Hi,
we are looking at a train from Warsaw to Prague (0650 to 1421) on a Sunday in August. We have to change trains in Ostrava and have a 15 minute window to do so. What happens if the first train from Warsaw to Ostrava is late and we miss the second train? Will our ticket be valid for the next available train from Ostrava to Prague? Or would we have to buy more tickets for that leg?
Thanks!
Yes, in general if you miss a booked connection you can get the next train. You may need the ticket inspector to endorse your ticket.
If your train is a few minutes late, they usually hold the connecting train as if it is a timetabled connection many people will be doing the connection.
For once I think you need a little clarity from Chris. It depends a little bit on your ticket. If you have reserved seats, the same seats will not be available on the next train because someone else may have reserved them. So you should go to a ticket window to get new seats assigned. If it is open seating then it will not make any difference. However, if your tickets are in anyway train specific - tickets show a specific train number - then you will need new tickets even with open seating. The ticket agent will know that you missed because the train was late so head to the nearest tickets as quickly as possible.
As Frank says, it depends on the kind of ticket you have. Standard, full fare ticket it will be usable on any train of the same type and for the same route for some time (a month?) At least that is how it works in Germany. If it's an advance purchase, discounted, train specific ticket, and it's their fault you miss the train, you will have to get it endorsed at a ticket counter to use it.
In 2008, I had a Sparpreis ticket from a regional station in Niedersachsen, connecting to an IC to Karlsruhe. The regional train was late arriving at the connecting station, so I went to the counter. The agent looked at my ticket, checked his computer to make sure the connecting train truly was late, then wrote down the number for the following train, an ICE.
Last year I flew into FRA and took trains to the Black Forest. Due to uncertainty about trans-Atlantic arrivals, I bought a full fare ticket. I thought if I arrived on time or a little early, I might make a certain train, one leaving shortly after my scheduled arrival. I bought the ticket for that train in advance, because I knew if I could make that train, time would be tight, and I wouldn't want to take time buying the ticket. As it was, the plane was a little late. I was able to use the ticket, without any endorsement, for the next connection.
thanks for everybody's help! much appreciated.
Your train from Ostrava to Prague is Supercity Pendolino - the fastest train between Ostrava and Prague. It does not wait for any delayed connections. This train cost more than others. If, God forbid, your train from Warsaw is delayed and you missed your connection, go to the International Tickets (Mezinarodni jizdenky) window, explain what happened (somebody should speak English there), request the seat on the next train (there are plenty) and money back (difference in price of your Supercity train and the train you will be on instead). They will probably send you to Domestic Tickets (Vnitrostatni jizdenky). Make sure that they let them know what you need because there is a high likelihood that at Domestic Tickets window they won't speak English.
