European Rail Travel - Train ticketing for travel between Germany and Czech Republic

For 2 pax

I have questions relating to booking and reserving first class tickets on two routes. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Route 1: Regensburg to Prague (one way), standard fare of €73.40 (could not find savings fare 40 days out), and
Route 2: Prague to Berlin (one way), savings fare of €49.00

1. On bahn dot de web site, it seems there is no way to print tickets myself (by mail only). Is this correct? OR, can I choose to pick up tickets at the station on day of travel?

2. Does the standard fare of €73.40 from Regensburg to Prague (one way, and more than 1 month from travel) correct? Web site does not show any savings fare. What am I doing wrong?

3. About seating. I’ve looked at seat maps from the web site. How do I specify window seats (facing each other) with only 1 chair on each side of a small table? By ticking or selecting {opposite (window)} & {open saloon with table}?

2. Does the standard fare of €73.40 from Regensburg to Prague (one way, and more than 1 month from travel) correct? Web site does not show any savings fare. What am I doing wrong?

I assume you're looking at one of the ALX/EX train connections on this route (rather than anything involving a DB Express Bus). There are no Europa-Spezial discounted fares on these trains (as such fares are generally only valid for cross-border travel on ICE/IC/ECs - and the ALX/EX train counts as a local (NV) train in Germany). (There are discounted second-class fares on the DB Express Bus, but no first class, as it's a second-class-only service).

If you were travelling in second-class, then there are two ways of getting a slight discount on the ALX/EX journey (quoted fare of €47.50):
- The 'Prague Special' (http://www.vogtlandbahn.de/de?t=/documentManager/sfdoc.file.supply&fileID=1322660548038) ticket for €43 from Regensburg
- Combining a Bayern-Bohmen ticket with a CD ticket - see here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17307168-post12.html) for details

Note that on the ALX/EX trains, first-class isn't that different to second-class (there's no station lounge access, nor complimentary meal service or anything like that). However, the compartments may be slightly more spacious, should be less crowded, and may have a power supply for laptops, etc.


1. On bahn dot de web site, it seems there is no way to print tickets myself (by mail only). Is this correct? OR, can I choose to pick up tickets at the station on day of travel?

Correct - there is no way of doing self-print tickets for your route:
- The ALX/EX service is not operated by DB, and therefore DB self-print tickets are not recognised (nor issued). However, there is no discount for buying in advance (although there may be a €2 surcharge for buying at a DB ticket counter rather than from a machine or on the train). So, there shouldn't be any problem with just buying at the station on the day of travel (unless you really want seat reservations - see below).

- DB will issue self-print tickets for Berlin-Prague (and presumably Berlin-Prague-Berlin return) but NOT Prague-Berlin. See this post (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/17556195-post4.html), and others in the same thread, for an explanation of this. You may find that www.cd.cz will issue self-print tickets for Prague-Berlin, but I haven't checked. If you want to book in advance, and collect tickets at the station (rather than getting them by post) you should be able to do this if you call DB. They will make the booking for you, and then give you a reference number which, combined with your credit card, will enable you to collect the ticket from any DB ticket machine in Germany. (ie: so you'd have to collect the Prague-Berlin ticket while you're in Regensburg - you could not collect it in Prague).


3. About seating. I’ve looked at seat maps from the web site. How do I specify window seats (facing each other) with only 1 chair on each side of a small table? By ticking or selecting {opposite (window)} & {open saloon with table}?
- For the ALX/EX Regensburg - Prague, I had thought there was no possibility (or need) to make seat reservations. However, the Prague Special link above suggests seat reservations are possible - without saying how they can be made. I thought first class on these trains was mainly closed 6-seat compartments, but maybe there are some open saloons as well.

- For the Prague-Berlin EC, I'm not sure. However, if you book over the phone, they should be easily able to select whichever seats you want. (Choose the right hand side of the train if possible, for the best views going along the Elbe between Prague and Dresden...)

Yes, you can buy the Prague-Berlin tickets for 49 euros from cd.cz, and you can print the tickets.

KQ321,
I am very thankful for your generous sharing of you train travel knowledge and your precious time! ^
I read many of your posts, and they are always full of detailed information. Thank you very much!

Yes, you can buy the Prague-Berlin tickets for 49 euros from cd.cz, and you can print the tickets.

Thank you for the link. Took just a brief look at the web site. Good to see the page can be displayed in English!
Using a simple search for Prague to Berlin (single journey), the fare came up as 749Kc (which is about €30). Since I could not find what class it was, I assumed it was not First Class.
I did not go through too much on the web site and have this question:
Q: Is choosing class of travel possible? and will the site accept USA-issued credit card?

