとLimburg Südに停車しながら. 最高300km/hで高速新線を南西hへ向かい、11時29分(4分早着)でフランクフルト空港駅に着く。
I had lunch at a restaurant in the airport terminal, and then I took a taxi to go to Weilbach to take pictures of ICE 3 running the high-speed line Kӧln-Rhein/Main. It was about 15 km to the point to take pictures. The point can be accessed easily from the rest area of the expressway A3. I arrived there only in 10 minutes. I took several pictures of my favorite ICE 3 in different compositions.
空港内で昼食を取った後、タクシーを拾い、アウトバーンA3経由で15km程離れたWeilbachへ向かう。所要時間は10分程、ここで高速新線を走るICE 3を撮影する。
The taxi came to pick me up at 14:30, since I had asked the driver to come again. I came back to the airport, and took pictures of Lufthansa airplanes on the observation deck. Fortunately, I caught B747-8 D-ABYT, which had the livery in the 80s.
事前に約束した通り14時30分に迎えに来たタクシーで空港に戻る。展望デッキでしばらく撮影する。幸運にもルフトハンザのB747-8のうち、1980年台の塗装をまとったD-ABYTの着陸を撮影することが出来た。
It was the time I have to leave Germany. At the end of my stay, I ate Zürich Art for an early dinner. Then I passed the security check and passport control, and drunk a bottle of bier. When I reached the gate, D-ABYT “Kӧln”, the Retro-Jet, was there.
そろそろ帰国の時間である。早めの夕食を摂って、出国手続きを済ませる。最後にビールを一杯楽しみ、搭乗ゲートへ向かう。本日ルフトハンザのLH 716便に使用されるのは、先程着陸を撮った、レトロ塗装のB747-8、D-ABYT “Kӧln”であった。
LH 716 waited for a connecting flight and left about fifteen minutes behind the schedule. It took off smoothly and turned right. I found an ICE 3 set running toward Kӧln.
After a dinner with glasses of beer and wine, I fell asleep deeply. When I awoke, only one hour left to Tokyo. It flew southbound, then turned right to cross the Tokyo bay. It touched down on the runway of Tokyo/Haneda Airport at 12:00 and arrived at the gate at 12:02, 13 minutes earlier than scheduled.
LH 716便は接続便を待った関係で出発が15分程遅れた。しかし、ゲートを離れるとスムーズに離陸する。高速新線をケルンへICE 3が走るのを横目に、飛行機は力強く高度を上げていく。
ビール、さらにワインと共に夕食を済ませると、あとは深く寝入ってしまった。気が付くと、羽田空港まではもう1時間。朝食にも全く気が付かなかった。東京湾を横断し、定刻より13分早い12時02分に羽田空港に到着した。
It’s the day I left Germany for Japan. I had planned to enjoy traveling with ICE trains. After checking out from the hotel, I came to Düsseldorf Hbf at 6:40 and took ICE 721 (Dortmund Hbf – Stuttagart Hbf). The train was operated with set 713 of class 407, Velaro D.
今日は帰国日、東京へのフライトまでICEの旅を楽しむことにする。ホテルをチェックインして、徒歩でDüsseldorf Hbfに向かう。6時40分に到着し、無事にStuttgart Hbf行ICE 721に間に合った。この列車には407形Velaro DのTz 713編成が使用されている。
The train was far from crowded, so I easily found a vacant seat on the 1st class car. ICE 721 left Düsseldorf Hbf on time and running southbound at the speed of 200 km/h. After passing Kӧln-Mühlheim station, the train changed the truck and ran over a single truck to reach the low level platform of Kӧln Messe/Deutz station.
ICE 721は空いており、1等車の空席に腰を下ろす。ICE 721はDüsseldorf Hbfを発車すると200km/hで南方へ向かう。Kӧln-Mühlheimを通過すると単線の短絡線に入り、Kӧln Messe/Deutzの地上ホームに到着する。
The train left the station after 6-minute stop and join the line from Kӧln Hbf. There were six parallel trucks and the speed limit was 200 km/h. In Troisdorf, the Right Rhine Railway left our line and ran towards Koblenz. Soon the train passed Siegburg/Bonn station and accelerated to 300 km/h on the high speed railway Kӧln-Rhein/Main. It ran along with A3 expressway through Siebengebirge, a Central Uplandish hill range on the east bank of the middle Rhein toward Westerwald. As a result, the train ran over steep climbs and descents repeatedly, whose maximum grade reached 4%. It passed Montabaur and Limburg Süd, and arrived at Frankfurt(M)Flughafen Fernbf at 8:05, 2 minutes earlier than scheduled. I got off ICE 721 here.
Kӧln Messe/Deutzを発車するとKӧln Hbfからの路線と合流する。ここからは6複線の間中を最高200km/hで走る。Troisdorfでライン川右岸線と分かれ、まもなくSiegburg/Bonnを通過すると高速新線区間に入り、300km/hへ加速していく。高速新線はアウトバーンA3に沿って、ライン川の東側に広がるSiebengebirgeの丘陵地帯をWesterwaldへと抜けるように敷設されているおり、列車は最高40パーミルの勾配を超えていく。Montabaur とLimburg Südの2駅を通過し、, Frankfurt(M)Flughafen Fernbfには8時05分に到着する。私はここで下車する。
I walked around the station and checked in for the flight LH 716 which was going to depart at 18:05. moved to the other platform. I had reserved a seat in the lounge, just behind the driver’s cab, of ICE 614, in order to enjoy the scenery. ICE 614, operating with ICE 3 set 315 “Singen (Hohentwiel)”, approached soon.
空港をぶらついた後、18時05分に出発するLH716便の搭乗手続きを済ませ、再び駅のプラットフォームに戻る。まもなくICE 614が到着する。ICE 3の国内用403形Tz 315編成による運行である。この列車のラウンジ席を事に予約してあり、前方からの高速新線の展望を楽しみながらケルンに戻ることにする。
ICE 614 left Frankfurt(M) Flughafen Fernabanhof at 9:09, and accelerated smoothly. About 10 minutes after the departure, the train reduced its speed and stopped. Over there, ICE 529 slowly changed from the left truck to the right, and passed our train. Just after our train pulling out, it passed ICE 815 using a Velaro D set. I understood the situation. ICE 529 had moved to the left truck to overtake ICE 815, running on the right truck.
ICE 614 kept on accelerating, and reached 300 km/h. It maintained the speed and passed Limburg Süd and Montabaur stations. It arrived at Siebug/Bonn at 9:49, two minutes behind the schedule. After leaving the station, ICE 614 ran at the speed between 160 and 200 km/h to the central area of Kӧln. It slowly passed Kӧln Messe/Deutz, crossed over the Rhein and arrived at Kӧln Hbf at 10:08, 3 minuted behind the schedule. Here the train changed its direction of travel and went to Dormund via Düsseldorf and Essen.
