In May 2018 3 of us will need to take a train from Frankfurt to Bacharach, Bacharach to Trier, and then from Vienna to Prague. It has been a long time since I have traveled by rail from the continent. Do I need to book these legs ahead of time and if so how far ahead of time? Thanks!
Posted by
Green Bay
21152 posts
Frankfurt to Bacharach is an RMV local transit ticket. Think commuter train. No reason to book in advance.
Bacharach to Trier is a Rheinland-Pfalz Laender Ticket. Travel after 9 am weekdays or anytime weekends for 34 EUR for the 3 of you and travel on regional trains. Those are really the only trains available for that journey, and they are unreserved. Just buy when you are ready to travel. You can buy it out of a ticket vending machine.
Vienna to Prague may be worth buying in advance with a Sparschiene Ticket to get a discount. You will have to travel on the exact train you booked, much like an airline ticket.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5507 posts
I highly recommend that you read the Man in Seat 61 website for the best train advice.
For example, here is his explanation on the Vienna to Prague journey - 19 Euro, purchased in advance, online:
https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/prague-vienna-railjet-train.htm
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8967 posts
are you starting from the rail station at the Frankfurt airport, or the main station (hauptbahnhof) downtown?
Note there is no ticket office in Bacharach.
Posted by
Bavaria
2480 posts
Note there is no ticket office in Bacharach.
Why would you want to buy a RP ticket at a ticket window? It would be more expensive and getting the ticket out of the vending machine (which can be set to English) is very easy.
Posted by
The Heartland USA
8967 posts
sla019, rail travelers from the US (where rail travel is practically non-existent) are often looking for help from a human ticket agent. Of course ticket kiosks are available, I was just pointing out that there won't be anyone to answer questions or give directions, there.
Posted by
5 posts
Emily thank you for sharing this website it help me a lot
Posted by
St Louis, MO, USA
46 posts
I just completed exactly this same set of train trips, and I would highly recommend that you also pay for seat reservations on the leg from Vienna to Prague. I think it only cost 3 euro for each ticket. We left Vienna on a Monday morning, and the train was very full within the first stop or two, with people moving from one car to another looking for available seats.
Posted by
OP
1258 posts
Thanks all for your wonderful input!