European Rail Travel - Prague-Budapest Train

Hi guys,

I'm considering doing a train from Prague-Budapest next month. Has anyone done the night train? What happens with the baggage? I will be alone, and would do a couchette/sleeper, but not a private one. Is baggage safe/locked up, or what's the story?

Thanks

I've taken the overnight train before - but, in a sleeper car. ( with a first class rail europe ticket - you would have access to a 1 person room for an additional supplement) If traveling in second class I know there are also couchettes that sleep either 4 or 6. Your luggage goes into the room with you, so it is locked up with you and whoever you are sharing a room with.

Hi guys,

I'm considering doing a train from Prague-Budapest next month. Has anyone done the night train? What happens with the baggage? I will be alone, and would do a couchette/sleeper, but not a private one. Is baggage safe/locked up, or what's the story?

Thanks

How much are you talking? They aren't really set up like planes where you could take three suitcases or something.

ETA: Here are some photos of the two sleeper cabins that are used on this route currently:

http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/CZ/CD_WLABmz.php
http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/CZ/CD_WLABmee.php

You can see there is a little room under the seat/bottom bunk. There should be a rack over the door or at the top of the car, but I don't see it in those pictures. You can put whatever you want on your bunk.

Here's the couchette car:

http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/H/MAV_Bcmz.php

IT's tight quarters, pack light.

How much are you talking? They aren't really set up like planes where you could take three suitcases or something.

ETA: Here are some photos of the two sleeper cabins that are used on this route currently:

http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/CZ/CD_WLABmz.php
http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/CZ/CD_WLABmee.php

You can see there is a little room under the seat/bottom bunk. There should be a rack over the door or at the top of the car, but I don't see it in those pictures. You can put whatever you want on your bunk.

Here's the couchette car:

http://www.vagonweb.cz/fotogalerie/H/MAV_Bcmz.php

IT's tight quarters, pack light.

Thanks. It's not the quantity of baggage (I'll have just one bag). It's that I'm worried about theft while I'm sleeping, especially since the brian stops. And I'll be all alone (i.e. either need to pay for private couchette or be trusting).

Also, I looked on the website czech-transport.com, and it says that a single sleeper is available for 175EUR. That's the only site I can get to price out anything. Do I need to buy through them, or can/should I wait and get it in Prague? Are prices lower if I buy in Prague rather than through czech-transport.com?

I've got to think that buying up all the spots in a couchette is not a good deal.

Theft really isn't a big concern in a sleeper car...they all have attendants to make sure people don't come and go where they aren't welcome, the cabins lock from the inside, and even if you would share a double with another human, it's going to be a person with a name and a ticket. anything that you're really worried about can be kept in a bag with you in the bunk.

Czech-transport.com is a for-profit ticket resaler. The cheapest price will be directly from Cesky Drahy (czech rail) and is not available for purchase online (the only international night tickets available on cd.cz are to slovakia)

Here are the prices available from CD:

http://www.cd.cz/mezinarodni-cestovani/jizdenka/slevy-evropa/-3959/

(69 euros to -- potentially -- share a 2-bed sleeper with someone of the same gender, 139 euros for a single sleeper)

They are available 60 days out, and shoudl be available when you arrive in Prague.

If you are having anxiety about the night train, realize that you can take a 19-euro day train and get a clean 3-star hotel room near the train station in budapest for like 50 euros and come out no worse.