01806 - 258 258
info@autozug-sylt.de

FAQ

Questions about the BlueTrain to Sylt

For your convenience, we have compiled the most frequently asked questions and answers about the BlueTrain to Sylt.

    • RDC stands for Railroad Development Corporation (www.rrdc.com), a medium-sized, globally active railway company based in Pittsburgh/USA. It is owned by the entrepreneur and railway expert Henry Posner III and operates railway projects in many countries worldwide.

      RDC Deutschland GmbH (RDC D) is its German subsidiary, which operates various railway projects including the Hamburg/Lörrach car-train and – as the first privately-owned railway company ever – the Blue Train to Sylt on the Niebüll (Schleswig-Holstein) to Westerland/Sylt route. Further activities are planned. RDC always relies on a domestic management and employees from the region in its foreign activities. Owner Henry Posner III maintains regular, personal contact to Sylt and the BlueTrain to Sylt team.

    • The BlueTrain to Sylt transports passengers in their vehicles over the Hindenburgdamm from the mainland to the island of Sylt and back. In spring 2015, RDC D became the first privately-owned provider to sign a 10-year master agreement for the CarTrain to Sylt. After special conversions of the car-transport wagons and approval by the Federal Railway Authority, a trial run of several months without passengers was started in May 2016. Further optimizations were subsequently made to the transport wagons. On October 18, 2016, the CarTrain to Sylt successfully started up its commercial operations.

      In the current timetable year, the BlueTrain to Sylt offers up to 26 journeys daily between 4:40 AM and 9:30 PM, depending on the season.

      RDC AUTOZUG Sylt GmbH has its office at Bahnhofstrasse 10 in Niebüll. On Sylt, our customer service center in Westerland offers personal information and service at the entrance to the loading terminal. It is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Address: Industrieweg 16, 1st floor, free parking at the “sky” supermarket directly opposite.

    • Our two new, bright blue locomotives “Debbie” and “Anne” are among the most reliable, quietest and sustainable diesel-electric locomotives in the world. Thus we pollute as little as possible nature and environment as well as the residents at the railway line.

    • The BlueTrain offers Island residents, holidaymakers and guests an alternative on the line from Sylt to the mainland (Westerland <> Niebüll). On our blue flatcars you always ride on the top with a clear view of the Wadden Sea – and at a reasonable price.

    • The island of Sylt is connected to the mainland via the Hindenburgdamm. Only trains can run on the Hindenburgdamm. Besides riding over on local and long-distance passenger trains, it is also possible to make the crossing in your vehicle (exception: mobile homes/caravans). On the mainland, vehicles are loaded onto the train at the loading terminal in Niebüll, and on Sylt at the loading terminal in Westerland. Passengers remain seated in their vehicles during the 39-kilometer crossing. Special safety requirements apply. There are also air connections to and from Sylt, and a ferry connection to Denmark (also for mobile homes/caravans).

    • The island of Sylt is mainly supplied by rail. Whether food, building materials, or textiles – they are all transported by rail. Also, 4,000 employees of companies and enterprises commute daily from the mainland to the island. From hotels and supermarkets to doctors’ offices and mechanics and artisans’ shops – public life on the island only runs smoothly if the commuter train gets commuters to the island on time.

    • Sylt lives from tourism. For many guests, making the crossing inside their vehicle on the train is part of the holiday experience. Especially for families it is very pleasant to have your own car with you for transporting luggage and for driving around on the island during their vacation.

    • Yes, the terminals in Niebüll (mainland) and Westerland (Sylt) are available to both car-train operators for loading and unloading.

       

    • Access to the BlueTrain to Sylt is via the signposted Autozug terminals.

      Kurt-Bachmann-Ring 2 I 25899 Niebüll I Germany
      Industrieweg 18 I 25980 Westerland/Sylt

      More information you can get from our travel tips.

    • In Niebüll: Lanes 9 to 11 (far right)

      In Westerland/Sylt: Lanes 1+2 (far left)

    • DB Sylt Shuttle and BlueTrain to Sylt make every effort to find pragmatic solutions for the benefit of passengers. In addition, all rail transport providers on Hindenburgdamm coordinate their schedules optimally in the interests of the island of Sylt and its guests.

    • In this case, please follow the instructions of the service staff at the loading terminal.

    • In the event that BlueTrain to Sylt Ticket customers are unable to travel on the planned train due to an operational disruption, special regulations have been agreed. In this case, please follow the instructions of the service staff at the loading terminal.

    • No. The prices of DB Sylt Shuttle and BlueTrain to Sylt differ.

    • No. The BlueTrain to Sylt initially uses a fleet of single-deck flat cars. New, modern double-decker cars are planned for the future. The construction and especially the procurement of permits of these new transport wagons require several years’ advance notice.

    • In principle yes, but it depends on your vehicle. The BlueTrain to Sylt transports cars, SUVs, vans, vehicles with trailers, trucks, buses and caravans up to a maximum height of 4.05 m, a maximum width of 2.86 m, a maximum length of 20.50 m and a maximum weight of 50.0 t Lowered vehicles and certain sportscar models must have a minimum ground clearance of ten (10) centimeters.

    • No. You need a BlueTrain to Sylt ticket. Simply buy your ticket directly on site from our friendly service personnel at the waiting lanes of the BlueTrain to Sylt. Pay in cash or with your EC/credit card from the comfort of your vehicle.

    • The BlueTrain to Sylt transports cars, SUVs, vans, vehicles with trailers, trucks, buses and caravans up to a maximum height of 4.05 m, a maximum width of 2.86 m, a maximum length of 20.50 m, a maximum weight of 50.0 t and a ground clearance of at least 10 centimeters.

