Buying European Train Tickets

DCC is mentioned:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-machine-atm-tips

I see, but different article. Then maybe the problem is consolidation and updating
What I noticed was at the bottom of the page https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-forum

Cash and Currency Tips: https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-tips

and my comments are: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/budget-tips/ricks-cash-and-currency-tips-for-europe

On the Buying Train Tickets some of the advice seemed a bit off, but I generally only deal with MAV and OBB so cant comment on the larger picture. But things like buying 4 months in advance for better rates isnt true for those two, and buying at the station, at least for MAV will cost a lot more than buying online the night before. Not being critical, times change and i suspect when written it was spot on.

Where do I even begin? There is a lot of outdated advice on the page and it's probably creating more confusion than actually helping. And those cost-estimate maps have very little to do with reality.

Yup I like this forum and I am a bit obsessed that it really be the best source. So how about you start a thread and work through it with the contributors to the thread. It wll take some research. I am only good for MAV and OBB.

Agree. I've been saying for years that the whole site (and books too) could use a complete re-write, not just a tweaking. Especially the guidance on tech stuff.

This trip and that of last summer I had no problems buying SNCF train tickets , save for a defective machine in Metz (realising this, I just went to another machine) , much easier than in Germany and more consistently convenient. The SNCF machines all worked , I mean consistently , with the tap option, not so in Germany re: the DB machines. The ticket prices were indicated in Euro.

You might like to try this site:> https://www.thetrainline.com/

For advice on train travel see:>https://www.seat61.com

The cost estimate maps for the UK are truly terrible, in that the geography shown bears little resemblance to reality.
They very strongly imply direct links that don't and never have existed.

And they quote fares which few if any people pay, given widespread and ever growing availability of Advance train specific fares. Those are often available until minutes before travel, or at least 24 hours before travel.

A root and branch review is needed.

So how about you start a thread and work through it with the
contributors to the thread. It wll take some research.

I'm here on my free time and that would unfortunately require more time than I'm willing to spend on the forum.

A bit too much for me too. What ever RS post needs to be super basic as Seat 61 can not be beat. But even basic needs to be a bit better than what he's posting now

I have a similar view to Badger. My view says that Rick employs and pays staff, and also employs and pays local guides to write his website material.
There simply is no valid reason why I would volunteer on this forum to rewrite it, as opposed to giving personal advice for specific journeys which is what this forum is really about.

I know that RS used to sell BritRail passes (not now), presumably hence why he concentrates on them, which is fine. The Man in Seat 61 has some biases like that, of who pays him commission for referrals. Again, if you know that, there is nothing wrong in it.

I assume it is accurate that many of the regional passes don't offer child and senior concessions. If it is then I would very much suspect that where domestic passes exist for some of the Britrail ones the domestic ones are cheaper than the Britrail ones.

We now have Britrail passes on our domestic ticket machines in the North of England- but with dummy or nil fares assigned, so it is hard to compare definitively.

But even as starter for 10 information, I find the UK rail information to be rather dated. At times on the forum that shows when people ask questions about trains which don't exist in the manner expected.

I also accept that personally, due to what I do in 'real life' I drill down into more detail than a website overview could or should handle, so that also disqualifies me.

One little thing does surprise me- that he implies that you can have a berth in a shared sleeper train cabin for around $75. Shared cabins (2 strangers) came to an end during the pandemic era, and a sleeper cabin on Cal Sleeper is now an awful lot more than $75. The Great Western Night Riviera Sleeper is much better priced, but even there $75 is an optimistic price.

While he may be right I am surprised that a reservation on a South Eastern domestic HS1 train costs $5 with a Britrail pass. I believe that is free now- may have been a charge at one stage for all I know.
There you are, too much detail again.

But even basic needs to be a bit better than what he's posting now

Agree!

If someone would offer to pay me to rewrite I could certainly do that, but it's too much for me to do it in my spare time.

Badger, Here:

PURCHASING YOUR EUROPEAN TRAIN TICKETS

Third-Party Sellers
Third-Party Sellers may not be the best choice.

• Check their reviews before considering.

• If there is a problem with the ticket you will have to deal with the
  Third-Party Seller as the National Train Companies will not work with
  you on Third Party tickets.

• Ticket cost may not be lowest available.

National Train Companies
Almost every country has their National Train Company. Each will have different business practices so there is no single answer to the question of when to purchase your ticket.

• Purchasing tickets at the station may not be the lowest cost option.
  Discounted ticket may only be available on-line.

• Discounted tickets may be available up to the day prior, but policies
  vary by company so check as far out as possible and compare to prices
  offered a few days prior.

• There are instances when buying too far out in the future that
  Discount tickets may not be available.

• Discounted tickets might be limited, so while the train may not
  sell-out, the Discount ticets may sell out.

• When crossing borders, check the cost from the departure country and
  the arrival country National Train Company. The cost may be less
  with one or the other, even for the same train.

• When crossing borders, check what trains are available from the
  departure country and the arrival country National Train Company.
  One or the other may list trains not shown on the other’s site.

• When crossing borders, if you purchase from the destination country
  National Train Company that the departure country National Train
  Company will not work with you if there is a problem with the ticket.
  If the cost difference is small you may do better purchasing from the
  departure country National Train Company. For larger savings you may
  wish to take the small risk.

• Download and use the Application from the company you purchase the
  ticket from.

Private Train Companies

There are in Europe Private Train Companies. They lease equipment and tracks from the National Train Companies.

• Their prices can sometimes be better than the National Train
  Companies.

• Check which train stations they are using. They do not always use
  the most convenient stations, making another form of transportation
  necessary.

First Class or Second Class

Most routes offer First Class and Second Class cars.

• The difference between First Class and Second Class train travel can
  be compared to the difference between an airline Premium Economy and
  Standard Economy.

• There are websites that can show you the differences in amenities.

Train Station Arrival and Schedules

• If you are not experienced in traveling by train in Europe, arrive 30
  minutes early to get an idea of how things work, where the signage
  and notification boards and the platforms are located.

• If you are not experienced with traveling by train in Europe you
  might want to avoid routes with connections of less than 20 minutes.

For the few times I rode the trains in France and Italy; I used the train companies' mobile app to book all my tickets directly. I think it's the easiest way to book/manage train tickets these days.