ICE 614はフランクフルト空港駅を9時09分に発車するとスムーズに加速していくが、10分程して再び減速していき、ついに停車してしまった。前方をみると、フランクフルト空港方面へ向かうICE 529が複線の左側 (ICE 614の走る軌道)から右側へのポイントを渡っている。ICE 529とすれ違うと、まもなくICE 614はゆっくり発車、すると間もなくVelaro Dが使用されているICE 815とすれ違う。これで合点がいった。高速新線上の全ての駅に停車するICE 815を、通過タイプのICE 529が左側から追い抜いたのであった。複線を方向別に運用する日本と異なり、単線並列として扱うシステムが垣間見えた瞬間であった。
その後はICE 614は最高300km/hで快調に走り、Limburg SüdとMontabaurを通過し、Siebug/Bonnには9時49分に到着する。ここからは最高200km/h走行区間となり、ゆっくりKӧln Messe/Deutzと通過してライン川を渡り、Kӧln Hbfには3分遅れの10時08分に到着する。デュッセルドルフ・エッセン経由でドルトムントへ向かうICE 614とはここでお別れである。
I change for ICE 623, operated with two of ICE 3 class 403 sets, set 317 “Recklinghausen” + 354 “Mittenwald”. Fortunately, I found a seat on the 2nd class lounge. ICE 623 departed at 10:20. After passing Kӧln-Kalk S-Bahn station, the train changed the truck, branching off from the high-speed line. It was the Kӧln-Bonn Airport loop, whose length was 15.19 km. ICE trains shared the truck with S-Bahn train in the section. The train passed Frankfurter Strasse S-Bahn station, and passed Schloß-Röttgen tunnel. Then ICE 623 entered into the 4,210 m Airport Tunnel and arrived at Köln/Bonn Flughafen station at 10:33.
急いでホームを移動し、同じくICE 3により運行されるICE 623に乗車する。幸いにも2等のラウンジの最前席が空席だったので、ここに座ることにする。Kӧln Hbfを10時20分に発車したICE 623はS-BahnのKӧln-Kalk駅付近で転線し、ケルン・ボン空港ループ線に入る。ここではS-Bahnと路線を共有する。Frankfurter Strasse駅を通過し、Schloß-Röttgenトンネルを抜けると、全長4210mに空港トンネルに入り、ケルン・ボン空港駅には10時33分に到着する。
ICE 623 departed and ran to the westward to rejoin the high-speed line again. It reached Sieburg/Bonn station at 10:42 on time. Then the train ran over the high-speed line at the maximum speed of 300 km/h, with stops at Montabaur and Limburg Süd. I enjoyed the spectacular scenery from the cockpit lounge. Finally, I was back in Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof at 11:29, 4 minutes earlier than scheduled.
ケルン・ボン空港駅を発車すると西へ向かい、高速新線に再び合流して、10時42分定刻にSieburg/Bonnに着く、その後はMontabaurとLimburg Südに停車しながら. 最高300km/hで高速新線を南西hへ向かい、11時29分(4分早着)でフランクフルト空港駅に着く。
I had lunch at a restaurant in the airport terminal, and then I took a taxi to go to Weilbach to take pictures of ICE 3 running the high-speed line Kӧln-Rhein/Main. It was about 15 km to the point to take pictures. The point can be accessed easily from the rest area of the expressway A3. I arrived there only in 10 minutes. I took several pictures of my favorite ICE 3 in different compositions.
空港内で昼食を取った後、タクシーを拾い、アウトバーンA3経由で15km程離れたWeilbachへ向かう。所要時間は10分程、ここで高速新線を走るICE 3を撮影する。
The taxi came to pick me up at 14:30, since I had asked the driver to come again. I came back to the airport, and took pictures of Lufthansa airplanes on the observation deck. Fortunately, I caught B747-8 D-ABYT, which had the livery in the 80s.
事前に約束した通り14時30分に迎えに来たタクシーで空港に戻る。展望デッキでしばらく撮影する。幸運にもルフトハンザのB747-8のうち、1980年台の塗装をまとったD-ABYTの着陸を撮影することが出来た。
It was the time I have to leave Germany. At the end of my stay, I ate Zürich Art for an early dinner. Then I passed the security check and passport control, and drunk a bottle of bier. When I reached the gate, D-ABYT “Kӧln”, the Retro-Jet, was there.
そろそろ帰国の時間である。早めの夕食を摂って、出国手続きを済ませる。最後にビールを一杯楽しみ、搭乗ゲートへ向かう。本日ルフトハンザのLH 716便に使用されるのは、先程着陸を撮った、レトロ塗装のB747-8、D-ABYT “Kӧln”であった。
LH 716 waited for a connecting flight and left about fifteen minutes behind the schedule. It took off smoothly and turned right. I found an ICE 3 set running toward Kӧln.
After a dinner with glasses of beer and wine, I fell asleep deeply. When I awoke, only one hour left to Tokyo. It flew southbound, then turned right to cross the Tokyo bay. It touched down on the runway of Tokyo/Haneda Airport at 12:00 and arrived at the gate at 12:02, 13 minutes earlier than scheduled.
LH 716便は接続便を待った関係で出発が15分程遅れた。しかし、ゲートを離れるとスムーズに離陸する。高速新線をケルンへICE 3が走るのを横目に、飛行機は力強く高度を上げていく。
ビール、さらにワインと共に夕食を済ませると、あとは深く寝入ってしまった。気が付くと、羽田空港まではもう1時間。朝食にも全く気が付かなかった。東京湾を横断し、定刻より13分早い12時02分に羽田空港に到着した。
(Jun 22, 2015) Trier - Köln - Düsseldorf [ドイツ鉄道旅行 2015]
I came back from the Porta Nigra to Trier Hbf. A train arrived at the station soon from Kӧln. It would go back to Kӧln as RB 11330. The train was operated with 620 026. Class 620, also known as LINT 81 was a diesel railcar manufactured by Alstom and was a part of Alstom Cordia family. The two-piece train LINT 54 and three-part train LINT 81 were the latest diesel multiple units of DB, and started its service in 2014 in “Kölner Dieselnetzes (Diesel-net of Köln)” of DB Regio NRW. Lint 81 has 4 of 390 kW power packs, and its maximum speed was 140 km/h. It fulfiled the current gas emission standard
(stage IIIb).
ポルタ・ニグラからTrier Hbfに戻ると、ちょうどKӧlnからの列車が到着するところであった。この列車の折り返しであるRB 11330に乗車する。この列車はDBの最新の気動車であるAlstom製LINT 81、620形が使用されている。3両編成の620形と2両編成の622形 (LINT 54)は2014年からKöln近郊区間に集中投入されている。LINT 81は出力390kWのパワーパックを４基搭載し、最高速度140km/hの俊足を誇る。さらにヨーロッパの最新排ガス基準も満たしている。
I boarded the train and sat on a seat in 1st class area. RB 11330 was not crowded. It left Trier Hbf at 10:39, crossed the Mosel. The train diverted from Moselstrecke (Koblenz – Trier railway) and went on Eifelstrecke (Eifel Railway) to Kӧln over the Eifel area, a low mountain range in western Germany. The train ran along with the Kyll river. I saw a castle named Burg Ramstein on the left side between Ehrang and Kordel. Eifelstrecke is a local single-track route, but at least a pair of trains was operated every hour. The train crossed with class 644 at Auw an der Kyll station, and class 620 at Philippsheim station, and Kyllburg station. The route had a lot of tight curves, but the latest diesel multiple unit ran powerfully and smoothly.
