Point-to-point train tickets & OBB

I'm wondering if I should purchase my tickets in advance on raileurope.com

You do not want to do this. Your research is correct.

For Deutsche Bahn, I'm seeing as low as 19 euro if you take the 12:27 departure and can live with the restrictions of a Sparpreis ticket (must take exact train). You can print the ticket at home as soon as you complete the purchase. I have not used "Handy" tickets (QR code on your smart phone), but that option is available.

I have not bought OEBB tickets, but I believe ticketing is similar.

I have no experience with the OEBB, but I have used DB a lot for the advance buying of tickets. It's an easy system: paying by credit card, and printing at home. All done within a few minutes. I don't see why a third party - Raileurope - should be involved.

The only reason to reserve these tickets now is if/since you see a Savings Fare or SparPreis still available. Otherwise, seat assignments are not required, the train cannot officially sell out, and you can buy tickets in the station. Both OBB and DB offer e-tickets, so do not attempt or expect home delivery to North America from those sites; Rail Europe doesn't have access to the OBB's discount fares.

Hi,

You should have no problems buying on-line from DB train tickets 92 days in adv of the departure date, if you're willing to sacrifice flexibility for savings, ie lock yourself in to a specific date and departure time. I've don't that for rides within Germany (Berlin-Dresden) and outside of Ger (Paris Est to Frankfurt or Duisburg to Amsterdam). No problems. Have the credit card used for purchasing as proof when that is asked for.

This is from last year using oebb.at and bahn.com.

Oebb.at does not do etickets for international runs exactly, you will get a reservation number to enter into a kiosk at an Austrian station that will spit out a paper ticket. If your journey does not start in Austria you must have tickets mailed, about $5 express postage and 5 days to USA. Oebb.at puts out its tickets 6 months in advance so by now most of the cheap tickets will be gone. Ignore the common advice that "Europeans don't buy tickets early" it's not reliable.

Bahn.com is a straightforward website as stated, and you are more likely to get cheap tickets there since they haven't had tickets for sale as long.

Will D,

If you're not too concerned about having the tickets in hand, you can easily buy them locally. I normally like to buy tickets at least the day prior to travel, so there are no "issues" on departure day. You'll need to know which stations you're using in each case, as each city has more than one.

For the trip from Vienna to Prague, it appears that you can buy tickets online using the ÖBB website. I tried a "test purchase", but didn't go through the process as far as entering credit card information. I bought advance tickets from ÖBB last year, and was able to print them out at home.

For the trip from Prague to Berlin, you could buy the tickets when you arrive in Prague, since you'll be at the station anyway.

If you'd like to buy advance tickets for any rail line, I would not suggest buying from Rail Europe. Buy directly from the operators of the rail networks in each country, or from www.captaintrain.com where possible.

Just to be contradictory (as usual) with neither of the international OEBB tickets I bought last year was there a print at home option. The only options were reservation code pickup at kiosk in station and mail. I have just searched and read on several websites that this is still true, that print at home is available for domestic OEBB tickets but not international. It would be nice if this were clearly spelled out in the FAQ but it is a small country after all.

Tom_MN,

Unfortunately I can't remember how I obtained the ticket from ÖBB? I have it sitting in front of me, and it was purchased from ÖBB and definitely printed on my home printer. The route was Verona to Salzburg, using trains EC-80 and RJ-869.

All,

Thank you for the helpful information. I've booked my rail tickets for my Vienna->Prague leg at 60 euros total including tax, so I'm pleased with that rate and I'm planning to purchase my Prague->Berlin ticket at the train station in Prague.

The OBB site provided two options as previously mentioned: a code to pickup tickets at station or the option to print. If you choose the option to print, you cannot use the code to pickup tickets at the station.

Thanks again,
Will

I ÖBB has a mobile app now, you should be able to bring your tickets up on that, as long as wifi is available. I also think you can print them out at a kiosk at any major Bahnhof.