Thank you in advance.

Using a simple search for Prague to Berlin (single journey), the fare came up as 749Kc (which is about €30). Since I could not find what class it was, I assumed it was not First Class.
I did not go through too much on the web site and have this question:
Q: Is choosing class of travel possible? and will the site accept USA-issued credit card?

Yes, you can select 1st or 2nd class in the booking process and ČD gladly accepts all USA Visa and MC credit and debit cards for self-print tickets.

cd.cz defaults to second class. 749Kc is pretty cheap so that could only be for second class. You can't enter specific seats in ČD's booking engine, as far as I know, but you can select some details about your seats (salon, table, window...). If you really want specific seats buy the ticket now and make the reservation at the train station when you get in to Prague or while in Germany.

Just FYI the EC trains to Berlin are often minorly delayed (15 minutes), probablly not a huge concern to you since it doesn't sound like you have a connection to make.

For the Regensburg - Prague option as mentioned by KQ321, as explained you'll need
1) you'll need the Bayern-Bohmen ticket (departure only after 9AM) from a DB vending machine and
2) a Plzen to Prague ticket: which is 147Kc (€6) each. You can buy this...
...on the train in Kc once the Czech train crew boards. They may accept euros, but no one seems to know.
...or normally at any staffed station in Germany, though maybe at a slightly higher price.
...or online at cd.cz, but you can only self-print full-fare domestic tickets. (It might be a good idea if taking this option to double check by wrighting info@cd.cz.) Discount tickets SporoTiket bought online must be collected at a Czech vending machine, so SporoTikets would only work for you if you if you got off the train in Plzen, had a beer, went to the ticket machine and got on the next train.
...or in person in Pilsen if you wanted to make a quick stop. Trains run almost hourly Plzen - Prague.

Yes, you can select 1st or 2nd class in the booking process and ČD gladly accepts all USA Visa and MC credit and debit cards for self-print tickets.

There seems to be a glitch with first class international bookings on www.cd.cz/eshop at the moment. It'll price up second class tickets (eg: Prague-Berlin) alright, and also domestic first class. However, for Prague-Berlin in first it gives an error message:
Location (station or municipality) not found or it's not possible to purchase a ticket from/to this station.


For the Regensburg - Prague option as mentioned by KQ321, as explained you'll need
1) you'll need the Bayern-Bohmen ticket (departure only after 9AM) from a DB vending machine and
2) a Plzen to Prague ticket: which is 147Kc (€6) each.

Note that I gave 2 different options for ticketing Regensburg-Prague:
1) A through ticket (ie: the discounted 'Prague Special'; but a full fare first class ticket would also work like this): this option is straightforward, and should be available from a DB ticket office, a DB ticket machine, or on the train (as ALX's rules about on-train purchases are different to DB's (which doesn't allow it on 'local' trains, at least not in Bayern)).

2) Split ticketing, using a Bayern-Bohmen ticket for Regensburg-Plzen, and a CD ticket for Plzen-Prague. This is slightly cheaper, but as ofto has pointed out, ticketing for this arrangement gets a bit complicated.


You can buy this...
...on the train in Kc once the Czech train crew boards. They may accept euros, but no one seems to know.

I'm not sure about the official rules on this, but on a few occasions (on cross-border, local trains in Czech) I've either paid for tickets in euros myself, or seen other passengers do so, and it's never been a problem. (I normally carry koruna to pay for such tickets - but the CD conductors, when they realise I'm not local (as I don't speak Czech) often seem to expect me to be paying in euros, and look surprised when I produce koruna...)
YMMV, of course...

If the OP wants to be sure, and carry koruna, they should be available in a forex bureau in Regensburg town. Some larger stations in Germany have forex bureau, but I'm not sure about Regensburg station - I can't see one on this map (http://www.img-bahn.de/v/861/img/stInfoPlan/8000309.pdf), but there may be one in the shopping centre beyond platform 9.


...or in person in Pilsen if you wanted to make a quick stop. Trains run almost hourly Plzen - Prague.
The ALX/EX trains used to have a ~20min stop in Plzen. So, in theory you could run down into the booking hall, withdraw some Koruna (I'm fairly sure there's an ATM there), buy a ticket, and run back onto the same train. However, the stop has now been reduced to ~9 minutes, so I don't think I'd want to risk it (especially as even if the train arrives a few minutes late, they'll probably still try to leave on time).

