Sept 12 trip from regensburg to salzburg?

It depends. If you want to ride a high speed (ICE) train, then the earlier you book it, the cheaper the price is. However, there are alternatives.

You can get a Bavarian pass, which entitles you to travel anywhere in Bavaria (which includes Salzburg) for €27. There are few caveats - you cannot use it on a high speed train, and your journey must begin no earlier than 9 am on Monday through Friday (it can begin at midnight on the weekend). However, the ticket is good for the whole day until 3 am the next day. And you do not need to purchase it in advance. You can find more information here. https://www.bahn.com/en/offers/regional/regional-day-ticket-for-bavaria

You can get a Bavarian pass, which entitles you to travel anywhere in Bavaria (which includes Salzburg) for €27

Where in the link you shared does it specify that the Bavarian pass also includes the city of Salzburg in Austria? I don’t see it.

Scroll down on the linked page to "Questions & Answers about the regional day ticket for Bavaria," then go to "Where is the Ticket Valid" then go to the Rail Map link (a PDF) and you will see Salzburg in the lower right hand corner.

The only difference there is that you cannot use the Bayern ticket for public transportation in Salzburg. But you can use it to get there and leave from there to get back to Bavaria.

Yes I understand the Bayern pass and restrictions. My concern is not cost, but seating availability early to mid afternoon esp from Munich to salzburg leg. Is travel going to be heavy in mid September? Thanks. I

I wouldn't worry too much about them getting sold out. There are plenty of trains on that route. However, if you like, you can purchase a seat reservation, which would guarantee you a seat. If you do that, though, I would purchase it as soon as possible.

Here is the link you would visit to check fares and times. I would suggest setting up an account ahead of time as it makes it easier. Plus you can then download the DB Navigator app and have the ticket stored on your phone. https://reiseauskunft.bahn.de/bin/query.exe/en

One more thing - you may not necessarily pass through Munich. Some of the routes from Regensburg to Salzburg take you through other places, such as Landshut. if stopping in Munich is important to you, you should book the tickets as two separate legs and make sure that you get flexible passes just in case the first leg is detained.

Thanks Mardee. No plans to stop in Munich this trip. Been there twice in past. Only concern in going via Landshut is 6 minute change time. We are in mid 70's and running for trains not a great idea perhaps. We'll see. Thanks.

Regensburg-Munich is only regional traffic, so that prices for the trip are always the same. You can also continue from Munich to Salzburg by regional train (BRB), so the whole trip with the Bayernticket comes to €27 (+9 for each additional passenger). The RJX or EC would save about 20 minutes, but then the trip would be about three times as expensive for two. The same is true for connections via Wels in Austria.

Personally, I find the connections via Landshut/Mühldorf (using the Bayernticket) the most attractive. You can take an earlier train in Regensburg to extend the short transfer time in Landshut, and still the total travel time is shorter than connections via Munich (where the standard transfer time for my taste is also too short); e.g., Regensburg dep. 7:30 (instead of 7:53), transfer time in Landshut 19 min., arrival Salzburg 10:55; or Regensburg dep. 11:19 (instead of 11:53), transfer time in Landshut 34 min., arrival Salzburg 14:55.

Thank you very much. Will look again at Landshutt options. Total travel time isn't a worry, but transfer time is important to us.

If you look up the connections, click on "Show details" > "adjust transfer time" > "arrive earlier in Landshut". Then an alternative connection from Regensburg to Landshut will appear, whichs gives you more transfer time in L.

BTW:
1) It is also better for another reason to avoid trains with the prefix "ALX" in front of the train number, because they come from Prague and are often delayed due to the many track works between Plzen and Schwandorf. For this reason, it is currently also unlikely that connections with the minimum transfer time of 10 minutes from ALX to RJX will work in Munich.

2) the ÖBB website (Oebb.at) offers as of today a connection via Wels at the super saver fare of €17.20 pp (Regensburg ICE 21, dep. 9:26, change time in Wels 36 min). This is currently the best offer. On the DB site it is already sold out and it will surely be sold out on the ÖBB site soon.

Thank you.