This is more of a general question. Purchasing OEBB train tickets on their website is a bit of a nightmare, so I was looking to purchase Euro City tickets instead on-line while I am still in the U.S. I see that RailEurope.com sells them, but they sell their tickets with a huge up-charge. So my question is, how can I purchase them on-line and pay the actual price of the ticket?
Posted by
Augsburg, Bavaria
2327 posts
It depends on where you want to go. I cannot replicate the "nightmare" statement. The OeBB website may be a bit more idiosyncratic than the DB's but it often has worked fine for me. For cross border trips you can try either the web site of the train company in the country where your trip originates from or a booking platform that is specialised in booking international fares like trainline.eu. RailEurope would neither in view of the quality of information nor in view of the prices offered be my first or second choice.
Posted by
OP
39 posts
It is Vienna to Prague, then return to Vienna. Also, Vienna to Budapest, then return to Vienna. Neither the Czech nor Hungarian website was too helpful, as they required the credit card be "Verified by Visa", which most American credit cards lack that feature.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
EuroCity is not a different railway company. It is a branding for international trains operated jointly by the railway companies. These are the same trains as you are seeing on the ÖBB, Czech Railways etc. sites.
I see your "nightmare" is a credit card problem. These websites are designed for the majority of their customers, which are people in Austria and surrounding countries. "Verified by Visa" by visa is not new, it was introduced some time ago. If your card does not have this, your only recourse is to consult your credit card company, it isn't ÖBB's fault.
Posted by
San Antonio TX, United States
2393 posts
You should be able to activate Verified by Visa at their website:
https://verified.visa.com/aam/activation/landingPage.aam
The OEBB site is not the most user friendly but if you read the screen you should be able to slog through it.
Posted by
Augsburg, Bavaria
2327 posts
Your CC problem has been discussed here often. I'd compare what trainline.eu is offering and if prices are not too different (what I'd expect for international trains, for national ones they often are more expensive) then Id' book with them. I found them reliable.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5372 posts
As noted, Euro City is a type of train, not a train company.
Honestly, buying tickets at the station will be cheaper than RailEurope.
Fix your credit card and use the correct websites and you'll save money.
Posted by
San Francisco
14503 posts
Hi,
First of all, forget Rail Europe, tried them once, they lost me forever as a customer.
You are buying tickets for the EC train. A Euro City train is made up of various coaches that could be OBB or DB or CD (Czech trains), all connected, depending on the route of the train, likewise with the EN (EuroNight) trains for night train routes.