      The BlueTrain to Sylt is happy to carry smaller mobile homes (also with roof hatches) with a max. length of 6 m, max. height 2.70 m, max. width 2.20 m and max. 3 t total weight, facing forwards on its trains.

      At this time, larger mobile homes with roof hatches or panoramic roofs are still excluded from car-train carriage. There is a risk that these parts could come loose against the direction of travel during the crossing and thus endanger third parties. We apologize for any inconvenience and recommend the Sylt ferry between Rømø/Denmark and List/Sylt (www.syltfaehre.de/en) for large mobile homes.

      The BlueTrain to Sylt is in contact with vehicle manufacturers, motorhome owners and the DB infrastructure in order to jointly develop solutions for the safe transport of large mobile homes too in future. We will inform you as soon as this should become possible.

    • Yes, bicycles securely mounted on the vehicle (roof rack or rear rack) can be taken along. Vehicles whose weight exceeds 3.0 t when loaded are carried in the direction opposite to the direction of travel. The driver is responsible for ensuring that any bicycles are properly secured to the vehicle.

    • The BlueTrain to Sylt can accommodate up to 110 vehicles. Depending on the height of the vehicle, these are positioned in the direction of travel or in the direction opposite to the direction of travel.

    • Click on Timetable in the menu to view the current timetables.

    • The journey from/to Sylt is scheduled to take about 35 minutes.

    • If there are is a wait at the terminal and you want to get out of your vehicle, please pay attention to the traffic on the terminal.

    • Please drive slowly onto and across the train. Switch off your engine and ignition! Do not allow the steering wheel lock to engage! Tighten the handbrake firmly! Engage the first gear or set the automatic transmission to “P”. Turn off the lights! Make sure that all vehicle occupants are strapped in (have their seat belts fastened) throughout the crossing – even if the train stops! Getting out of the vehicle on the train is forbidden! ONLY in emergencies give a strong pull on the red emergency brake cable located alongside your vehicle (unauthorized use is punishable by law!). Otherwise, please follow the instructions of our train crew.

    • If there is any damage to your vehicle, please inform the loading staff passing by the vehicle when loading or unloading - without leaving your car. In the interests of on-time processing, the written report will not be made in full on the train, but afterwards, using a form and at your leisure/convenience.

      The initial recording of damages takes place on the train. The following form is used for subsequent processing which is in German: Claims Management Form

      If you have questions, please contact our Customer Center: kundencenter-westerland@autozug-sylt.de.

       

    • If you cause damage to the train with your vehicle, please inform the loading staff passing by the vehicle during loading or unloading – without leaving your car. Then please follow the instructions of the loading employee. In the interests of on-time processing, the written report will not be made in full on the train, but afterwards, using a form and at convenience.

    • Website: www.autozug-sylt.de/

      Email: info@autozug-sylt.de

      Customer hotline (24h/7 days per week): T. (0)1806 - 258 258
      (20 cents/call from landline; rate for mobile radio max. 60 cents/call)

      Facebook page BlueTrain to Sylt: www.facebook.com/AutozugSylt/

    • Send an email with “Complaint” in the subject line to info@autozug-sylt.de.

      Customer hotline: +49.(0)1806.258258 (20 cents/call from landline; rate for mobile radio max. 60 cents/call).

    • Send an email with “Suggestion” in the subject line to info@autozug-sylt.de.

       

    • We are always happy to hear from motivated applicants.

      Please email your documents with “Application” in the subject line, and including the position you’d like to apply for, to: jobs@autozug-sylt.de.

       

    • To the On-time Guarantee FAQs.

    • Anyone who wishes to take their car from the German mainland to the island of Sylt has to book a crossing on the BlueTrain. The island of Sylt is connected to the mainland by a dam on which only trains can travel. There is no road. Our BlueTrains to and from Sylt work in such a way that passengers drive their vehicles to the loading terminal, drive onto the train there and piggyback on the train to the island. During the entire crossing (approx. 35 minutes), the driver and passengers remain in their vehicle.

      1st Step: At check-in, you buy your ticket. For the BlueTrain to Sylt, this process is handled by our friendly service team (no ticket-vending machines).

      2nd Step: After check-in, you will be directed to continue onto the waiting lanes until you reach the barrier. Depending on how much time is left before loading starts, we recommend going to the toilet or to the kiosk now. If you are walking around at the terminal, please be sure to pay attention to the traffic. Approximately 10 minutes before the departure of the train, a green traffic light indicates that the train is about to start loading the vehicles. All vehicle passengers must be sitting safely in their vehicle again at this point.

      3rd Step: At a slow walking pace, the cars drive onto the BlueTrain to Sylt one after the other, as instructed by our staff. A staff member will guide each driver individually to their space on the train and show him exactly in which position to park the vehicle. After driving onto the train, the driver and all passengers must remain seated in the vehicle with their seat belts fastened for the entire crossing (approx. 35 minutes).

      4th Step: Before the departure of the train, safety announcements will be broadcast on the loudspeakers, which must be followed without fail. For example, it is imperative that you tighten your vehicle’s handbrake firmly!

      5th step: The train doesn’t stop again until it reaches the Westerland/Sylt unloading station. Any unscheduled stopping is exclusively related to the tracks/line. You may not leave your vehicle even if the train stops.

      6th step: After the train has arrived in Westerland, the vehicles carefully drive down and away from the train, at a slow walking pace, one behind the other away. No check-out is required.

      The instructions of the staff and the safety instructions in the flyer must be followed.