空いている車内に入り、１等席に座る。10時39分にTrier Hbfを発車すると、列車はモーゼル川を渡り、KoblenzへのMoselstreckeと分かれ、ドイツ西部に広がる標高の低い山地であるアイフェル地方をKyll川に沿って貫くEifelbahnへと進む。
この地方には古城が点在しており、Ehrang・Kordel間では左手にRamstein城の姿がのぞめた。Eifelbahnは単線非電化のローカル線だが、ほぼ1時間に1本の割合で列車は運行しており、Auw an der Kyllで置き換えが進む644 形、PhilippsheimとKyllburgでは620形と交換する。Kyll川に沿って敷設された路線だけに細かいカーブも多いが、列車は滑らかに力強く北へと向かう。
RB 11330 arrived at 11:53 at Gelorstein, which was the center of the Eifel area and famous for a large mineral water firm, Gerolsteiner Brunnen. The train stopped for three minutes and changed its train number from RB 11330 to RE 11330.
A lot of old railbuses were stored in the yard. The train stopped each station as far as Kall, at which it arrived at 12:42. From Kall, it ran toward northeast, passed several stations and reached Euskirichen station at 12:58, which is the junction for Bonn and Düren.
11時53分にこの地域の拠点であるGelorsteinに着く。ここで採水されるミネラルウォーターは日本でもお馴染みである。RB 11330ここで列車名をRE 11330へ変える。
駅構内には多くのレールバスが留置されている。GelorsteinからもKallまでは全ての駅に停車するが、それ以降は幾つかの駅を通過する。BonnやDüren.への接続駅であるEuskirichenには12時58分に着く。
After leaving Euslirchen, RE 11330 ran northbound in the suburban area and join Linke Rheinstrecke (Left Rhein Vally Railway). Soon the train arrived at Kӧln Hbf at 13:39. Although most passengers got off at the sation, I continued the trip to Kӧln Messe/Deutz, which is the terminus of the train, arriving at 13:44. After taking pictures of trains, I came back to Kӧln Hbf.
Euskirchenを出発するとKӧln近郊を北へと向かう。ライン川左岸線Linke Rheinstreckeと合流し、ほどなくして13時39分にKӧln Hbfに到着する。ここで大半の乗客が下車するが、せっかくなので終点のKӧln Messe/Deutzまで乗車する、到着は13時44分である。
I took ICE 610 which came from München Hbf. Fortunately, I sat on a seat of 2nd class lounge. The train departed from Köln Hbf at 14:15, 5 minutes behind the schedule. It crossed slowly across the Rhein, passed Kӧln Messe/Deutz and increased speed. The train ran at 160 km/h toward north. The train soon arrived at Düsseldorf Hbf at 14:38, 6 minutes behind the schedule.
The latest version of ICE, class 407 or Velaro D, stopped on the next platform. I ate a dish of salmon for late lunch at “Nordsee” restaurant inside the station and walked about 10 minutes to a hotel.
Kӧln Hbfに戻って、München Hbf発のICE 610に乗車する。幸いにも2等ラウンジに空席があった。列車は5分遅れの14時15分に発車する。ゆっくりとライン川を渡り、Kӧln Messe/Deutzを通過すると加速し、160km/hを維持して北へと向かう。Düsseldorf Hbfには6分遅れの14時38分に着く。隣のホームには407形Velaro Dが停車している。駅構内の魚介レストラン Nordseeで遅い昼食を済ませた後、小雨の中を10分程歩いてホテルにチェックインする。
After talking a rest, I came back to Düsseldorf Hbf and took RE 10132 from Paderborn Hbf to Aachen Hbf, using bi-level coaches pushed by DB 146 026. The train was crowded, but I found a seat at 1st class coach. The train left Düsseldorf Hbf at 17:39. It made stops at Düsseldorf-Benrath, Leverkusen Mitte, Köln-Müllheim and Köln Messe/Deutz, and arrived at Köln Hbf at 18:12 on time.
しばらく休憩した後、Düsseldorf Hbfへ戻り、Paderborn Hbf発Aachen Hbf行のRE 10132に乗車する。2階建客車を電気機関車146 026が押す編成である。列車は混雑していたが、何とか1等車に空席を見つけることが出来た。列車はDüsseldorf-Benrath、Leverkusen Mitte、Köln-Müllheim、Köln Messe/Deutzと停車し、Köln Hbfには定刻の18:12に着く。
I met a friend and had dinner at “Peters Blauhaus” beer restaurant and enjoyed Kölsch bier, which was very famous in this city. I took IC 2318 hauled by DB 101 114 from Stuttgart Hbf to Dortmund Hbf. I sat in BordBistro coach and drunk a glass of beer. IC 2318 arrived at Düsseldorf Hbf at 21:31. I went back to the hotel.
知人に会い、ビアレストラン”Peters Blauhaus”でKöln名物のケルシュビールを堪能する。帰途は101 114が牽引する、Stuttgart Hbf発Dortmund Hbf行IC 2318に乗車する。BordBistroに座り、最後にビールを一杯。21時31分にDüsseldorf Hbfに到着し、ホテルに戻る。
(stage IIIb).
ポルタ・ニグラからTrier Hbfに戻ると、ちょうどKӧlnからの列車が到着するところであった。この列車の折り返しであるRB 11330に乗車する。この列車はDBの最新の気動車であるAlstom製LINT 81、620形が使用されている。3両編成の620形と2両編成の622形 (LINT 54)は2014年からKöln近郊区間に集中投入されている。LINT 81は出力390kWのパワーパックを４基搭載し、最高速度140km/hの俊足を誇る。さらにヨーロッパの最新排ガス基準も満たしている。
I boarded the train and sat on a seat in 1st class area. RB 11330 was not crowded. It left Trier Hbf at 10:39, crossed the Mosel. The train diverted from Moselstrecke (Koblenz – Trier railway) and went on Eifelstrecke (Eifel Railway) to Kӧln over the Eifel area, a low mountain range in western Germany. The train ran along with the Kyll river. I saw a castle named Burg Ramstein on the left side between Ehrang and Kordel. Eifelstrecke is a local single-track route, but at least a pair of trains was operated every hour. The train crossed with class 644 at Auw an der Kyll station, and class 620 at Philippsheim station, and Kyllburg station. The route had a lot of tight curves, but the latest diesel multiple unit ran powerfully and smoothly.
空いている車内に入り、１等席に座る。10時39分にTrier Hbfを発車すると、列車はモーゼル川を渡り、KoblenzへのMoselstreckeと分かれ、ドイツ西部に広がる標高の低い山地であるアイフェル地方をKyll川に沿って貫くEifelbahnへと進む。
この地方には古城が点在しており、Ehrang・Kordel間では左手にRamstein城の姿がのぞめた。Eifelbahnは単線非電化のローカル線だが、ほぼ1時間に1本の割合で列車は運行しており、Auw an der Kyllで置き換えが進む644 形、PhilippsheimとKyllburgでは620形と交換する。Kyll川に沿って敷設された路線だけに細かいカーブも多いが、列車は滑らかに力強く北へと向かう。
RB 11330 arrived at 11:53 at Gelorstein, which was the center of the Eifel area and famous for a large mineral water firm, Gerolsteiner Brunnen. The train stopped for three minutes and changed its train number from RB 11330 to RE 11330.
