I was uncertain as to which day I would take the train from Munich to Prague, as I was working out the end of my entire trip. Just in case it was competitive I paid a small fee for reservations on two dates under consideration. Now I wonder how to redeem or rather pay for the actual ticket and what the price that would be. It seems so basic but I haven’t found the information easily. I hope someone won’t mind enlightening me.
Thanks !
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2167 posts
That ticket would be about $24 ( less if you’re 65 or older) if you buy it from the Czech National Railway company at www.cd.cz/en
Posted by
OP
PA, USA
17 posts
Thank you Kenko.
While I can see the current price for the ticket, how is that linked to my seat reservation for the actual purchase later ?
I don’t know if tickets can be exchanged or held onto if unused as credit for a later trip for this route ? And if so, could it be used for travel elsewhere later ?
Posted by
Green Bay
21274 posts
I must say I am a little confused. The direct trains from Munich to Prague are Regional Express trains and do not have seat reservations. The only trains that have seat reservations require multiple connections and some of the legs are regional trains without seat reservations, and take longer.
If you board the Regional Express train in Munich, you will be the first to board and have your pick of seats.
Posted by
OP
PA, USA
17 posts
Obviously I am even more confused.
I wish I could attach a screen shot but there was option to purchase reservation or ticket and here’s what the page looks like for a reservation purchase. And I could use the seat map to select a seat. The fee is very small.
https://www.cd.cz/en/spojeni-a-jizdenka/cesta/f92d2414-485f-4cbf-9e4e-49bab7376786
Posted by
Lake District, England
8367 posts
The direct trains from Munich to Prague are Regional Express trains and do not have seat reservations. The only trains that have seat reservations require multiple connections and some of the legs are regional trains without seat reservations, and take longer.
I am also confused by that as there is a direct EuroCity train every two hours between the two cities.
The price varies depending on departure date and train time, but select your date and train time, and you will get the fares. As an example I am looking at the 1244 EC train on 30 October randomly. You get a fare of 712CZK (a discount ticket for that train only) or 1592 CZK for any train that day - both 2nd class.
Or 978 CZK for 1st class train specific.
The 712 CZK fare comes with a free seat reservation, the 1592CZK fare you can choose whether or not to add a seat reservation, also for free.
In either case you choose from a seating map
712CZK is only about US$31, and 978 CZK is US$42.
So I would just forget about your existing reservations, buy a ticket with a reservation as above. TBH for the difference in an already low fare I would choose 1st class.
If you have any doubt over which train you will catch choose the higher 1592CZK 2nd class fare, then either take your chance on a seat or reserve locally the day before. Or take the train you already have a seat reserved on.
1592CZK is still only US$59.50.
The fares on your day may vary up or down but that's the basic principle.
Posted by
Los Angeles
1244 posts
You may have interpreted "reservation" as a means to hold/put a deposit on a specific train or fare - as pointed out above, it is just the fee to reserve a specific seat on the train. If you go ahead and purchase a ticket on the train with the reserved seat, you should have all that you need.
Edited to add: of course, as long as your ticket is for the specific class of the car with the reserved seat.
Posted by
OP
PA, USA
17 posts
Yes - I finally understand what my seat reservation meant by talking to the Munich train info people today. I reserved a seat which means if the train was selling out I would still have a seat. But it has no bearing on my purchase or the price unless there are no seats, which for this time of year and on a weekday, is no concern at all. It was a pretty small fee however so I’m happy I had the guarantee whilst I knew little about the demand / availability and my own optimal schedule.
Thank you all for your helpful insights ! I now feel a more equipped and confident to consider other
train excursions on my way back to Munich :)
Posted by
OP
PA, USA
17 posts
I had also forgotten that the man in seat 61 has a great deal of information about train travel. He was a good resource years ago for our train travels. Then we discovered Rick Steve’s travel forum, with such a wealth of information and helpful people !
https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/munich-to-prague-by-train.htm
Thanks again everyone !