I used FlixTrain for the first time a few weeks ago primarily for the experience, but I found myself this time needing to use them as an affordable option to get from Hanover to Dortmund. Hanover railway station is dated and sub-optimal in numerous ways, not least the complete lack of seating for the number of passengers. However, the station is run by Deutsche Bahn, an organisation not always known for arranging its operations around the emotional well-being of passengers, so my expectations were already sensibly low.
Deutsche Bahn wanted around £40 for the train from Hanover to Dortmund, but fortunately the FlixTrain service was more affordable.
The city’s first railway station was built between 1845 and 1847, but a grand new building was constructed in 1879. Unfortunately, this was mostly destroyed by air raids during the Second World War and a less impressive railway station was built in its place, although this was heavily modernised in 2000.
I could see the hotel room where I stayed the previous evening. At this point I used the toilet facilities at the railway station, but that arrangement is getting its own blog post. And you can see the extensive seating facilities for passengers in action.
The FlixTrain sweeps in.
There were carriages that were something like 1, 2, 3, 100, 5 and 6, with my carriage being 100 so it wasn’t entirely clear where along the train it would be. However, the signage on the train is good and I soon found my seat.
The seats are comfortable, the tray table is of a decent size and it was all relatively clean. There are no power points on the train, but it’s all a perfectly reasonably set-up for the money.
It wasn’t a particularly busy service and it all ran to a near enough schedule.
There’s plenty of space for bags and I still quite like their wavy ceiling arrangement.
And safely into Dortmund, for the third time this year.
Overall, I thought that this service represented decent value for money and was a good budget option. Deutsche Bahn was just too expensive, although the German railway network offers unlimited regional travel for around £60 that I’m jealous of, so that makes them better value for money for locals. Deutsche Bahn can certainly benefit from competition and FlixTrain certainly does that, so I’m very glad that they’re there.