First Class Tickets Regensburg - Prague
I've realised you could also use split ticketing to get a slightly reduced fare in first class:
- Buy a DB ticket Regensburg-Domazlice (first station across the border in Czech) - €39.80/person in First. (This isn't available online, but can be purchased at a DB ticket counter, DB ticket machine or on the ALX/EX train).
- Buy a CD ticket Domazlice-Prague - 329Kc, ~€13/person in First. This seems to be available online from www.cd.cz (as it seems to be full fare, not a SporoTiket), or should be available on the train, once it's entered Czech (see comment above about payments on the train).

Total price ~€53/person in First, as opposed to €73.40 for the full First fare for Regensburg-Prague from DB.

Duplicate post deleted

I see now, you are right, cd.cz does not allow for 1st class purchase online for international tickets. Not a glitch, per se, just not offered.

FWIW, there is very very little difference between 1st and 2nd classes on these trains. Unless you're traveling at an especially busy time and the cabin is crowded.

Thank you to both, ofto and KQ321 for your detailed info. I will take a while to digest all that, plus playing with the booking site a bit to gain familiarity.

I am concern about Regensburg to Prague journey as it seems to invlove changing trains (or even bus) and different ticketing schemes etc..
The suggestion of having a beer enroute sounds great, but I am nervous about missing the train :D

I will have different currencies on hand. Not a big concern.

My time of travel can be flexible to accommodate the most straight forward (aka simple) journey. Avoid crowded train if possible. Are there such thing as "rush hours" on Regensbourg-Prague & Prague-Berlin segments?

I am concern about Regensburg to Prague journey as it seems to invlove changing trains (or even bus) and different ticketing schemes etc..
The suggestion of having a beer enroute sounds great, but I am nervous about missing the train :D

My time of travel can be flexible to accommodate the most straight forward (aka simple) journey. Avoid crowded train if possible. Are there such thing as "rush hours" on Regensbourg-Prague & Prague-Berlin segments?

Sorry, I didn't mean to put you off by making it sound too complicated.

If you want to keep it simple:
- There are two direct trains each day between Regensburg and Prague:
ALX/EX355, dep Regensburg 10:31, arr Prague 14:51
or
ALX/EX351, dep Regensburg 18:35, arr Prague 22:51
Personally, I would choose the earlier train (10:31), to avoid arriving in Prague too late at night.
- There shouldn't be any need to purchase tickets in advance for either of these trains - you can just get them on the day of departure (either at the station, or even on the train). One ticket will cover you all the way from Regensburg to Prague:
In second-class, the 'Prague Special' ticket gives a slightly discounted price of €43.
In first-class, the regular fare is €73.40 (as mentioned in your original post).

- I'm not sure, but I doubt the 10:31 train would be too crowded (unless you're travelling on or just before an important holiday or event), although it may fill up as it approaches Prague.

Two Other Straightforward Options
- If you want to travel at a different time of day, there are two other fairly straightforward options, both involving a change of trains in Schwandorf:

RE 3692, dep Regensburg 06:28, arr Schwandorf 06:54
ALX/EX357, dep Schwandorf 07:05, arr Prague 10:51
or
RE 3696, dep Regensburg 14:31, arr Schwandorf 14:57
ALX/EX353, dep Schwandorf 15:08, arr Prague 18:51


- You probably need to change platforms in Schwandorf, but it's a fairly small station, and they'd probably hold the ALX for you, if the RE train is running a few minutes later, and you tell the conductor you have a connection to make.

- If you are really worried about the connection time in Schwandorf, you could take a slightly earlier train from Regensburg (05:21 for the early morning connection, or 14:21 for the afternoon connection).

- The fare for these options would be the same as above (but note you'd have to buy it at the station, you can't buy a ticket on the RE train).

Other Options
Personally, I would avoid any of the bus options, which involve going into Nuremberg (ie: the wrong direction) and then back out again.

The options for using split tickets (with one ticket to Plzen, and a different ticket onwards to Prague) is only if you're really interested in saving a few euros.

Indeed, I also didn't mean to make thing complicated.

You can just take the Alex train from Regensburg (10:31) to Prague (14:51):

Get on and take any seats you like:
For secound class just board and wait for the German conductor to come around and ask for the Bayern-Bohmen ticket (€34 for the both of you) and once in Czech Repbulic a new conductor will come around, show her the Bayer-Bohmen ticket and ask for a Plzen to Prague ticket (147Kc / €6 each). For the Czech ticket it may be helpful to have €12 exact change, or if you are planning on getting Kc in advance that works, too. Total price €23 per person.

For first class just bring cash to pay €73.40 per person from the first conductor.


For Prague - Berlin book online for second class if you want a deal. Otherwise just buy your 1st class ticket at the station in Prague. Its true that these trains are comfortable in second class, but sometimes they're busy so buy a seat reservation so you don't have to worry about where to sit.

