Hi all! When I searched Regiojet in January for train schedule for BUD-VIE, I got direct routes. However, now I’m getting only bus service. Has the service changed or should I consider OBB/Rail Europe? Our dates of travel are: 9/19 BUD-VIE and 9/25 Cesky Krumlov -PRG.
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
26358 posts
I suspect you are looking too soon for RegioJet train service. They show trains on 12 September, so wait a week and i bet they show up on your dates. Option B is to use MAV, sure check the price on OBB but better than a 50/50 chance MAV will be a lot less expensive.
I said it so to prevent criticism I had to check it. The 10:30 train on MAV is 15 euro with a seat, on OBB its 22.20 euro. https://jegy.mav.hu/
Be aware with RegioJet that the train does not go to the main station, Keleti, in Budapest, it goes to a suburban station called Kelenfold. That’s okay because there is a metro line that will take you from the city center and in truth the difference in time to Keleti or to Kelenfold from the center is less than 10 minutes. The only other drawback with RegioJet is also about the station in that Keleti is worth seeing and experiencing. Kelenfold is a cold war bus stop for trains. But RejioJet, being a private company without subsidy has to compete in the real world so they do offer good prices and a few additional bells and whistles not found on government trains. I still like entering anf leaving the city at Keleti though. But both work equally as well.
Oh, with the BUD to VIE you arent saying you want to go airport to airport are you? Cause that's another set of explanations.
Posted by
Wengen
3908 posts
September is still a long time away. There is no need to book train tickets that far in advance. And the ÖBB and MAV trains are perfectly find. (Rail Europe does not operate any trains, that is just a travel agency).
Posted by
Republic of Texas / U.S.A. / Magyarország / Budapest
26358 posts
On the MAV/OBB trains sometimes they are full, sometimes not. But often enough full to really justify buying the seat and even to consider first class to be dang sure that no kid witha 80L backpack isnt standing over you for 2.6 hours. But to be honest I like the open plan of 2nd class better than the 6 seat compartments in 1st class. So its a trade off.
As when to buy the tickets. Well, sure its early. I am a bit ... you know the word ... when it comes to getting all the details taken care of long in advance so I might be buying them now too in your situation. But I will tell you that I just checked that 10:30 MAV train and exactly eight 2nd class seats were sold, and six 1st class seats ... out of hundreds of seats. On the Regiojet 12 Septeber 11:58 train there were over 400 seats available. But, again, I get it.