I'm trying to purchase tickets for a family of 5 from Prague to Salzburg for August 1
I'm trying to book either the IC 644 or EC 333, but it says reservations temporarily unavailable. I think the train is full looking at the carriages but it won't let me see them all. I'm also open to first class because I looked at the OBB site and they're much more expensive. Do I need to take a different train or is there a way to make a reservation I'm not seeing. We definitely don't want to stand for the full train ride.
Posted by
Wengen
4050 posts
When I look on www.cd.cz I indeed see that seat reservations are temporary not possible. Just buy the ticket to lock in the cheap price, and reserve your seats later.
Posted by
2822 posts
I'm trying to book either the IC 644 or EC 333
The shortest route from Prague to Salzburg is via Ceske Budejovice and Linz, where you have to change trains.
For the planned day of your travel the (Austrian) OeBB timetable shows a rail replacement service by bus between Ceske Budejovice and Linz, whereas the (Czech) CD timetable does not. It will need some investigation to clarify this discrepancy.
If you want to be on the sure side, take the route via Vienna. It will cost you more than an hour, though.
Posted by
395 posts
Something is seriously wrong with the CD data! As said it does show EC333....
The ÖBB journey planner shows no trace of 333 on that date - well not as a train. The previous train from Prague to Ceske Budejovice IC533 is shown as connecting with a replacement bus to Linz - which is numbered 333 and has the same times at Ceske Budejovice and Linz as EC333. Which means they have allowed well over an hour to get of the train, walk outisde and get on the bus!
The DB database for bahn.com shows EC333 as nicht 27. Jul bis 16. Aug 2026
my gut feeling is that sometime closer to 27th July somebody at CD will realise that they got it wrong and 333 is running as far as Ceske Budejovice - but gut feelings shouldn't be relied on when planning things like this! Try using the ÖBB site to book the journey using IC533 departing 09:21. You'll even have time for a real Budweiser in it's home town! The connection with ÖBB IC644 still works and this itinery will still be faster than via Vienna because there is no direct Prague -Vienna at the time of day.
BY the way, IC644 is a double decker, so try to get seats upstairs for the view!
Posted by
OP
47 posts
Thank you for the info. That makes sense that there's an issue currently bc it also had a note that said something to the effect of train in your direction is not guaranteed. I'll look into another departure time or using the OBB.
Posted by
OP
47 posts
Has anyone used Flick bus? There's construction from the Linz station to the Austrian border so I'm concerned since we would have to take 2 trains and a bus.
Posted by
Wengen
4050 posts
Note that if you buy a ticket then the railway commits to transport you. If after you bought your ticket the schedule is changed (eg. a part is replaced with a bus) you can still use your ticket. Your ticket is not invalidated because a schedule is changed or a part is substituted.
So you can safely buy Prague to Salzburg, knowing that you will be able to use that ticket to travel from Prague to Salzburg.
Even more: If you end up delayed at your destination you will be able to claim compensation.
So just buy the ticket now to lock in the price, and sort out the reservations later, or just don't bother.
Regarding flixbus: I would prefer a train trip where I have to change trains every 10 minutes over a flixbus, but that is me.
Posted by
395 posts
Flixbus have four direct buses that day. One leaves Prague at 07:00, the next arrives Salzburg at 21:20 (so those are just about acceptable) and then the next two arrive Salzburg during the night. None actually go into Salzburg, they dump you at a large parking area on the southern fringe of the city and let you find your own way. Published schedules can be aspirations rather than guarantees, don't expect any staff or facilities at most stops.
Posted by
Lake District, England
12026 posts
None actually go into Salzburg, they dump you at a large parking area on the southern fringe of the city and let you find your own way.
Why use such pejorative terminology as 'dump'? A quick look at the map shows that if you cross the bridge from the bus station, you get to Salzburg Sud S-Bahn station- about a 10 minute journey.
Posted by
Bel Air, MD
79 posts
I went Salzburg to Prague. I booked on Trainline. We had to change trains in Linz, it was easy. I could reserve seats on the Salzburg to Linz leg, but not the Linz to Prague leg. We boarded the train, picked out seats, got booted out because someone had reserved them, but there were plenty of other seat. BTW the train from Linz to Prague has the 6 person compartment, so it's nice to have friendly travelling companions.