--- title: "Aachen train stations | EveryRail" description: "Aachen Hbf is the main station, with ICE and Eurostar to Brussels and Cologne, night trains to Vienna and Milan, and regional trains to Maastricht and Liège." image: "https://znmmduxdxnnnebgevjdu.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-media/v2-cities/aachen/featured-pexels-37670539-20261009r2-claude.jpg" --- [Home]()[Germany]()Aachen [Home]()[Germany]()Aachen **Share** - - [Share on WhatsApp]() - [Share on X]() - [Share on Facebook]() - [Share by email]() **On this page** - [About train stations in Aachen]() - [Where to book]() - [Train stations in Aachen]() - [Find places to stay in Aachen]() - [Frequently asked questions]() [Book now]() Last reviewed October 2026 # Train stations in Aachen Aachen Hbf is the main station, with ICE and Eurostar to Brussels and Cologne, night trains to Vienna and Milan, and regional trains to Maastricht and Liège. ![Aachen Cathedral with its Gothic choir, domed octagon and west tower under a clear blue sky]() Stations 4 Primary station [Aachen Hbf]() Passenger operators 7 Aachen Hbf is the station for the old town and the only Aachen station with long-distance trains. The cathedral is a 15 to 20-minute walk away. ## Arriving at Aachen Hbf Aachen Hbf sits on the main line from Cologne to Liège and Brussels. ICE, Eurostar, the Nightjet and European Sleeper night trains and the regional lines to Cologne, Düsseldorf, Dortmund and Mönchengladbach all stop here, and it is also the departure point for regional trains into the Netherlands and Belgium. Elevators serve all platforms, and the station has luggage lockers, a taxi rank and a DB Reisezentrum. ## Getting from the station into the centre Walking from Aachen Hbf to the cathedral and Centre Charlemagne, next to the town hall, takes 15 to 20 minutes. Buses 11, 14, 21, 44 and SB 63 run to the Elisenbrunnen stop, which is a five-minute walk from there. A single ASEAG ticket within Aachen costs €4 and is valid for 90 minutes, changes included (fares from 1 June 2026). ASEAG sells tickets in its apps and at ticket machines. ## Trains from Aachen Hbf Cologne is the main connection. ICE trains leave about every two hours and take 38 minutes, and most continue to Frankfurt Flughafen and Frankfurt Hbf. Regional trains on the RE 1 and RE 9 take about 50 minutes to Cologne Hbf. The RE 1 goes on to Düsseldorf and Dortmund, and the RE 4 reaches Düsseldorf in about 1 hour 20 minutes. Brussels is reached by ICE about every two hours, calling at Liège-Guillemins and taking about 1 hour 15 minutes. Up to seven Eurostars a day also run to Liège-Guillemins, Brussels Midi and Paris Nord, about 1 hour 15 minutes to Brussels and about 2 hours 45 minutes to Paris, though not every service runs every day. Two other ICE trains a day run via Liège-Guillemins and Leuven to Brussels Airport and Antwerpen Centraal. These times are for the timetable valid until 12 December 2026. For Liège, the quickest regional link is the SNCB S41, which leaves Aachen Hbf once an hour and reaches Liège-Guillemins via Welkenraedt and Verviers in about 1 hour. The RE 18 Drielandentrein runs twice an hour to Maastricht in about 55 minutes, calling at Aachen West, Herzogenrath and Heerlen; one of the two continues to Liège-Guillemins, which takes about 1 hour 35 minutes. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays a Nightjet leaves Aachen Hbf at 21:10 for Cologne, Munich and Vienna, arriving in Vienna at 10:13. The return Nightjet from Vienna and Munich calls at Aachen Hbf at 08:09 on the same days and goes on to Liège and Brussels Midi (09:59). European Sleeper also stops at Aachen Hbf on its Brussels to Milan night train, leaving at about 21:15 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays for Cologne, Zurich and Lugano, arriving in Milan at about 11:40. It calls at Aachen until 12 December 2026; from 13 December it runs via Antwerp and Eindhoven instead. ## The other three stations None of the long-distance trains stop at Aachen Schanz, Aachen West or Aachen-Rothe Erde. Aachen Schanz is the first stop west of Aachen Hbf on the RB 20, RB 33 and RE 4; the cathedral is also about 15 minutes' walk from Schanz, so coming from Mönchengladbach or Düsseldorf on