Question on German train ticket

Old Mar 3rd, 2010, 08:17 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Question on German train ticket

I booked an e-ticket from Frankfurt to Prague (with a change in Nürnberg) and printed out my ticket. The Frankfurt to Nürnberg leg is via train (ICE 23). The Nürnberg to Prague portion says Bus 1053. Under "Reservation Request" the ticket shows "train with reservation...." Will I be taking a bus from Nürnberg to Prague or a train? All the departure times showed ICE and Bus (except the night trains). I need to know if I'm looking for a train or a bus to connect. The stop in Nürmberg is "Nürmberg Hbf" which is a train station but buses can depart from train stations.

I paid for a seat reservation but I cannot find the seat number on my e-ticket. Everything on the ticket is in German except the header "Online-Ticket" so I'm confused. I do see the ticket reservation number (and a bar code) but this is not the seat(s) reservation.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks!

PS (NB). In case logos reads this - I spelled Nürnberg correctly so should get full marks!
adrienne is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2010, 08:50 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes you will be changing to a bus in Nuremburg to Prague - i thought you needed a reserved seat on the bus (optional on German trains) - not sure but that's the info i have

This is copied from RailEurope

"From Aug 2009 a new direct bus service is operating between Praha and Nurenberg - these buses numbering 1051, 1053, 1055, etc. can be confirmed in Euronet...

Seat reservations for the double-decker buses are required and can be confirmed in Euronet

Two pieces of hand luggage are permitted (no bulky items) accessible storage onboard is very limited

bathroom is on lower level

10-minute walk from Nurnberg Hbf (main station) to bus departure point in the station forecourt - signs will guide travelers

in praha 10-min walk to Praha hl n station from bus depot."
Palenque is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2010, 08:53 AM
  #3  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
BTW Euronet is the pan-European railway booking system that agents like RailEurope have access to and can book trains and the odd bus like this on.

I'd call the German Railways English phone line and ask about the bus reservation or try to do it online.
Palenque is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2010, 09:20 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,549
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I'd find out if this is your ONLY option Nuremberg-Prague..just because there is a bus service doesn't mean you have to use it unless that is the ONLY way to get there...IOW, if you are willing to change your timing then maybe you can take a train the entire route

And please, when you booked this on line I am going to say with ASSURANCE you were shown a bus connection so this really shouldn't be some sort of surprise.
Dukey is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2010, 09:23 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dukey is right, as usual - there are a few all rail links i think but as these actually take longer most of the timings now use the bus it seems - but there are some all rail links left last i looked - including an overnight train.
Palenque is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2010, 11:55 AM
  #6  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dukey - I didn't express surprise. My question was because the schedule for Nurmberg to Prague showed a bus service and right next to the word "bus," on the same line, was the word "train." Both in English. That was my confusion.

Train and bus is the only way to do this route in the daytime. At night the route is all by train.

Palenque - thanks for finding the RailEurope information. I wonder what they mean by "hand luggage." I plan on taking either a 21 inch (if I can fit everything in) or a 24 inch roller bag and a small soft-sided case that fits over the handle of the larger bag.

I did request a seat reservation for the entire trip but do not see one on the ticket for either the train or the bus.
adrienne is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2010, 12:05 PM
  #7  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Raileurope says about the bus tickets info to call 800-782-2424 but i would think whoever answers may not be able to answer

now reading the RE epistle it also said "wheelchairs and bikes are permitted provided they both can be folded and stored in the luggage compartment; accessible storage on board is limited"

now that to me means you can put larger items in the under the bus storage area but to carry any bags onto the bus itself you are limited to two hand luggages that are not bulky - apparently not a lot of room up tops to store things, like on trains. So i would not worry just plan to put your larger bags under the bus in the storage depot (perhaps removing any really valuable items and carrying those on in smaller bags?)
Palenque is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2010, 12:15 PM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Palenque. I always carry my valuables with me. I'll have a day pack with my cameras and a smallish purse so that will be fine on a bus. I've only taken one other long-distance bus and the luggage was stored underneath, just like on a tour bus.

I think I've found the reservations for both bus and train. When I booked the ticket I printed it but I've just launched the on-line ticket from the email confirmation and there is different information and reference numbers for both bus and train - 12 digits that are sequential. I did ask for window seats and I think "fenster" means window in German.

I will try the 800 number and I'll double check when I get to Frankfurt the evening before. Hopefully the bus won't be full at the end of April, especially since there's a connection about every 1.5 to 2 hours.
adrienne is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2010, 12:18 PM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I would think they put a number of buses on to accommodate those on the train ticketed to Prague, which means they are liable to be fairly full - that is just a hunch - perhaps wait for the last bus, if more than one, to get one half empty

I and others would appreciate a report on this bus link after you come back. Now that is not a request but an order - Achtung!

cheers
Palenque is offline  
Old Mar 3rd, 2010, 12:24 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
LOL I will post a full trip report upon my return and pay extra attention to the Frankfurt - Prague connection. This is going to be a very convoluted trip - it was not well planned but I'm gonna make lemonade from all my mistakes!