A lot of old railbuses were stored in the yard. The train stopped each station as far as Kall, at which it arrived at 12:42. From Kall, it ran toward northeast, passed several stations and reached Euskirichen station at 12:58, which is the junction for Bonn and Düren.
11時53分にこの地域の拠点であるGelorsteinに着く。ここで採水されるミネラルウォーターは日本でもお馴染みである。RB 11330ここで列車名をRE 11330へ変える。
駅構内には多くのレールバスが留置されている。GelorsteinからもKallまでは全ての駅に停車するが、それ以降は幾つかの駅を通過する。BonnやDüren.への接続駅であるEuskirichenには12時58分に着く。
After leaving Euslirchen, RE 11330 ran northbound in the suburban area and join Linke Rheinstrecke (Left Rhein Vally Railway). Soon the train arrived at Kӧln Hbf at 13:39. Although most passengers got off at the sation, I continued the trip to Kӧln Messe/Deutz, which is the terminus of the train, arriving at 13:44. After taking pictures of trains, I came back to Kӧln Hbf.
Euskirchenを出発するとKӧln近郊を北へと向かう。ライン川左岸線Linke Rheinstreckeと合流し、ほどなくして13時39分にKӧln Hbfに到着する。ここで大半の乗客が下車するが、せっかくなので終点のKӧln Messe/Deutzまで乗車する、到着は13時44分である。
I took ICE 610 which came from München Hbf. Fortunately, I sat on a seat of 2nd class lounge. The train departed from Köln Hbf at 14:15, 5 minutes behind the schedule. It crossed slowly across the Rhein, passed Kӧln Messe/Deutz and increased speed. The train ran at 160 km/h toward north. The train soon arrived at Düsseldorf Hbf at 14:38, 6 minutes behind the schedule.
The latest version of ICE, class 407 or Velaro D, stopped on the next platform. I ate a dish of salmon for late lunch at “Nordsee” restaurant inside the station and walked about 10 minutes to a hotel.
Kӧln Hbfに戻って、München Hbf発のICE 610に乗車する。幸いにも2等ラウンジに空席があった。列車は5分遅れの14時15分に発車する。ゆっくりとライン川を渡り、Kӧln Messe/Deutzを通過すると加速し、160km/hを維持して北へと向かう。Düsseldorf Hbfには6分遅れの14時38分に着く。隣のホームには407形Velaro Dが停車している。駅構内の魚介レストラン Nordseeで遅い昼食を済ませた後、小雨の中を10分程歩いてホテルにチェックインする。
After talking a rest, I came back to Düsseldorf Hbf and took RE 10132 from Paderborn Hbf to Aachen Hbf, using bi-level coaches pushed by DB 146 026. The train was crowded, but I found a seat at 1st class coach. The train left Düsseldorf Hbf at 17:39. It made stops at Düsseldorf-Benrath, Leverkusen Mitte, Köln-Müllheim and Köln Messe/Deutz, and arrived at Köln Hbf at 18:12 on time.
しばらく休憩した後、Düsseldorf Hbfへ戻り、Paderborn Hbf発Aachen Hbf行のRE 10132に乗車する。2階建客車を電気機関車146 026が押す編成である。列車は混雑していたが、何とか1等車に空席を見つけることが出来た。列車はDüsseldorf-Benrath、Leverkusen Mitte、Köln-Müllheim、Köln Messe/Deutzと停車し、Köln Hbfには定刻の18:12に着く。
I met a friend and had dinner at “Peters Blauhaus” beer restaurant and enjoyed Kölsch bier, which was very famous in this city. I took IC 2318 hauled by DB 101 114 from Stuttgart Hbf to Dortmund Hbf. I sat in BordBistro coach and drunk a glass of beer. IC 2318 arrived at Düsseldorf Hbf at 21:31. I went back to the hotel.
知人に会い、ビアレストラン”Peters Blauhaus”でKöln名物のケルシュビールを堪能する。帰途は101 114が牽引する、Stuttgart Hbf発Dortmund Hbf行IC 2318に乗車する。BordBistroに座り、最後にビールを一杯。21時31分にDüsseldorf Hbfに到着し、ホテルに戻る。
(Jun 22, 2015) Mannheim - Saarbrücken - Trier [ドイツ鉄道旅行 2015]
I got up at five and checked out the hotel at 06:25 am. I walked to Mannheim Hbf and took ICE 9558. The train was operated between Frankfurt am Main to Paris Est, using set 715 of class 407, Velaro D. It was the modernist high-speed train in Germany. Though DB first planned to use the train for regular service from 2011, Velaro D started its service in December 2013 due to various technical problems. First it was used only domestic routes, but the French authority approved its service in France in May 2015, and Velaro D started its operation from Frankfurt to Paris. It was the second time for me to board the train.
I had reserved an aisle seat, but I found a vacant window seat and sat on it to enjoy the landscape from the window. ICE 9558 left Mainheim Hbf at 6:40 and crossed over the Rhein river. Thereafter, the train change its direction from west to southwest, passed Ludwigshafen station, and accelerated to reach 200 kph. It ran toward the southwest, then turned right and ran toward west until Neustadt.
The interior design of Velaro D based on that of classes 403/406 ICE 3. Though it was still sophisticated, it seemed to be slightly cheaper compared to the classes 403/406.
As the operation of the Germany – France high speed trains was a joint venture of DB and SNCF, France National Railway Company, both train conductors of DB and SNCF were responsible for the train. They walked around the train to check the tickets of the passengers. Since I carried only German Rail Pass which was valid only within Germany, one of the conductors asked me where I would go. I told him that I would get off at Saarbrucken Hbf. In this train, breakfast was served for all of the 1st class passengers who went to France, except for the domestic passengers. As I had told the conductor, breakfast was not served for me.
After passing Neustadt (Weinstr.) Hbf, the train reduced the speed and ran through a lot of curves and eleven tunnels in Pfälzerwald. It climbed up 119 m in the 33.5 km section between Neustadt and Kaiserslautern and arrived at Kaiserslautern Hbf at 7:24, 4 minutes behind the schedule.
The number of passengers increased, and most seats were occupied. After leaving Kaiserslautern, the train straight to Homburg. In Homburg Hbf, the line divided a branch to Nenkirchen, but ICE 9558 passes the station. The train kept on running toward west at about 160 kph and reach at Saarbrücken Hbf at 8 o’clock, 2 minutes behind the schedule.
I saw 212 393 diesel locomotive in a traditional Bundesbahn livery. I bought a piece of pizza and came back to platform 12. The train RE 4111 approached soon. RE 4111 was a train of Linie RE 1 of Süwex-net, connecting Mannheim – Saarbrücken – Trier – Koblentz, and the latest electric multiple unit, Stadler’s Flirt 3 (Class 429.1) was used for this route.
The train left Saarbrücken at 8:19 and ran toward west on the right bank of the Saar. Völklingen station was located next to the magnificent Völklingen Ironworks, one of the UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Then the train turned right and changed its direction toward northwest and reached Ensdorf. I saw the huge fossil-fuel station, Kraftwerk Ensdorf, in the left side.
