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-   -   Deutsche Bahn Website problem, please help!!! (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/deutsche-bahn-website-problem-please-help-932106/)

agedude Apr 19th, 2012 06:24 PM

Deutsche Bahn Website problem, please help!!!
 
I've made all plans for a trip to Europe in July, except for the rail travel from Berlin to Warsaw. The DB website would not let me purchase a ticket prior to 92 days before travel, and today is that 92nd day. I got on the site to purchase my tickets as soon as it turned midnight in Germany. As I hit the "purchase tickets" button, I was greeted with a "no seats are available for this journey and a reservation is required." After my initial panic, I tried several other trains on the same day and got the same message. I tried 1, 2, 3 days earlier, and got the same message every time. The UAFEA cup ends two weeks prior to my trip, so I can't see all the trains being full. I got on the Eurrail site, and would have been able to purchase a ticket for my desired train, but for double the price I would pay on the DB site.

Anyone ever encounter a problem such as this? Any suggestions for points of contact in the USA? Anyone know a number I could call to speak to someone in English? I tried calling their generic help number and the greeting recording and options were all in German so I was pretty lost.

Any help or suggestions anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated.

scatcat Apr 19th, 2012 06:38 PM

I bought tickets at this number a couple of years ago:

011 49 18 05996633. When you hear a human voice just ask do you speak English. Worked for me.

lavandula Apr 19th, 2012 06:44 PM

What is the exact date you want to travel? I will have a go myself and see if I can see anything wrong. I am sure it's not all sold out yet, so don't pay double just yet.

Lavandula

Dukey1 Apr 19th, 2012 06:45 PM

The Bahn site has a contact phone number which i have used in the past. Speaking English is NOT a problem. SPEND the money and you'll actually get THE answer and not a bunch of theoreticals.

scatcat Apr 19th, 2012 06:46 PM

How do you spell Warsaw when you enter it in the box? Is it Warszawa? What date?

agedude Apr 19th, 2012 07:01 PM

I am traveling on July 20. I tried booking from Berlin Zoo and Berlin HBF to Warszawa. I'll try giving them a call using your number scatcat. I tried calling the contact number on the website and got a recording. Maybe because it is the middle of the night in Germany. Thanks to all for your help and responses. I was pretty panicked when I first got the message. The Bus runs every other day, with July 20 being an off day and airfare is 4x the train price.

valtor Apr 19th, 2012 07:01 PM

I tried myself and no pronlem at all. 29 Euro saving fare, 49.1 Euro standard fare, including reservation.
Try again, and good luck!

scatcat Apr 19th, 2012 07:08 PM

I tried it also. Berlin to Warszawa. 7-20-12 Only my price shows 39€ for 2nd and 49€ for 1st. except for the 6:40 AM it is 29€

agedude Apr 19th, 2012 07:12 PM

I'm getting the same prices as you. 98 E for two first class tickets. The problem is when I get past the proceed, past the seat reservations,and finally to the purchase stage is then I get the problem. Same thing every time, all trains. I'm trying to book the 9:40 departure, arriving Warsaw at 15:15.

scatcat Apr 19th, 2012 07:18 PM

agedude

Yes, it did the same for me. Hopefully it's just a technical problem on their site. If it doesn't work in the morning, try calling that number. Or if you're still up at 8 Germany time, try then.

Cowboy1968 Apr 19th, 2012 09:57 PM

No need to call.
Other than regular train connections within Germany, the Berlin -Warszawa -Express can only be booked 60 not 92 days in advance.

agedude Apr 19th, 2012 11:10 PM

Thank you Cowboy, you are, as the Brits say, spot on.


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