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Overview
It’s nearly a five hour train journey from Hamburg to Copenhagen. Today I will officially enter Scandinavia.
Train IC 394 departs from Hamburg Hbf at 12.53 and arrives at Copenhagen’s Central Station at 17.36. On the way the train travels around 370 km at an average speed of just over 80 km/h.
Boarding the Train
Getting from the Reeperbahn to Hamburg Hbf is relatively straight forward, allowing me to arrive early and to board the train armed with a coffee and sandwich, all around 15 minutes prior to departure.
According to the InterRail app seat reservations for this trip are mandatory and I’m thankful that I have an allocated seat. In reality though, the need for a seat reservation seems to be a bit arbitrary. By the time the train is ready to depart the carriage is stuffed full of people, many standing in the isles and others sitting in the passageways. This train seems to be very popular with backpackers and there is luggage deposited everywhere.
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The Route Highlights
The main highlights of the journey are:
The Rendsburg High Bridge
Approaching Rendsburg, Germany, the otherwise flat landscape is interrupted by a monstrous steel girder railway bridge (the Rendsburg High Bridge). This viaduct, cum bridge, rises some 42 metres into the sky in order to cross the Kiel Canal. The viaduct is around 2.5 km long, providing the train with a gentle enough slope to climb up onto the summit of the bridge. To add to the spectacle the viaduct also turns through a 360 degree loop (the Rendsburg Loop) to allow the train to both pass over the canal and serve the town of Rendsburg, situated immediately to north of the canal. As if this wasn’t complicated enough, the bridge additionally includes a vehicle / passenger transporter (gondola) facility suspended beneath its main span – By comparison to this eyesore, Middlesbrough’s transporter bridge is a non-starter.
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(Source: Image by Wolfgang Claussen from Pixabay)
The Flensburg Loop
Much less dramatic, but equally puzzling, is another 360 degree loop in the track at the town of Flensburg, just south of the Denmark border. Here, the loop is provided to allow the train to serve the town’s station, located to the east of the main route alignment.
The Border Crossing
Slightly further north, just after crossing the German / Denmark border, the train stops.at Padborg. Here, despite Denmark being part of the Schengen area, passports are checked by government officers who board the train. To be fair though, the whole operation is very low key and may simply be a remnant of the Covid era.
Great Belt Fixed Crossing
Finally, between Nyborg and Korsor the rail line crosses the Great Belt, a sea passage separating the Danish islands of Funen and Zealand. This rail crossing (the Great Belt Fixed Crossing) is some 18km long and is made up of a western low level bridge and a 8km long bored eastern rail tunnel. The former carries both road and rail traffic while the latter is paralleled at high level by a road only suspension bridge.
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The Route Low Lights
The low lights of the trip are being surrounded by screaming kids and an inability to reach the loos because of the overcrowding.
Accommodation in Copenhagen
On arriving at Copenhagen Central Station it is a short walk to my accommodation at Annex Copenhagen, a reasonably upmarket hostel providing a private room with shared bathroom. The major upside of this hostel is that it is accessed through the adjoining Absalon Hotel so you have all the facilities of a 4 star hotel at a hostel price. These include a bar, a reception seating area and access to an automated laundrette facility.
Explore the AnnexCopenhagen Hostel
Talking of automation, this hostel is my first introduction to the …….,………..
Find out more about my stay in Copenhagen:
Conclusion
Thanks for reading this post about my train journey from Hamburg to Copenhagen. I hope you found it informative.
If you would like to find out more information about my travels from London to the Arctic Circle the following posts provide a record for the various parts of the journey. Also, I have additionally provided information about other overland adventures that I have undertaken.
Further Information
Where Should You Stay in Copenhagen
Accommodation Overview
Accommodation in Copenhagen is generally expensive, even at budget level. To ensure you secure the most affordable deals It is recommended to book early.
Budget accommodation options are generally located in the Vesterbro / Central Station area while mid-range options are spread more widely across the city centre and waterfront areas.
Some possible recommendations for budget and mid-range accommodation options are set out below:
Budget Accommodation
- Annex Copenhagen – Situated close to Central Station with dormitories and private rooms. Simple but reliable accommodation Part of Absalon Hotel, thus offering additional facilities.
- CityHub – 1.3 km from Tivoli Gardens, featuring 24 hr front desk, free wifi, air-conditioning, sauna, bar and luggage storage. Offers pod-style units best suited for solo travellers and couples.
- Generator Copenhagen – well known hostel chain offering dormitories and private rooms. Located 150m from Kongens Nytorv Square, providing 24 hr front desk, free wifi, late-night bar. laundry facilities and luggage storage.
- MEININGER Hotel – Hostel style hotel 2mins walk from Central Station with dormitories and private rooms. Offers shared kitchen, bar, laundry, luggage lockers and bicycle rental. Spacious, modern, and ideal for social travellers.
- Nebo – At Central Station, offering basic rooms with private or shared bathrooms. Non -profit hotel giving proceeds to city’s homeless community. Offers buffet breakfast and provides on-site bicycle hire.
- Wakeup Copenhagen, Bernstorffsgade – 600m from Tivoli Gardens – All rooms have desk, TV and private bathroom. Offers 24 hour front desk, free wifi and a shared lounge / bar. Cited as being good value and ideal for short stays.
Mid-Range Accommodation
- Absalon Hotel – Family run hotel in Vesterbro area with stylish comfortable and thoughtfully furnished rooms featuring desk, flat-screen cable TV, fridge and safety deposit box. Hotel has bar and seated reception area.
- Axel Guldsmeden Hotels – Eco-friendly hotel located in Vesterbro that combines Nordic and Balinese design elements. Hotel provides stylish rooms, comfortable beds, a spa area and is near shops and eateries
- citizenM Copenhagen Radhuspladsen – 600m from Tivoli Gardens. Its a stylish, tech-forward, IPad controlled hotel with hip design features and great city views. 24 hr front desk, large communal spaces and modern rooms.
- Copenhagen Island – Ultra-modern waterside hotel in city centre. 5 mins from Dybbølsbro Station and 1 stop from Tivoli Gardens / Central Station. Rooms have flat-screen TVs, seating, air conditioning, harbour or city views.
- Hotel Danmark – By Brøchner Hotels – Contemporary Scandinavian design with spacious rooms, chic common areas and rooftop terrace. Sited near City Hall Square it blends modern comfort with excellent location.
Further Reading
Other Detailed Posts on my Travels from London to the Arctic Circle
Details of Other Long Distance Overland Adventures
Useful Country Factsheets
Who Are Your Favourite Travel Writers
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