Since the railway line followed a lot of loops of the Saar, there were many tight curves. I enjoyed the landscape of the Saar valley. Not a few passengers were boarded the train, and some of them carried bicycles. The interior of the train is simple, but functional and comfortable.
After Konz, the route from Luxemburg joined, and the train stopped temporally at Karthaus to wait for the passage of RE 5111 from Luxemburg. Then the train arrived at Trier Hbf at 9:34, six minutes behind the schedule. I got off the train here, but it will connected with RE 5111 and left Trier for Koblenz.
About an hour left until the departure of the next train. Despite the rainy weather, I made up my mind to visit the Porta Nigra, a large Roman city gate built between 186 and 200 AD. It was designated as part of the Roman Monuments of Trier UNESCO World Heritage Site. By ten-minute walk, I reached the Porta Nigra. There are few tourists, and the old gate left a strong impression.
I had reserved an aisle seat, but I found a vacant window seat and sat on it to enjoy the landscape from the window. ICE 9558 left Mainheim Hbf at 6:40 and crossed over the Rhein river. Thereafter, the train change its direction from west to southwest, passed Ludwigshafen station, and accelerated to reach 200 kph. It ran toward the southwest, then turned right and ran toward west until Neustadt.
The interior design of Velaro D based on that of classes 403/406 ICE 3. Though it was still sophisticated, it seemed to be slightly cheaper compared to the classes 403/406.
As the operation of the Germany – France high speed trains was a joint venture of DB and SNCF, France National Railway Company, both train conductors of DB and SNCF were responsible for the train. They walked around the train to check the tickets of the passengers. Since I carried only German Rail Pass which was valid only within Germany, one of the conductors asked me where I would go. I told him that I would get off at Saarbrucken Hbf. In this train, breakfast was served for all of the 1st class passengers who went to France, except for the domestic passengers. As I had told the conductor, breakfast was not served for me.
After passing Neustadt (Weinstr.) Hbf, the train reduced the speed and ran through a lot of curves and eleven tunnels in Pfälzerwald. It climbed up 119 m in the 33.5 km section between Neustadt and Kaiserslautern and arrived at Kaiserslautern Hbf at 7:24, 4 minutes behind the schedule.
The number of passengers increased, and most seats were occupied. After leaving Kaiserslautern, the train straight to Homburg. In Homburg Hbf, the line divided a branch to Nenkirchen, but ICE 9558 passes the station. The train kept on running toward west at about 160 kph and reach at Saarbrücken Hbf at 8 o’clock, 2 minutes behind the schedule.
I saw 212 393 diesel locomotive in a traditional Bundesbahn livery. I bought a piece of pizza and came back to platform 12. The train RE 4111 approached soon. RE 4111 was a train of Linie RE 1 of Süwex-net, connecting Mannheim – Saarbrücken – Trier – Koblentz, and the latest electric multiple unit, Stadler’s Flirt 3 (Class 429.1) was used for this route.
The train left Saarbrücken at 8:19 and ran toward west on the right bank of the Saar. Völklingen station was located next to the magnificent Völklingen Ironworks, one of the UNESCO’s world heritage sites. Then the train turned right and changed its direction toward northwest and reached Ensdorf. I saw the huge fossil-fuel station, Kraftwerk Ensdorf, in the left side.
Since the railway line followed a lot of loops of the Saar, there were many tight curves. I enjoyed the landscape of the Saar valley. Not a few passengers were boarded the train, and some of them carried bicycles. The interior of the train is simple, but functional and comfortable.
After Konz, the route from Luxemburg joined, and the train stopped temporally at Karthaus to wait for the passage of RE 5111 from Luxemburg. Then the train arrived at Trier Hbf at 9:34, six minutes behind the schedule. I got off the train here, but it will connected with RE 5111 and left Trier for Koblenz.
About an hour left until the departure of the next train. Despite the rainy weather, I made up my mind to visit the Porta Nigra, a large Roman city gate built between 186 and 200 AD. It was designated as part of the Roman Monuments of Trier UNESCO World Heritage Site. By ten-minute walk, I reached the Porta Nigra. There are few tourists, and the old gate left a strong impression.
(Jun 21, 2015) Fulda - Weimar - Mannheim [ドイツ鉄道旅行 2015]
ICE 1549 arrived at Fulda on time from Frankfurt Main Hbf. The train was operated using a 7-car set of class 411 ICE-T. I sat on a 1st class compartment. The train left Fulda at 13:14. It was uncrowded, so I was able to occupy the compartment. ICE 1549 ran northward along the Fulda river. After the short stop at Bad Hersfeld, it changed the direction to the east in Bebra, and arrived at Eisenach at 14:07. Eisenach is a city where a notable composer Johan Sebastian Bach was born in 1685.
Just after departing from Eisenach, I saw a locomotive of class 294 with traditional blue livery owned by Railsystems RP Gmbh. After a short stop at Gotha, the train reached Erfurt at 14:39.
ICE 1549 left Erfurt on time. I saw Railadventure 139 558 stored in the broad yard. The high-speed line Erfurt – Leipzig branched soon, which would be in service from the end of 2015. The train arrived at Weimar at 14:55, one minute earlier than the schedule.
Weimar is a small town has played an important role in German culture because Friedrich Schiller as well as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe lived here. Schiller who I respect the most spent his last days in Wemar. I came to Weimar because I had been eager to visit the Schiller’s house.
I went to the central area of the town Wemar. It took only ten minutes by bus from the station. I was moved to see the Goethe-Schiller Monument in front of the Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar.
Afterward, I visited Schiller museum, which was located in a house he had lived. I had been strongly impressed at the works of Schiller, so I had wanted to come here. The plain and simple house made me image the life of Schiller and his family.
Then I went back to the station. I had planned to take the train ICE 1544, but I was able to take IC 1958 which came to Weimar 10 minutes behind the schedule. The train was hauled by 101 105. I sat on a seat of traditional 1st class compartment. It was enough comfortable even compared to more modern ICE trains.
After stopping at Erfurt Hbf, the train moved to the left side of the double track from Fröttstädt and overtook a local train at Wutha, and afterwards reached Eisenach at 17:43, 2 minutes behind the schedule.
After leaving Eisenach, the train went to Fulda without stops, and reached Fulda at 18:40, 10 minutes behind the schedule. I got off here.
Then I took the train ICE 693 from Berlin to München, operated using ICE 1 (Tz 171 “Heusenstamm”). I boarded on the dining car to have dinner. Over half of the seats in the car was occupied, but I could occupy a table.
After leaving Fulda at 18:47, the train got off the high-speed line Hannover – Würzburg and headed for Frankfurt Main. I enjoyed a glass of beer “Bitburger” and ate tomato pasta and a delicious dish of chicken breast with nut pesto stuffing, zucchini and wild rice. After a short stop at Haunau Hbf, the train passed Offenbach, crossed over the Main river, and reached Frankfurt Main Hbf at 19:44.
I ordered a small bottle of red wine. ICE 693 departed Frankfurt Hbf at 19:50 to the opposite direction. I enjoyed German red wine. I was absolutely satisfied with the dinner and convinced that the dining car was indispensable for ICE travel. ICE 693 arrived at Mannheim Hbf at 20:30, three minutes behind the schedule. I checked in Hotel Kurpfalzstuben which is located in front of the station.
