Has anyone ever bought a train ticket onboard the train? I have booked and printed tickets to travel from Vienna to Kehl, Germany. I want to stay on the train after Kehl and get off in Strasbourg. I was unable to book the Kehl to Strasbourg segment online because it was too small (6 euros for 2 people). I will not have any connections long enough to buy in a station along the way. I will try to buy it in Vienna at the start, but if I am unsuccessful...can I buy it onboard?

Emsmom;

Yes you can buy then on the train, however, there is a surcharge imposed. I am not sure what it is now, but it use to be $5 if I remember correctly. If you arrive at the Vienna train station in time you should be able to buy them prior to boarding the train.

Clea

It's a 10min ride (or less) from Kehl to Strasbourg. I'd be willing to guess that your conductor, after seeing you on board all the way from Vienna, won't recall if your stop is Kehl or Strasbourg.

In my experience, conductors check your tickets once, then only look for new passengers who board.

I'm not suggesting you don't buy a ticket, just if you don't get the chance in Vienna, well.........

They won't have the same conductor all the way from Vienna to Strasbourg. A German conductor will take over in Salzburg and a French conductor in Kehl.

Are you travelling on a long-distance train (EuroCity or something like that)? Then yes, the conductor will sell you the additional ticket for the last segment if you ask him/her to. Surcharges apply to those who board the train without a ticket and buy one for the whole journey. Since you've got a ticket and want to buy only an additional one, surcharges won't be too hefty, if ever. (If you're very lucky, he/she will just smile and say, all right, forget it.)

On local trains, it's a different story. Conductors there don't sell tickets, and you cannot rely on finding a ticket machine on board.

Hi mom,

Can't you buy your ticket at the train station in Vienna before you get on the train?

We are traveling on a long distance train. We will be on the same train from Munich. I will try to buy the ticket in Vienna. I just wasn't sure if that was a problem, since it is for a train outside Austria.
Thanks to all!

Hi em,

If your train starts in Munich, I think that you can buy your ticket there.

Almost all of the European rail lines are linked to the same computer.

Thanks to all!
Fodors people are great!