If you want to keep it simple:
- There are two direct trains each day between Regensburg and Prague:
ALX/EX355, dep Regensburg 10:31, arr Prague 14:51
or
ALX/EX351, dep Regensburg 18:35, arr Prague 22:51
Personally, I would choose the earlier train (10:31), to avoid arriving in Prague too late at night.
[INDENT]In second-class, the 'Prague Special' ticket gives a slightly discounted price of €43.
although it may fill up as it approaches Prague.

.

My bold
Thank you. I will take this train per your suggestion. Perfect. Like to arrive mid afternoon rather night.
2 more questions about second class train: seat reservable? luggage space (1 22" rollaboard plus 1 backpack) near seat or at end of car?
For scenery, which side of train?
Thanks again ^

Indeed, I also didn't mean to make thing complicated.

You can just take the Alex train from Regensburg (10:31) to Prague (14:51):

Per prior post. ^


Get on and take any seats you like:
For secound class just board and wait for the German conductor to come around and ask for the Bayern-Bohmen ticket (€34 for the both of you) and once in Czech Repbulic a new conductor will come around, show her the Bayer-Bohmen ticket and ask for a Plzen to Prague ticket (147Kc / €6 each). For the Czech ticket it may be helpful to have €12 exact change, or if you are planning on getting Kc in advance that works, too. Total price €23 per person.

Sounds like second class does not have seat reservation? Maybe it does not matter if I get on early.


For Prague - Berlin book online for second class if you want a deal. Otherwise just buy your 1st class ticket at the station in Prague. Its true that these trains are comfortable in second class, but sometimes they're busy so buy a seat reservation so you don't have to worry about where to sit.

Noted. Thank you. You and KQ321 have been extremely helpful

2 more questions about second class train: luggage space (1 22" rollaboard plus 1 backpack) near seat or at end of car?


As far as I can tell*, this train consists of around 4 second-class carriages, which each consist of closed, 8-seat compartments. (One second class carriage also has a baggage compartment, and there's one carriage which is half first-class, half second-class). All the compartments should have fairly spacious overhead luggage racks, and possibly also a bit of space under the seats. I don't think that there's any additional baggage space at the end of the carriage. (In the past, I've also seen some open saloon carriages used on these trains. These also have fairly spacious overhead luggage racks, plus some space between the seatbacks - I'm not sure about space at the end of the carriage). Anyhow, your bags should easily fit on the overhead racks, but if the compartment isn't crowded, you can also leave them on the floor.

* www.cd.cz will show the composition of trains, but only for journeys entirely in Czech. So, looking at Regensburg-Prague, it won't show the train composition. However, if you check the 12:10 EX355 'Albert Einstein' departure from Domazlice to Praha (ie: the same train you'll board earlier on in Regensburg) it will show the composition. By default, the logo for second class carriages means 8-seat closed compartments, unless there's a "two seats" logo superimposed on the carriage, in which case it's an open saloon.


seat reservable?
I didn't think they were, but the "Prague Special (http://www.vogtlandbahn.de/de?t=/documentManager/sfdoc.file.supply&fileID=1322660548038)" ticket brochure says:
Reservierung
Züge der Relation München <> Praha nur für CD-Anteil möglich; nicht durch VBG
ie:
Reservations
Trains between Munich and Prague, only possible for CD (Czech Railways) section; can't be made through VGB

I'm not sure if this means only for the part of the journey inside Czech, or only for the CD operated carriages (the train may have both ALX and CD carriages). Although it says VGB (ie: ALX, the operator in Germany) can't make reservations, it doesn't say how you can make them... You could try at the station in Regensburg the day before (or earlier) - but if that doesn't work, I wouldn't bother about it, and just go without reservations. (I suspect >90% of the other passengers on this train also won't have reservations).

The train may be somewhat full when it arrives in Regensburg, but will probably empty out as it approaches the border, and then re-fill as it approaches Prague. If you're in second-class, and look for a seat at the opposite end of the train from the first-class carriage, you've probably got the best chance of having space to yourselves (as the train will generally fill up from the middle).

The train has a ten minute stop in Regensburg (it arrives at 10:21 from Munich), but be aware that not all carriages may go through to Prague. It's possible they will split the train in Regensburg (or maybe in Schwandorf). So, make sure you get in a carriage that is going through to Prague - there should be a destination sign in the door for each carriage, so it's not difficult to ensure you've got the right one.

