Night Train from Vienna to Prague in May Sleeper Car Reservations

Posted by Peter (Scottsdale, AZ, USA) on 02/12/10 03:21 PM

I saw a train #406/470 ( listing in Thomas Cooke European Rail Guide that leaves Wien Meidling station at 22:08 via Breclav arriving Prague 06:15 next day. It supposedly has sleeping cars and I'd like to reserve a double. We have Eurail passes 1st class. But I cannot find out how to reserve just the sleeper room. The German rail Website only shows the express train leaving from Westbahnhof (Train 60406/476) at 22:08 and arriving at 03:33 in Prague--way too early for a good night's sleep.

Does anyone know how to reserve just the sleeper car reservations and not the ticket for the slower train? I know it may be too early to reserve in May, but I'd like to do it as early as I can.

Posted by Ash

Tulsa, Oklahoma, US

02/12/10 03:44 PM

290 posts

Peter, I had a similar situation last fall on the Krakow to Budapest overnight and ended up making the sleeper reservations through RailEurope. They have a box on the main screen to click on for "Reservations for Rail Pass Holders"

The only Vienna/Prague overnight appears to be the 22:08 departure, 03:33 arrival that you mentioned. Since it's only 4.5 hours, you might be better served to take a daytime train.

Posted by Lee

Lakewood, Colorado

02/12/10 04:37 PM

19274 posts

I notice something strange about this routing. According to the Bahn, train 406 leaves Vienna at 22:08 to Breclav, arriving about midnight, then changes numbers to 476 and goes on to Prague. Your guide show train 60406 also going from Vienna at 22:08 to Breclav. The Bahn also shows a Czech regional train R470, with 2nd class sleeper cars, leaving Breclav at 2:00 and getting to Prague at 6:15.

Note that the Austrian Rail website shows a train 406 leaving Westbahnhof at 22:08. This train does stop at Meidling, at 22:21. It goes on and gets to Prague at 3:22. It leaves Prague for Berlin at 3:33.

The Czech Rail website shows a connection D604 Chopin/470 leaving Vienna at 22;08, stopping at Meidling, then at Breclav at midnight. It "stays" in Breclav until 2 AM, then continues on at 2:00, arriving at Prague at 6:15. It says "through coaches".

I'm hoping that train 604 drops cars in Breclav and they are picked up by 470 two hours later. Maybe they just drop you at the station and pick you up two hours later. You could call German Rail at (49) 1805 99 66 33. They can make you reservations and charge it to your credit card. You can also contact Euraide (www.euraide.com). They'll book the reservations for you at their office in Munich and mail them over here for $50.

Posted by Northwesterner

Seattle

02/13/10 09:30 PM

80 posts

OBB's website shows train 406 leaving Wien Miedling at 22:08 and arriving at 03:33 changing number to EN 476 en route.

This is actually the direct Wien-Berlin night train.

I suspect that Thomas Cook timetable is incorrect.

I'd call OBB's call center Austria and confirm.

Going by day is a relatively short trip...