those lines you can get off there. Aachen West is the stop for the RWTH university, with the RB 20, RB 33, RE 4 and RE 18 calling there. Aachen-Rothe Erde, in the east of the city, is the first stop east of Aachen Hbf on the RE 1, RE 9 and RB 20; stay on to Aachen Hbf for the centre. ## Tickets The Deutschlandticket costs €63 a month and is valid on regional trains, S-Bahn, local buses and trams across Germany, including in Aachen. It is not valid on ICE, IC, EC, Eurostar or the night trains. For a day trip across the border, the Euregioticket costs €23.50 and covers trains, buses and trams in the whole Meuse-Rhine region; at weekends and on national holidays it covers up to two adults and three children under 12. ## Rail passes and reservations As of October 2026, regional trains and the S-Bahn need no reservation with an Interrail pass, and an ICE reservation is optional between Aachen and Brussels or Cologne. Eurostar needs a reservation: €27 in second class between Belgium and Germany, and €32 between Paris and Germany. Night trains always need one: European Sleeper is included in the pass, with a seat reservation costing €11 to €21, and Nightjet fees start at €4.90 for a seat and €19.90 for a six-bed couchette. ## Common mistakes Regional trains from Cologne stop at Aachen-Rothe Erde before Aachen Hbf, so stay on for the old town. The Maastricht and Liège trains also stop at Aachen West, which is only useful for the RWTH university. Eurostar, Nightjet and European Sleeper do not run every day: the Nightjet calls on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays only. ## Where to book ### Train tickets - Omio Omio connects you with over 1,000 transport providers - trains, buses, flights, and more - to simplify your travel planning. [Check times & prices]() - Rail Europe Rail Europe is a leading travel tech company specializing in European train bookings for over 15,000 travel professionals worldwide. - Trainline Trainline sells rail and coach tickets worldwide on behalf of major UK and European transport companies. ### Passenger train operators - [Arriva]() Arriva runs ARRIVA vlaky in Czechia, regional trains in the Netherlands, and regional trains in Poland. Tickets and websites differ by country. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [Deutsche Bahn]() Deutsche Bahn (DB) is Germany's national railway, running ICE, IC and regional trains with Flexpreis, Sparpreis and Super Sparpreis fares. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [European Sleeper]() European Sleeper runs overnight trains linking Brussels and Amsterdam with Berlin, Prague and Milan, plus a Paris to Berlin route, 3 nights a week each way. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [Eurostar]() Eurostar runs high-speed trains from London St Pancras to Paris (2 h 16 min), Brussels (1 h 53 min) and Amsterdam; London departures require border checks. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - National Express National Express Rail GmbH runs seven regional lines in North Rhine-Westphalia, including RRX services RE 1, RE 5 and RE 6, where VRR, VRS and NRW tariff tickets apply. [Official website]() - [ÖBB]() ÖBB is Austria's national railway, with Railjet high-speed and Nightjet sleeper services plus regional trains across Austria and neighbouring countries. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() - [SNCB]() SNCB connects Belgium by domestic train. Go Pass 10 offers 10 journeys in Belgium for under-26s; Rail Pass offers 10 for travellers 26+, both valid for a year. [Official website]() [Check times & prices]() ## Train stations in Aachen [![Map showing the location of Aachen Hbf]()© OpenStreetMap contributors+2![SNCB]()![National Express]()![Eurostar]()![European Sleeper]()![Arriva]()Main stationAachen Hbf1.1 km from the city centreAachen Hbf is the main railway station in Aachen, served by Arriva, European Sleeper, Eurostar, National Express, SNCB, Deutsche Bahn, and ÖBB.]()[![Map showing the location of Aachen Schanz]()© OpenStreetMap contributors![Deutsche Bahn]()![National Express]()Aachen Schanz1.0 km from the city centreAachen Schanz is a railway station in Aachen, served by National Express and Deutsche Bahn. The main station for long-distance trains is Aachen Hbf, 1.3 km away.]