Is there a train connection between Amsterdam and Gailenkirchen,
Germany, and, if so, what is the schedule to be in May 2005 in each
direction?

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Request for Question Clarification by scriptor-ga on 25 Aug 2004 09:08 PDT

Dear uscg,

Do you really mean Gailenkirchen? That tiny village, far away from the
Dutch border, does not have a train station anymore, so you would have
to leave the train at the nearest station and change to the local bus.

Or do you rather mean Geilenkirchen (note the different spelling),
which is very close at the border to the Netherlands and has a train
station?

Are you only interested in a direct train connection, or would a
connection which inludes changing trains once also be useful?

Finally, the German and Dutch train schedules for spring 2005 are not
published yet. Would a general description of available connections
also be acceptable?

Regards,
Scriptor

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Clarification of Question by uscg-ga on 26 Aug 2004 10:57 PDT

Geilenkirchen is the NATO air base where my grandson is stationed.

Connections are ok.

A general answer will be fine.

Dear uscg,

You can reach Geilenkirchen from Amsterdam quite easily by train.
There are numerous connections each day, usually with changing trains
only once or twice.

For example, you can board an ICE high speed express train in
Amsterdam Centraal (= central station). The train will take you to
Düsseldorf, where you change to a regional express train that will
take you directly to Geilenkirchen. The connecting regional train
leaves Düsseldorf only six minutes after the arrival of the ICE
express, so you would not even have to spend a long time waiting.
Total travel time will be a bit more than 3 hours. This easiest
connection Amsterdam-Geilenkirchen is currently available 5 times a
day. Availability will without any doubt be similar next spring.

There are also various connections Amsterdam-Geilenkirchen that
require changing trains twice or even three times, but I assume that
you will prefer the most convenient options.

The 2005 train schedules should be available by the end of this year
or early the next year. Then, you will be able to search the specific
train connection you like best by using this online information system
of the German Railways (available in English; please note that the
date format is European, Day-Month-Year, and that the times are in 24h
format):
http://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

Hope this helps!
Regards,
Scriptor