Good tip on waiting for the last bus. I did learn that mistake the hard way in Sintra!

Back to my trip planning (or mis-planning)!
adrienne is offline  
Old Mar 5th, 2010, 12:18 PM
  #11  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,728
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
This is a really annoying problem with bahn.de which I researched a few months ago.

Almost all options from many cities in Germany to Prague on www.bahn.de end up with you being put on a stupid 'bus' between Nuremburg and Prague, even if you click 'advanced options' and de-select the 'bus' option.

The best workaround I've found is to put 'Berlin' or 'Dresden' in the 'via' box, then it will route you via the trains from Berlin & Dresden to Prague.

The problem is that this special railway-run bus is faster than their regional trains on the parallel but curvaceous Nuremberg-Prague rail route.

But of course, people who go to bahn.de want a comfortable civilised up-market train, if they wanted a down-market bus they'd have gone to Eurolines!
Man_in_seat_61 is offline  
Old Mar 5th, 2010, 12:25 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 9,023
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well said, Man, well said. Plus there is a 10-minute walk to the bus from Nuremburg train station and then 10-min in Praha to the train station.

hopefully Czech Rail folk are planning someday a higher-speed more direct mainline to Nuremberg area.
Palenque is offline  
Old Mar 5th, 2010, 12:35 PM
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 8,247
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Taking the bus in Nuremberg is no problem. Go one level down from the platform, head for main exit.
Stay on this level/street level. The bus stop for Prague is right at the doorsteps of the main exit.
The bus looks nice (very modern double decker) from the outside (have not taken it, though):
http://img.webme.com/pic/b/bahnfan/img_1199.jpg
With 1st and 2nd class, cafeteria service with hold/cold beverages, snacks.
Sounds much more comfortable and easy than bouncing forwards and backwards on some regional train, though the seats on the bus will probably not as wide as on a train.
Cowboy1968 is offline  
Old Mar 5th, 2010, 12:55 PM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks again everyone!

How can you have different classes on a bus?

I do hate buses but I'll survive the 4 hours to Prague - will probably sleep as much as possible. The good news is that I'm not returning via the same route so will avoid the bus on the way back!
adrienne is offline  
Old May 1st, 2010, 12:21 PM
  #15  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,212
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Here’s the story on the Frankfurt to Prague train/bus. The train from Frankfurt goes as far as Nurnberg because it continues to Vienna. At the Nurnberg train station, go down one flight and head for the main exit (follow the signs for city center, bus, etc.). The bus for Prague will be right outside the door to the right. It’s a white bus and has Prague in very large letters. Do not dally getting to the bus as there is no time. I had 4 minutes to spare once I got to the bus but it took me a couple of minutes to bump my bags down the stairs. Give your large bags to the driver who is loading the luggage. There is another person there who will tell you where your seat is located (upstairs or downstairs). The overhead racks will only hold very small items such as a jacket or small day pack.

My seat was upstairs. It appears that tickets are sold to fill the bus from the front. You can change your seat if the bus is not full. I moved to the back to have 2 seats to myself. There were plenty of open seats.

Seat reservations are shown on the e-ticket. I stopped at the Frankfurt train station information desk the night before and asked about the seat reservation. Look at the section on the ticket that begins “Ihre Reiseverbindung” about half way down the ticket. This shows the 2 legs of the journey, date, arrival and departure time. Gleis is the track that the train leaves from (track 6 to the left of the station). The next part (reading across) is the type of train (ICE 23), number of seats (x sitzplatz), and the train car number (Wg. 22) and seat number (Pl 71). So I was in car 22, seat 71. The seat numbers for second class are printed on the outside of the window. Find your section and enter the door that is nearest your seat.

If you have an internet ticket that was purchased with a credit card be prepared to show the same credit card when the conductor (both train and bus) asks for the ticket. This is to verify your identity as the e-ticket does not have a name on it and to ensure your ticket was not stolen.

The bus ride is non-stop. I thought there would be a lunch stop along the way but there wasn’t. There are absolutely no stops. Buy your lunch at the station in Frankfurt as there is no time in Nurnberg. There are lots of shops selling take out sandwiches and pastries inside the Frankfurt train station. There is a toilet on the lower level of the bus. You can buy drinks on the bus – juice, beer, water. I bought an orange juice (small bottle) for E2.

The ride was pleasant. Lots of greenery and pastures to look at. The ride was quick until we got to the outskirts of Prague where there was lots of traffic.

Hope this helps someone else!
adrienne is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bkb
Europe
2
Jun 12th, 2017 01:57 AM
rebeccaastone
Europe
13
Oct 2nd, 2016 01:43 AM
beachbomb
Europe
7
Feb 25th, 2012 06:06 AM
hennesda
Europe
13
Apr 30th, 2011 06:00 AM
p3t0t
Europe
5
Oct 9th, 2007 01:47 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -