Why is there such a huge difference in prices? Will I need an additional discount card to get the cheaper tickets? And also, is seat reservation necessary? Thank you for the help
by fairyfeller99
Why is there such a huge difference in prices? Will I need an additional discount card to get the cheaper tickets? And also, is seat reservation necessary? Thank you for the help
by fairyfeller99
7 comments
Sparschiene works without discount cards. The price depends on eg. how full this train is going to be by their estimation (and how early you book, but here that’s the same).
A sparschiene ticket can only be used in that one specific train. If you miss it or something, sucks. If you decide, before travelling, that you don’t want it after all, sucks too, no returns. ^((If the route include changing trains, and you miss the connection because the first train was late, then it’s ok to take a different one).)
Seat reservation is not necessary to buy the ticket.
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If you want a standard ticket (train choice more flexible, returning possible, price higher), it should show this option after clicking on a train.
General tip, also check the same travel with Czech (I assume) and Polish railway companies, they might offer you cheaper tickets (i.e. they might have some discounts on their part of the track that ÖBB might not have access to)
The regular fare is a flex ticket that is valid for any train journey (regardless of time/trains/connections taken) that starts within 24 hours of the purchased ticket.
The other tickets are tied to the specific train that they are offered for, do not require a discount card, but unless there’s a train delay they cannot be rebooked to a different train.
You can get a “Vorteilscard” for 19/66/29 (depending on your age) Euros that is valid for a year and discounts flex tickets by 50%.
RegioJet is cheaper by a lot for that route and has more comfort:
https://regiojet.de/?departureDate=2023-11-13&tariffs=REGULAR&fromLocationId=10202052&fromLocationType=CITY&toLocationId=10202003&toLocationType=CITY
FlixBus…cheaper and faster
The trains take different routes. The REX from Wien Franz Josef Bahnhof goes via Gmünd – Ceske Velenice – Ceske Budejovice -Tabor before arriving at Praha.
The RJX trains go via Breclav and Brno before joining the main line towards Praha.
The EC trains are also going via Breclav and Brno, but as EC trains, they are a lower ‘product category,’ I guess, and probably also call more frequently. Therefore, there might be less demand for those connections. Especially, as this connection requires it to change trains.
You won’t need a discount card unless you’ve entered that you own one.
For trains going to other countries, like Vienna-Prague, buy the ticket on the CD(czech railway) website.
Makes a massive difference in price for the same train ride.