My husband are trying to purchase a couple of extra train tickets in Austria outside of our Eurail passes (long story). The OBB website is confusing me a little - I type in the time I want and click "Book," but then it takes me to a booking page that doesn't confirm the time I'm booking for, just the date. I don't feel comfortable buying the ticket online if I can't be sure what time I'm buying for. Am I being overly cautious? Is it easy enough to buy tickets in the station? Thanks!
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Did you also request a seat reservation. Many full fare tickets in Europe are open tickets, just for the right to travel on train of that class, anytime after a specified date. If you request a seat reservation, as well, then you should get a ticket for a specific date.
Unless you are getting a discounted, advance purchase fare (SparSchiene), the fare will not be any less than the counter price. Buy your ticket over there.
Posted by
OP
Gainesville, FL, USA
30 posts
Oh, okay, I get it. I was looking at non-reserved seats. Thanks for explaining. I'm going from Vienna's Westbahnhof to Melk, and I'd like to leave in the morning. But from what y'all are saying, I can just buy a non-reserved ticket for that day and then go whenever. Am I understanding that right? Thanks.
Posted by
San Francisco
14980 posts
Emily,
If you were to do a day trip from Wien Westbahnhof to Budapest, there's no need to reserve ahead of time, just buy the r/t ticket early in the morning or the night before and just hop on.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
347 posts
What if you are arriving on a train from Germany? I'm going to be getting to Wien Westbahnhof at 11:40 and want to transfer to Melk as quickly as possible. Can I just buy a ticket once I get to Vienna or should I buy an unreserved seat online?
Also, am I reading this correctly that if I buy an unreserved seat it is like using a Eurail Pass i that I can get on any train after a certain time period?
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
Cary, so you would arrive in Wien on the RailJet (from Munich) at 11:40 and want to transfer to Melk. A faster way would be to get off the RailJet at St. Pölten and take a regional express from there. Going all of the way to Wien would require backtracking.
At the counter in Munich you could buy a standard ticket to Melk by way of St. Pölten, along with reservations for a seat on the RJ.
Emily, it looks like the train from Wien to Melk is a regional express (REX). I probably doesn't have reservable seats and any ticket would be an open one - just get your tickets that morning.
The fare for one person on the regional train to Melk is €15,70, one way. As long as you stay on regional trains, you can use an Einfach Raus ticket, which is an all day pass on regional trains for 2-5 people. It would cover your return trip as well.
Posted by
OP
Gainesville, FL, USA
30 posts
Thanks for the responses, everyone. And thanks for helping my husband, Cary, out as well :) Happy travels!
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
347 posts
Thanks, Lee. I have my reserved seat from Munich already b/c I'm actually doing an overnight from Berlin with a change-over in Munich. So I'll just buy the ticket for St. Poelten during my layover in Munich. I was hoping there was an easier, quicker way than going all the way to Vienna. I appreciate it. :)