Just after departing from Eisenach, I saw a locomotive of class 294 with traditional blue livery owned by Railsystems RP Gmbh. After a short stop at Gotha, the train reached Erfurt at 14:39.
ICE 1549 left Erfurt on time. I saw Railadventure 139 558 stored in the broad yard. The high-speed line Erfurt – Leipzig branched soon, which would be in service from the end of 2015. The train arrived at Weimar at 14:55, one minute earlier than the schedule.
Weimar is a small town has played an important role in German culture because Friedrich Schiller as well as Johann Wolfgang von Goethe lived here. Schiller who I respect the most spent his last days in Wemar. I came to Weimar because I had been eager to visit the Schiller’s house.
I went to the central area of the town Wemar. It took only ten minutes by bus from the station. I was moved to see the Goethe-Schiller Monument in front of the Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle Weimar.
Afterward, I visited Schiller museum, which was located in a house he had lived. I had been strongly impressed at the works of Schiller, so I had wanted to come here. The plain and simple house made me image the life of Schiller and his family.
Then I went back to the station. I had planned to take the train ICE 1544, but I was able to take IC 1958 which came to Weimar 10 minutes behind the schedule. The train was hauled by 101 105. I sat on a seat of traditional 1st class compartment. It was enough comfortable even compared to more modern ICE trains.
After stopping at Erfurt Hbf, the train moved to the left side of the double track from Fröttstädt and overtook a local train at Wutha, and afterwards reached Eisenach at 17:43, 2 minutes behind the schedule.
After leaving Eisenach, the train went to Fulda without stops, and reached Fulda at 18:40, 10 minutes behind the schedule. I got off here.
Then I took the train ICE 693 from Berlin to München, operated using ICE 1 (Tz 171 “Heusenstamm”). I boarded on the dining car to have dinner. Over half of the seats in the car was occupied, but I could occupy a table.
After leaving Fulda at 18:47, the train got off the high-speed line Hannover – Würzburg and headed for Frankfurt Main. I enjoyed a glass of beer “Bitburger” and ate tomato pasta and a delicious dish of chicken breast with nut pesto stuffing, zucchini and wild rice. After a short stop at Haunau Hbf, the train passed Offenbach, crossed over the Main river, and reached Frankfurt Main Hbf at 19:44.
I ordered a small bottle of red wine. ICE 693 departed Frankfurt Hbf at 19:50 to the opposite direction. I enjoyed German red wine. I was absolutely satisfied with the dinner and convinced that the dining car was indispensable for ICE travel. ICE 693 arrived at Mannheim Hbf at 20:30, three minutes behind the schedule. I checked in Hotel Kurpfalzstuben which is located in front of the station.
(Jun 21, 2015) Herford - Paderborn - Fulda [ドイツ鉄道旅行 2015]
The old friends of my parents who had lodged me saw me to Herford station. I took the train 90653 of RB 72 from Herford to Paderborn. RB 72 was operated by a private passenger operating company, Westfalenbahn (WLB). It operated 4 lines in Nordrhein-Westfalen from 2007 and used Stadler’s electric multiple units, named “Flirt”. Trains of RB 72 were operated hourly.
Almost half of the seats were occupied. The train left Herford at 09:33 on time, ran in a southeastward direction and reached Detmond which was a small town but famous for Hochschule für Musik Detmold (The University of Music Detmold), one of Germany's leading university-level schools of music.
After leaving Sandebeck, it merged to the railway line from Hameln, ran through Rahberg-Tunnel (1632m) and arrived at Altenbeken at 10:28.
Then the train crossed over the Bekeviadukt, which was the longest limestone bridge (482m) long over the Beke valley in Altenbeken town. The train got to Paderborn Hbf at 10:41.
Aside from DB vehicles, in Paderborn I could watch some kinds of private operate’s vehicles, including Stadler’s “Flirt” operated by ALB and eurobahn, Bombardier’s “Talent” operated by NordWestBahn. In addition, S-Bahn trains from Hannover came to this station.
Only a couple of ICE trains was operated in the railway line Hamm – Paderborn -Altenbeken – Warburg – Kassel. I took ICE 1223, one of the ICE trains, which ran from Köln Messe/Deutz to München Hbf via Düsseldorf, Essen, Hamm, Paderborn, Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe, Würzburg and Nürnberg Hbf, using class 403 ICE 3 (Tz 306). The train left Paderborn Hbf 11 minutes behind the schedule. I sat on the 2nd class seat #17 in the lounge of coach #31. The seat located just behind the driver’s cab. The train ran at about 120 kph. After crossing over the Bekeviadukt, it arrived at Altenbeken.
Then the train ran in a southeastward direction, through the Egge-Tunnel, and got to Warburg 9 minutes behind the schedule. Warburg is a junction connecting with Obere Ruhrtalbahn to Hagen.
ICE 1223 passed Hofgeismar-Hümme which is the terminus of Kassel RegioTram line RT3. After passing Vellmar-Obervellmar, the train crossed over a junction and entered the high-speed railway Hannover – Würzburg. Soon it arrived at Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe at 12:02, 6 minutes behind the schedule.
The train left Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe at 12:04 and accelerated smoothly to 250 kph. The high-speed railway Hannover – Würzburg was one of the oldest high-speed lines in Germany, opened in 1991. The maxium speed of the railway was 280 kph. Indeed the signal indicated allowing the speed of 280 kph, but the train maintained the speed of 250 kph. A children sitting on the opposite seat was excited at the speed as well as I. ICE 1223 covered 89.9 km between Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe and Fulda only in 25 minutes and arrived at Fulda at 12:29, shortening the delay to one minute. I got off there. ICE 1223 left the station for München several minutes later.
I had Doner kebab for lunch. Then I took pictures the rescue train hauled by diesel locomotives class 714 (Former V100) stored at the station. The train prepared for serious accidents. I hoped the train would never work.
Then I moved to platform 7 to go to Weimar.
Almost half of the seats were occupied. The train left Herford at 09:33 on time, ran in a southeastward direction and reached Detmond which was a small town but famous for Hochschule für Musik Detmold (The University of Music Detmold), one of Germany's leading university-level schools of music.
After leaving Sandebeck, it merged to the railway line from Hameln, ran through Rahberg-Tunnel (1632m) and arrived at Altenbeken at 10:28.
Then the train crossed over the Bekeviadukt, which was the longest limestone bridge (482m) long over the Beke valley in Altenbeken town. The train got to Paderborn Hbf at 10:41.
Aside from DB vehicles, in Paderborn I could watch some kinds of private operate’s vehicles, including Stadler’s “Flirt” operated by ALB and eurobahn, Bombardier’s “Talent” operated by NordWestBahn. In addition, S-Bahn trains from Hannover came to this station.
Only a couple of ICE trains was operated in the railway line Hamm – Paderborn -Altenbeken – Warburg – Kassel. I took ICE 1223, one of the ICE trains, which ran from Köln Messe/Deutz to München Hbf via Düsseldorf, Essen, Hamm, Paderborn, Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe, Würzburg and Nürnberg Hbf, using class 403 ICE 3 (Tz 306). The train left Paderborn Hbf 11 minutes behind the schedule. I sat on the 2nd class seat #17 in the lounge of coach #31. The seat located just behind the driver’s cab. The train ran at about 120 kph. After crossing over the Bekeviadukt, it arrived at Altenbeken.
