The 9-euro ticket tempts many to take short trips to the region

Relaxed atmosphere at the main station
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The 9-euro ticket ensures full trains – even to Düsseldorf

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It was particularly crowded at the main train station on Saturday.
Photo: Anne Orthen (orth)/Anne Orthen (ort)

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Düsseldorf The long Pentecost weekend also demands a lot from rail travelers in Düsseldorf. But despite overcrowded trains, delays and missed connections, most of them stayed calm.

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It was the weekend of excursions and challenges for travelers. That was evident from the start. Central station, Friday evening, around 7:30 p.m.: Only a few commuters are still waiting for regional and S-Bahn trains. Katja and Sabine are waiting on platform 7 for the train to Arnhem. From there they want to continue to Amsterdam. “Shopping and going to a concert on Saturday,” says Katja. Why didn’t they get on the ICE to Amsterdam straight away, which takes them there less than ten minutes later? “We bought 9 euro tickets. With that we can only take the regional trains,” explains Sabine.

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The Remagen couple also planned their weekend trip to Hamburg in a similar way. “We take the Regiobahn to Osnabrück. From there it goes on via Bremen”. Change multiple times? No problem for the two. “We have time and since we’re heading into the evening, it won’t be as crowded as this afternoon,” they believe.

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Cologne: At the start of the long Pentecost weekend, there is a lot of activity at Cologne Central Station — 8 pictures Long Pentecost weekend meets 9-euro ticket — a lot going on at Cologne Central Station
*Photo: dpa / Thomas Banneyer*

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A different picture early Saturday morning. Travelers pull their suitcases behind them, find out about departure times, stock up on provisions and prepare for the journey.

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Gülcan Sami keeps an eye on her teenage offspring. The family is going to visit friends in Paderborn for the weekend. “The 9-euro ticket is a blessing for us,” says the happy mother of three. She probably wouldn’t have started the journey if she had had to pay the usual fare. “I’m worried about how crowded it’s going to be,” she says.
A group of cone sisters loudly discuss the pros and cons of the price action. The ladies want to go to Rügen. “If we were to go there with the cheap ticket, we would definitely be on the road for two days,” Margit Poeskamp is convinced.

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With the fully booked Intercity, it is still around eight hours that they need to reach their destination. “At least we don’t have to change trains and we’ve reserved seats,” she says, waving again before the IC door closes behind her.

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Many of the travelers on this morning, who start the long weekend with the 9-euro ticket, travel short distances like Jannis, Max and Tom. The three want to go to Munster. “Visit a few fellow students,” they say. That would also work with the regional train. The boys have rather liquid provisions with them and are convinced that “we’ll manage the trip.” They have to change trains in Dortmund, but “who wants to complain for this price”, says Jannis.

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An opinion with which he is not alone. “If you want comfort, you can take the ICE,” argues Tom.
When asked if she doesn’t mind if the compartments are crowded and maybe not everyone gets a seat, the business administration student admits: “Of course I’d rather sit the entire journey, but hey – you can you don’t have everything, do you?” he grins mischievously.

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There is a lot of activity in the shopping arcade. Those arriving strive towards the exit as quickly as possible. Not everyone can cope with the crowds on platforms and in trains. Klara Grünwald, for example, had “seriously considered postponing the trip”. She wants to visit her daughter in Minden. “I don’t feel comfortable with so many people,” admits the pensioner. “But you can’t beat the price,” she admits.

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Around 11 a.m. far more travelers arrive in Düsseldorf than depart. Like Julia Bartholomey and her friends, who tumble off the Regiobahn in a good mood on platform 4. “Hen party,” they call out in unison. They were prepared for the “cramped train”, “but we didn’t expect it to be so tight,” admits the bride.

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Bertram Grahms is far less relaxed: “It was terrible, people stuck together like postage stamps. Then you constantly rush from one platform to the other. I don’t need that again,” he complains.

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Flexibility is definitely required. Due to the many travelers, there are delays and thus diversions to other platforms. Anyone who has only planned a few minutes to change trains will only see the taillights of the planned connection. “Travel becomes an adventure there,” sighs Johannes Babrecht, who just missed his train to Aachen.

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