()[![Map showing the location of Aachen West]()© OpenStreetMap contributors![Deutsche Bahn]()![National Express]()![Arriva]()Aachen West1.0 km from the city centreAachen West is a railway station in Aachen, served by Arriva, National Express, and Deutsche Bahn. The main station for long-distance trains is Aachen Hbf, 2 km away.]()[![Map showing the location of Aachen-Rothe Erde]()© OpenStreetMap contributors![Deutsche Bahn]()![National Express]()Aachen-Rothe Erde2.4 km from the city centreAachen-Rothe Erde is a railway station in Aachen, served by National Express and Deutsche Bahn. The main station for long-distance trains is Aachen Hbf, 1.8 km away.]() ## Find places to stay in Aachen [![Bright bedroom with white bedding and a breakfast tray on the bed]()**Browse stays in Aachen**Hotels and apartments via Booking.com]() ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a direct train from Aachen to Brussels? Yes. An ICE runs about every two hours via Liège-Guillemins and reaches Brussels Midi in about 1 hour 15 minutes. Eurostar trains to Brussels Midi and Paris Nord also leave from Aachen Hbf, but need a reservation with a rail pass and do not run every day (timetable valid to 12 December 2026). ### How do I get from Aachen to Maastricht or Liège by train? For Maastricht, take the RE 18 Drielandentrein from Aachen Hbf: two trains an hour, about 55 minutes. For Liège, the SNCB S41 leaves Aachen Hbf every hour and reaches Liège-Guillemins in about 1 hour via Welkenraedt and Verviers; the hourly RE 18 via Maastricht takes about 1 hour 35 minutes. The Euregioticket day ticket costs €23.50 and covers both. ### Is there a night train from Aachen? Yes, two. A Nightjet leaves Aachen Hbf at 21:10 on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for Cologne, Munich and Vienna, arriving in Vienna at 10:13. A European Sleeper leaves at about 21:15 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays for Cologne, Zurich, Lugano and Milan, arriving in Milan at about 11:40 (via Aachen until 12 December 2026). Both need a reservation. ### How long does it take to get from Aachen to Cologne? An ICE takes 38 minutes and leaves about every two hours. The RE 1 and RE 9 regional trains take about 50 minutes and are the cheaper choice with a Deutschlandticket, which does not cover ICE. ### Which Aachen station is closest to the university? Aachen West. The RB 20, RB 33, RE 4 and RE 18 all stop there, and it is the nearest station to RWTH. Campus Melaten, the university hospital area, is reached by bus from Aachen West or from Aachen Hbf. ## Other destinations in Germany - [Train stations in Bamberg]() - [Train stations in Berlin]() - [Train stations in Bremen]() - [Train stations in Cologne]() - [Train stations in Dortmund]() - [Train stations in Dresden]() - [Train stations in Düsseldorf]() - [Train stations in Frankfurt]() - [Train stations in Freiburg im Breisgau]() - [Train stations in Garmisch-Partenkirchen]() - [Train stations in Hamburg]() - [Train stations in Hannover]() - [Train stations in Heidelberg]() - [Train stations in Leipzig]() - [Train stations in Lübeck]() - [Train stations in Munich]() - [Train stations in Nuremberg]() - [Train stations in Regensburg]() - [Train stations in Rothenburg ob der Tauber]() - [Train stations in Stuttgart]() - [Train stations in Weimar]() - [Train stations in Würzburg]() ## Rail passes for Germany - [Interrail in Germany]() ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://everyrail.com/_astro/everyrail-logomark-2026.VJ4vNX1T.webp", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization-logo-1" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.instagram.com/everyrailtravel/", "https://www.facebook.com/everyrail", "https://www.threads.com/@everyrailtravel" ] }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#website", "name": "EveryRail", "url": "https://everyrail.com/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://everyrail.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en" }, { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://everyrail.com/germany/aachen/#webpage", "name": "Train stations in Aachen", "description": "Stations: 4. 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