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The short European train journey that costs just £12 but 'will change you forever'


Europe is one of the best-connected continents when it comes to train travel. Altogether, there are an estimated 65,000 railway, tram or subway stations.

The first country in the world to host steam-engined trains was the UK, though the likes of Germany weren’t all that far behind.

Today, Germany’s railways in particular continue to wow visitors, both for their cheap fares and the beautiful landscapes they roll through.

However, one above all boasts the best views, a route that snakes its way through mountains and lush scenery, and only takes 30 minutes.

The 38-mile stretch of railway that follows the Rhine from Bingen to Koblenz, according to some, is the best journey in the world.

Susanna Callaghan, writing in the Guardian, described it as a journey in which “you will be changed forever”.

Beginning just outside the historical centre of Bingen Am Rhein, which looks like something out of a Brothers Grimm tale, the train passes through several ancient towns and cities that seem to have stood since time itself started.

As it approaches its destination, the locomotive passes through the spectacular Rhine gorge which sits just south of Koblenz, a city established as a Roman military post at some point around 8 BC.

Castles are littered across the settlement, with no fewer than six nestled at various points — and heights — across the city. Some of which are seen only briefly as the train chugs past. They are accompanied by crags, forests and fortresses, which loom large over the train as it bends around the River Rhine.

Medieval robbers and bandits used to coast along this part of the river, either searching for the opportunity to grab some loot or transport their own loot to safe houses.

Many fought for control of the river, much like modern-day gang warfare, as those who controlled the river controlled the flow of goods up and down the 766-mile waterway which connected the various confederations and countries further afield.

The fishermen of the time were caught between a rock and a hard place: do they fish and feed their families or risk being murdered in the darkness of the night?

They not only had the bandits to worry about but also the harsh environment, for the steep slate Lorelei rock lured many an angler to their death. Today, the train whizzes past those very cliffs.

As the train nears the end of its journey and rolls into Koblenz, an altogether different scenery comes to the fore. The city, built across islets, is as old as Germany itself.

It sits at the Rhine’s confluence which is today known as the German Corner, a symbol to mark the unification of Germany in 1871.

A hulking equestrian statue of Emperor William I, Germany’s first emperor, towers over the centre of town, and a range of buildings built in the Bavarian style line the promenade. 

You might think such an epic journey would break the bank, but you’d be wrong. Regular trains run daily and a one-way ticket costs a mere €15 (£12).

It’s easy enough to find tickets for this scenic journey, though you’ll need to be eagle-eyed when buying tickets. Providers will automatically assume you want a faster, more efficient journey.

To override this, enter ‘Koblenz Hbf’ as a stopover with the length of stay left as zero when searching for tickets.

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