For scenery, which side of train?
I'm not 100% sure for this route, but it may not matter that much.
For Prague-Berlin, the route from Prague as far as Dresden runs along the River Elbe, so it's clear that you want to sit on the river side (ie: right-hand side, in that direction). However, I'm not sure there's anything so specific for the Regensburg-Prague route.
Also, if you're in an 8-seat closed compartment, you won't have much choice - as only one side of the compartment has an external window - the other side has a window onto the corridor.

Since ALEX is classified as a regional service in Germany, I don't think you can make seat reservations. It may be possible to make reservations from the Czech boarder into Prague, but you really don't need to.

If for some unforseen reason the train is full when you board, you can always just head over to first class, just be sure to have enough euros on hand for either ticket. First class will be empty.

KQ321 & ofto
Thank you again for sharing the added information re luggage handling on the train(s); preferred side to sit and issue of reservation.

Looks like there should be no worry about luggage, since there are overhead racks and compartments for them.

Which side of the train to sit matters a great deal to me, as I like to photography landscape from the moving train. In part, that's the main reason for which I want to reserve a seat.

Re: reservation. I simply show up earlier to grab a seat when reservation is not available.

You guys are great! ^ Thanks.

Exactly 8 days ago, I booked online (bahn.de) the Praha to Berlin train. First class with reservation. Ticket will be delivered by mail (since eticket not possible). Web site says delivery in 2 to 3 days. My guess 7 days. Now it has been 8, should I be worried. Just in case, who/how should I contact via email?

One more question, re travel from Hamburg to Ghent, Belgium. On bahn dot com web site, it seems best to first go to Amsterdam, instead of say Brussel. Please advise which is the best way to go (time & money wise). OK scenery counts too!

Thanks

One more question, re travel from Hamburg to Ghent, Belgium. On bahn dot com web site, it seems best to first go to Amsterdam, instead of say Brussel. Please advise which is the best way to go (time & money wise). OK scenery counts too!

Looks to me like the fastest route (7:14) requires changes in Hannover, Cologne, and Brussels, and you can buy that ticket for 59 euros in 2nd.

If you want to avoid one of those changes, you can travel via Cologne and Brussels for the same price with an extra 25 minutes on your journey.

First class tickets can be had for as little as 79 euros.

adventureadam,

Thank you.

Exactly 8 days ago, I booked online (bahn.de) the Praha to Berlin train. First class with reservation. Ticket will be delivered by mail (since eticket not possible). Web site says delivery in 2 to 3 days. My guess 7 days. Now it has been 8, should I be worried. Just in case, who/how should I contact via email?

Hmmm. Where is the address to which you've had them posted? If it's in Germany, the ticket really should have arrived by now. In Europe, they probably should also have made it. If it's further afield, then it may not be so surprising it hasn't arrived yet, but should come soon (unless your local postal service is particularly slow).

You could try emailing fahrkartenservice@bahn.de, but it's probably better to phone the standard DB service number (+49 (0) 180 5 99 66 33).

You could try emailing fahrkartenservice@bahn.de, but it's probably better to phone the standard DB service number (+49 (0) 180 5 99 66 33).

They have to mail it to USA. I did email them asking about the paper tickets before seeing your post. They said it had been mailed. Yesterday, the ticket arrived.

Not sure how to tell if we have seats on the right sidie of train. We are on EC378. Here is what it said on the ticket: Wg 262, Pl 43, 45, Grobraum, Nichtraucher, 1 Fenster, 1 Gang. Can you translate please?

I'm pleased to hear the tickets arrived OK.

We are on EC378. Here is what it said on the ticket: Wg 262, Pl 43, 45, Grobraum, Nichtraucher, 1 Fenster, 1 Gang. Can you translate please?
Großraum = open saloon (ie: not closed compartments)
Nichtraucher = non-smoking
1 Fenster, 1 Gang = 1 window seat, 1 aisle seat (almost certainly next to each other)
Wg262 = carriage no 262.
Pl 43, 45 = seat numbers 43, 45

Carriage 262 is the 1st class carriage, immediately adjacent to the restaurant car. (You can see the train layout in Prague if you look up EC378 on www.cd.cz). Leaving Prague, carriage 262 is immediately behind the locomotive - and I don't think the train reverses en route.

Not sure how to tell if we have seats on the right sidie of train.

Unfortunately, I'm not aware of any way to work out in advance which side of the train your seats will be. Unlike aircraft, most train carriages can be used in either direction, and often get switched around (sometimes even during one journey). If you phone CD or DB, they might be able to tell you. However, if you're on the 'wrong' side of the train, you can always try to move across, if the train isn't crowded.

KQ321,
Thanks for the translation that confirms what I got from the web. Always good to be sure.

Good to know the configuration of the train.
Will wait till we are in Praha to ensure our seats are on the Right side of train.