Help - train from Budapest to Vienna
 

Hi. We want to take a train from Budapest to Vienna and wondered if we should purchase these tickets ahead of time for a Monday around 11:30am?

It would be an OBB train, and from what I can tell, I can order the tickets, but print them out at the station in case we miss the train we think we can take. (If we print them out, we'd lose money if we didn't take that particular train).

One OBB option is showing not available - even when I try different Mondays. It's a connecting train, not sure if that's the reason (the trains that are showing are direct to Vienna).

Why are you worried about missing the train? Are you flying into Budapest? Or uncertain about the time you wish to depart?

What does printing them out have to do with whether you lose money or not?

I presume with the connection option you are looking at, one of the trains is a Hungarian train so OBB can't sell you that ticket.

I wouldn't bother with tickets in advance. I doubt you'll save money, it's a short inexpensive trip, I got to the station with a bit of time to spare and bought a ticket at the window. Very easy.

Hi. Andrew - we are flying into Budapest, going from the airport to train station and then taking train to Vienna.

When I ordered the reverse tickets (Vienna back to Budapest), the website was clear - I have I think 3 days to use the tickets UNLESS I print them out, then it's only good for the train I selected.

My worry is that a train might be sold out if we get there only about 30 minutes ahead of time. For the Vienna - Budapest piece, the website recommended a reservation but we were also traveling on a Friday morning, which I assume is a popular commuting time.

There must be more to it than "printing it out" because OBB can't tell whether you've printed something or not. You must have to choose a specific time/day - and then whether you print or not has nothing to do with it. I'd be surprised if you can't just show your tickets on a phone or tablet as well - most train companies in Europe (Italy and France, anyway) now allow that.

But...I agree with MmePerdu, I probably wouldn't buy them in advance. You can install the OEBB app on your phone and just buy tickets after you land in Budapest, once you know you'll be on time etc. The app will let you save time vs. waiting in line for an agent at the station and, I'm guessing, you won't have to print anything out - just show the ticket on your phone.

It's simple!

The trains are jointly run by OBB and MAV (Austrian & Hungarian national railways)

You can buy either at Austrian Railways www.oebb.at which gives print at home tickets, or Hungarian Railways www.mavcsoport.hu where you collect tickets from the yellow machines at the station.

Cheap advance fares start at€19 on oebb.at or from €13 at www.mavcsoport.hu if you book ahead, but these cheap 'sparschiene' fares mean no refunds, specified train only, no changes to travel plans (so if your flight is late and you miss the train, you buy a new ticket!)

Booking usually opens up to 6 months ahead on opebb.at but only 90 days ahead on mavcsoport.hu. But the timetable change on 9 Dec means these may shrink to much less than that. No rush, locals buy tickets day or weeks ahead (if not on the day) not months and months.

On-the-day standard price is €39, but buying in Budapest there's an unlimited 3-day return for €33 which you'd buy even for a one-way trip as it is cheaper than the full-price one-way. Both these fares have unlimited availability they cannot sell out.

Whichever ticket you buy, seat reservation is optional for an extra €3 per seat, although you may get a reserved seat added free these days if you use mavcsoport.hu

To catch a 11:30am train in Budapest, I assume your flight lands in BUD quite early.
Just as a backup in case the flight should be substantially delayed:
There are also direct bus service from Budapest airport to Vienna (with stops in Budapest "downtown").
On Fridays, I only see a 11.25 Flixbus departure from Budapest airport within your time frame - which may be too late to take into consideration if your plane arrives on time, though.

Thanks, man and cowboy. Is there a likely chance of the these trains selling out?

our flight lands at 9:25.

In general, trains can't 'sell out'. If they are full people stand for part of the journey

check to see if seat reservations are obligatory before boarding if not you can usually board even if seats all full - unlikely since your train probably starts from Budapest -first class would very likely always have seats.