Then the train ran in a southeastward direction, through the Egge-Tunnel, and got to Warburg 9 minutes behind the schedule. Warburg is a junction connecting with Obere Ruhrtalbahn to Hagen.
ICE 1223 passed Hofgeismar-Hümme which is the terminus of Kassel RegioTram line RT3. After passing Vellmar-Obervellmar, the train crossed over a junction and entered the high-speed railway Hannover – Würzburg. Soon it arrived at Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe at 12:02, 6 minutes behind the schedule.
The train left Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe at 12:04 and accelerated smoothly to 250 kph. The high-speed railway Hannover – Würzburg was one of the oldest high-speed lines in Germany, opened in 1991. The maxium speed of the railway was 280 kph. Indeed the signal indicated allowing the speed of 280 kph, but the train maintained the speed of 250 kph. A children sitting on the opposite seat was excited at the speed as well as I. ICE 1223 covered 89.9 km between Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe and Fulda only in 25 minutes and arrived at Fulda at 12:29, shortening the delay to one minute. I got off there. ICE 1223 left the station for München several minutes later.
I had Doner kebab for lunch. Then I took pictures the rescue train hauled by diesel locomotives class 714 (Former V100) stored at the station. The train prepared for serious accidents. I hoped the train would never work.
Then I moved to platform 7 to go to Weimar.
(Jun 20, 2015) Essen - Herford [ドイツ鉄道旅行 2015]
After breakfast, I enjoyed walking around a market held in Rüttenscheid every Satueday. I wondered at the sight of piles of white asparagus.
Then I checked out the hotel at 9 am and took the U-Bahn U11 from Rüttenscheid Stern. It took only three minutes to Essen Hbf.
I bought a ticket and took the train RE 10611. The train was hauled by 146 003. It had left Düsseldorf Hbf at 08:54 and was bound for Minden. There were few passengers in the 1st class upper deck of bi-level coaches, so I occupied two seats and was relaxed.
The train left Essen Hbf at 09:29 and ran to the eastward. Since the Ruhr area is a major industrial region, a lot of railways lines has been built and connect each other complicatedly. The line connecting Duisburg, Essen and Dortmund is a main axis in the Ruhr area and consists of two parallel two-track lines. After the short stops at Wattenscheid and Bochum Hbf, the train arrived at Dortmund Hbf at 09:52, which was one of the major junction in this area.
Soon after the train leaving Dortmund Hbf, I saw a big yard in the left side, and various vehicles including ICE and sleeping coaches were stored. The train made a short stop at Kamen and reached Hamm(Westf). From Hamm, the train RE 10611 stopped at eash station to Bielefeld except for Brackwede. I enjoyed the ever-changing scenery through the train window. The train arrived at Herford at 11:09, being 2 minutes behind.
I met the college classmate of my mother, who lived in Herford with his husband, and stayed their house. After lunch, I walked around the town and then took some pictures at Herford station.
I came back to the city center by bus and ate white asparagus for dinner and drunk a lot of wine at a restaurant.
Then I checked out the hotel at 9 am and took the U-Bahn U11 from Rüttenscheid Stern. It took only three minutes to Essen Hbf.
I bought a ticket and took the train RE 10611. The train was hauled by 146 003. It had left Düsseldorf Hbf at 08:54 and was bound for Minden. There were few passengers in the 1st class upper deck of bi-level coaches, so I occupied two seats and was relaxed.
The train left Essen Hbf at 09:29 and ran to the eastward. Since the Ruhr area is a major industrial region, a lot of railways lines has been built and connect each other complicatedly. The line connecting Duisburg, Essen and Dortmund is a main axis in the Ruhr area and consists of two parallel two-track lines. After the short stops at Wattenscheid and Bochum Hbf, the train arrived at Dortmund Hbf at 09:52, which was one of the major junction in this area.
Soon after the train leaving Dortmund Hbf, I saw a big yard in the left side, and various vehicles including ICE and sleeping coaches were stored. The train made a short stop at Kamen and reached Hamm(Westf). From Hamm, the train RE 10611 stopped at eash station to Bielefeld except for Brackwede. I enjoyed the ever-changing scenery through the train window. The train arrived at Herford at 11:09, being 2 minutes behind.
I met the college classmate of my mother, who lived in Herford with his husband, and stayed their house. After lunch, I walked around the town and then took some pictures at Herford station.
I came back to the city center by bus and ate white asparagus for dinner and drunk a lot of wine at a restaurant.
(Jun 19, 2015) Tokyo - Frankfurt Main - Kӧln - Essen [ドイツ鉄道旅行 2015]
I visited Germany again following last year. On July 19th, I got up early, took the rapid train of Sobu Line and arrived at Narita Airport at 07:34, almost two hours prior to departure of the flight. I had finished the check-in procedure by my mobile phone, so I only checked in my suitcase at the baggage drop-off counter. After shopping and having breakfast, I cleared security at 08:40, and went to the gate.
The boarding of the flight, Lufthansa LH 711 for Frankfurt Main, started at about 9:30. Boeing 747-430 D-ABVU “Bayern” was used for this flight. I boarded the airplane and sat on the seat 54B. The usual configuration of Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-400 Economy Class is 3-4-3, but the configuration of last three rows 54-56 is 2-4-2. My seat was next to window, and I could be relaxed since no one sat on the adjacent seat. At 9:50, 5 minutes prior to the scheduled time, the airplane was pushed back from the gate and powered on its four engines to begin taxing to the main runway. Following the takeoff of JAL Boeing 767 and 777, it took off from the runway at 10:05.
The sky over Japan was covered with heavy clouds, and I saw blue sky when flying near Sanjo-city, Niigata prefecture. I was surprised that the in-flight entertainment had been updated even in the old Boeing 747-400. I checked the flight information which was very attractive for aviation enthusiasts. Then I tried online internet service “Flynet”. It was useful for my work, but it costed 17 Euro to use during the whole flight,
The lunch service began when the airplane flew near Khabarovsk after crossing the sea. I drunk delicious German beer “Warsteiner”. I chose the beef goulash from the two options listed in the menu. I enjoyed the dish along with a glass of white wine.
After the satisfying lunch, I watched Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte (Magic Flute)” conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, recorded in Salzburg Festival in 2013. That was the one I watched in Salzburg and left me a moving memory. Additionally, I enjoyed a Japanese movie, named “Maestro”.
Two hours prior to the landing, lunch was served. I chose pasta from two options with a glass of white wine. The airplane crossed over the Baltic Sea into Germany. The sky over Germany was covered with clouds like Japan. It descended gradually and landed on rainy Frankfurt am Main International Airport at 14:30. The Jumbo stopped at the gate at 14:37.
After the satisfying Lufthansa flight, I got off the airplane. I smoothly passed the immigration, and picked up my suitcase. Then I walked to the platform of Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof (Frankfurt Airport Long-distance Station). I had a reservation of ICE 106 which would leave at 16:09, but I considered to take the train ICE 628 at 15:25, or ICE 816 at 15:32, but both of the trains were crowded. As a result, I decided to take ICE 106 according to my reservation and took pictures to kill time.
