October 2022. As we wanted to test Trenitalia‘s Frecciarossa 1000 service from Paris to Milan, we planned a rail trip around it. From Antwerp to Paris with Thalys, the ‘Red Arrow’ to Milan and once in Italy continuing to Trieste and Bologna. The return trip took us to Basel in Switzerland to enjoy SBB‘s panoramic coach and Germany‘s Rhine route to Cologne. From there we got back to Belgium. 

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Yèèèèèss, I already reviewed SBB-CFF-FFS‘s train journey from Switzerland to Germany on the iconic EuroCity EC-8 with its panoramic car. But Danny hadn’t experienced it yet. And it’s such an experience. 

EuroCity EC-9 links Hamburg Altona to Zürich HB and the return journey is called the EC-8. But your chance of actually getting the panoramic car is bigger on the EC-8. Look on Vagonweb for the car number when you book your seat. We took the train between Basel Badischer Bahnhof and Köln Hbf. Taking the train in Basel Bad Bf is much cheaper as it’s considered a Deutsche Bahn, German station.

What makes the journey so special?

First of all, I’ll temper your expectations. It’s also ‘just’ a train journey with some beautiful scenery. There are prettier rail lines for sure, such as the Glacier Express, the GoldenPass route or the Flåm line in Norway. 

But what do we like about the EC-8? 

1. It’s a locomotive-hauled train with coaches, rather than an electric multiple unit or EMU. That has more charm. SBB calls these Standard coach IV / EuroCity. The train offers second class, a dining car with actual tables and service and first class. One of the first class cars is the panoramic car. 
2. Between Koblenz and Cologne the train follows the Rhine, and that is just epic.

Why is the journey along the Rhine so epic?

The Rhine is one of the major of major rivers in Europe. The other one being the Danube. The Rhine is majorly important in the economy, it’s a source for tourism and it’s enshrined in European factual and mythological history. 

The Rhine is a border, the Rhine is the source for German nation-building stories. An inspiration for myths and operas by Richard Wagner. So yes, it also has a dark side as some people abused its history.

Along the route you’ll see many medieval and more-than-medieval castles. 19th century romanticism pushed people with money to (re)build castles in a larger-than-life, romanticized medieval style.  And of course there’s the Lorelei.

And you get to see all this sitting comfortably, eating something, drinking something. Life is just good on board.

So?

Basel to Cologne with the EC-8 is not the fastest way, but the nicest way to trave between these to rail hubs.  

Paris – Italy – Basel 2022

1. REVIEW | Restaurant Le Train Blue at Paris-Gare-de-Lyon.
2. REVIEW | Trenitalia Frecciarossa 1000 Paris – Milan in Business Executive.
3. REVIEW | Just Hotel Milano.
4. FYRA NOSTALGIA | Trenitalia Frecciargento Milan to Trieste on the ETR 700 ex-Fyra.
5. REVIEW | Grand Hotel Duchi d’Aosta.
6. TRIESTE | Miramare Castle.
7. History of Trieste at Diego de Henriquez War for Peace Museum / Museo de la Guerra per Pace.
8. ITALY | 1.5 day in Trieste.
9. EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Sights and churches in Bologna.
10. History of Bologna Museum at Palazzo Pepoli.
11. REVIEW | The Social Hub Bologna.
12. BOLOGNA | University Museums of Palazzo Poggi ft. Obstetrics, Military Architecture, Geographical Maps and Human Anatomy.
13. REVIEW | Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.
14. EMILIA-ROMAGNA | A walk in Modena.
15. EMILIA-ROMAGNA | Bologna & Modena 2022.
16. Trains in Italy.
17. EUROCITY EC-52 | Milan to Basel (and to Frankfurt) via the Simplon Tunnel.
18. SWITZERLAND | Basel during Herbstmesse.
19. REVIEW | Hyperion Basel.