ICE 106 came to the platform on time. The train had left Basel SBB at 13:13 for Dortmund, and was composed of sixteen cars (two sets of eight car unit of ICE 3, class 403, Tz 328 “Aachen” + Tz 316 “Sieburg”). I reserved a 1st class seat on car 39 which should be at the head of the train according to the schedule, but 2nd class car 31 was at the head instead. ICE 106 was also crowded and all the seats were occupied. I pushed my way through the passengers standing. The 1st class cars were also crowded and all of the seats were occupied, too. Though I have a reservation, I decided to keep standing near the door since it would take only 30 minutes to Kӧln and it would be troublesome to make someone move from the seats which I had reserved. ICE 106 ran smoothly at the maximum speed of 300kph over the high-speed line Kӧln-Rhein/Main. After a short stop at Sieburg/Bonn, the train arrived at Kӧln Hbf at 17:09, being 4 minutes behind.
I transferred to EC 8. The train came from Zürich HB and was consisted of SBB coaches hauled by DB 101 093. It left Kӧln Hbf at 17:20, 10 minutes behind the schedule. I found a vacant seat on 1st class coach, which was fitted with rows of seats in a 1+2 arrangement. Although I prefer the interior design of ICE because of its relaxing atmosphere, the interior of SBB coaches was also attractive, in which the red head overs were leaving a vivid impression. EC 8 ran at the maxium speed of 200 kph and arrived at Essen Hbf at 18:07 after stopping at Düsseldorf Hbf and Duisburg Hbf.
I moved to the underground station. The tram network in Essen had been modified just 5 days ago. I took the tram (BOMBARDIER Flexity Classic M8D-NF by Bombardier) of new line 101 to go to Rüttenscheid and checked in at Stadt-gut-Hotel Rheinischer Hof near the tram stop.
I left the hotel again and came back to Rüttenscheid tram stop. Rüttenscheid is one of
Essen’s downtown area, but it was very quiet. Again I took the tram of line 101. The vehicle was the BOMBARDIER Flexity Classic M8D-NF2 which was the latest tram in Essen, having entered in service last year. I got off at Rubenstr. and visited the house I had lived about 30 years ago. It existed as it had been. Then I took the tram
I took the tram of line 106 which ran the opposite direction of line 101 (M8D-NF). I got off at Cäcilienstr., and had dinner and enjoyed Italian dishes at Oase Restaurant which my family visited repeatedly when we had lived in Essen. After the dinner, I walked back to the hotel.
The boarding of the flight, Lufthansa LH 711 for Frankfurt Main, started at about 9:30. Boeing 747-430 D-ABVU “Bayern” was used for this flight. I boarded the airplane and sat on the seat 54B. The usual configuration of Lufthansa’s Boeing 747-400 Economy Class is 3-4-3, but the configuration of last three rows 54-56 is 2-4-2. My seat was next to window, and I could be relaxed since no one sat on the adjacent seat. At 9:50, 5 minutes prior to the scheduled time, the airplane was pushed back from the gate and powered on its four engines to begin taxing to the main runway. Following the takeoff of JAL Boeing 767 and 777, it took off from the runway at 10:05.
The sky over Japan was covered with heavy clouds, and I saw blue sky when flying near Sanjo-city, Niigata prefecture. I was surprised that the in-flight entertainment had been updated even in the old Boeing 747-400. I checked the flight information which was very attractive for aviation enthusiasts. Then I tried online internet service “Flynet”. It was useful for my work, but it costed 17 Euro to use during the whole flight,
The lunch service began when the airplane flew near Khabarovsk after crossing the sea. I drunk delicious German beer “Warsteiner”. I chose the beef goulash from the two options listed in the menu. I enjoyed the dish along with a glass of white wine.
After the satisfying lunch, I watched Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte (Magic Flute)” conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, recorded in Salzburg Festival in 2013. That was the one I watched in Salzburg and left me a moving memory. Additionally, I enjoyed a Japanese movie, named “Maestro”.
Two hours prior to the landing, lunch was served. I chose pasta from two options with a glass of white wine. The airplane crossed over the Baltic Sea into Germany. The sky over Germany was covered with clouds like Japan. It descended gradually and landed on rainy Frankfurt am Main International Airport at 14:30. The Jumbo stopped at the gate at 14:37.
After the satisfying Lufthansa flight, I got off the airplane. I smoothly passed the immigration, and picked up my suitcase. Then I walked to the platform of Frankfurt Flughafen Fernbahnhof (Frankfurt Airport Long-distance Station). I had a reservation of ICE 106 which would leave at 16:09, but I considered to take the train ICE 628 at 15:25, or ICE 816 at 15:32, but both of the trains were crowded. As a result, I decided to take ICE 106 according to my reservation and took pictures to kill time.
ICE 106 came to the platform on time. The train had left Basel SBB at 13:13 for Dortmund, and was composed of sixteen cars (two sets of eight car unit of ICE 3, class 403, Tz 328 “Aachen” + Tz 316 “Sieburg”). I reserved a 1st class seat on car 39 which should be at the head of the train according to the schedule, but 2nd class car 31 was at the head instead. ICE 106 was also crowded and all the seats were occupied. I pushed my way through the passengers standing. The 1st class cars were also crowded and all of the seats were occupied, too. Though I have a reservation, I decided to keep standing near the door since it would take only 30 minutes to Kӧln and it would be troublesome to make someone move from the seats which I had reserved. ICE 106 ran smoothly at the maximum speed of 300kph over the high-speed line Kӧln-Rhein/Main. After a short stop at Sieburg/Bonn, the train arrived at Kӧln Hbf at 17:09, being 4 minutes behind.
I transferred to EC 8. The train came from Zürich HB and was consisted of SBB coaches hauled by DB 101 093. It left Kӧln Hbf at 17:20, 10 minutes behind the schedule. I found a vacant seat on 1st class coach, which was fitted with rows of seats in a 1+2 arrangement. Although I prefer the interior design of ICE because of its relaxing atmosphere, the interior of SBB coaches was also attractive, in which the red head overs were leaving a vivid impression. EC 8 ran at the maxium speed of 200 kph and arrived at Essen Hbf at 18:07 after stopping at Düsseldorf Hbf and Duisburg Hbf.
I moved to the underground station. The tram network in Essen had been modified just 5 days ago. I took the tram (BOMBARDIER Flexity Classic M8D-NF by Bombardier) of new line 101 to go to Rüttenscheid and checked in at Stadt-gut-Hotel Rheinischer Hof near the tram stop.
I left the hotel again and came back to Rüttenscheid tram stop. Rüttenscheid is one of
Essen’s downtown area, but it was very quiet. Again I took the tram of line 101. The vehicle was the BOMBARDIER Flexity Classic M8D-NF2 which was the latest tram in Essen, having entered in service last year. I got off at Rubenstr. and visited the house I had lived about 30 years ago. It existed as it had been. Then I took the tram
I took the tram of line 106 which ran the opposite direction of line 101 (M8D-NF). I got off at Cäcilienstr., and had dinner and enjoyed Italian dishes at Oase Restaurant which my family visited repeatedly when we had lived in Essen. After the dinner, I walked back to the hotel.
