bornintheusa

I have been watching the train fares on www.b-europe.com waiting for the ticket prices to go lower....all the days around my preferred day of travel are half of what my train is..can someone
tell me why?? Need train for Brussels to Lucern on May 30 at 8:32-16:05--2nd class senior 60+-- on 5/29 and 6/1 the price is E61.9 and on 5/30 and 5/31 it is E131.9...am I missing something
like a holiday where prices go sky high??

PalenQ

Have you tried www.bahn.de/en - German Railways site - cheapest fares possible? check www.seat61.com for lots of insights on booking your own online fares - general info trains www.ricksteves.com and BETS-European Rail Experts. there is often such discrepancies.

PalenQ

Actually the route via Germany takes about an hour longer than via Paris and Basel so check www.oui.sncf for fares via Paris - taking abou 6 hr 45 min total train time but you must change train stations in Paris (included in the 6 hr 45 min total time Brussels to Lucerne) - Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon - via direct RER metro trains. But if German route via Cologne is a lot cheaper go for that.

neckervd

Easiest way to go from Brussels to Lucerne:
Bruxelles Midi dp 7.17 - Strasbourg 10.49/11.51 - Basel 13.09/13.17 - Lucerne ar 14.30
The solution you suggest, Bruxelles Nord dp 8.34 with changes at Cologne and Basel SBB, is easy too, however

I couldn't find the low fares you mention, however, neither on the French, nor on the German (Sparpreis) or Swiss State railways site.
But I'm sure that the man in seat 61 https://www.seat61.com/ will help.

PalenQ

Actually via Paris is quickest at about 6.5 hours, but suspect could be more expensive.

Christina

am I missing something like a holiday where prices go sky high?? >>

I wouldn't call 132 euro sky high for such a long trip, but you are just selecting a particular time period on one date and those things can happen that particular trains/times are popular. After all, the 6:25 am train costs even more on the day before than on 5/30. And you can buy a ticket for only 100 euro in first class on 5/30 if you will go at 10:25 am instead of 8:23.
However, May 31st is a public holiday in Lucerne, although not in Belgium or France or some other parts of Switzerland. It's Corpus Christi.
I don't think going through Paris is quicker as they don't have that many trains to Lucerne in the middle of the day, so you'd have a long connection and also have to transfer train stations as the train from Brussels comes into Gare du Nord and the train to Lucerne leave from Gare de Lyon. And you won't save much money over 100 euro anyway.

PalenQ

According to www.bahn.de/en via Paris is quickest by about 45 mnutes including changing stations but again I suspect it may cost more because of Thalys to Paris.

PalenQ

OP is leave 8:30 am when lots of connections via Paris.

bornintheusa

neckervd--below you suggested the following...what website did you find this at??? Thanks
Easiest way to go from Brussels to Lucerne:
Bruxelles Midi dp 7.17 - Strasbourg 10.49/11.51 - Basel 13.09/13.17 - Lucerne ar 14.30

bornintheusa

PalenQ-- I have tried to go onto the www.bahn.de/en website but it is telling me I can't buy tickets online when I put in my date with Brussels to Lucern...am I doing something wrong??

PalenQ

I think it may be that they are not available until 90 days or so before?

Try a dummy date within that time frame and see.

Hve you checked air fares from Brussels to Bern or Zurich?

PalenQ

And if 2nd class discounts are gone try checking first class too - they also discount tickets and at times may not be much more than cheapest 2nd class and on such a long journey IMO worth the extra money.

neckervd

" PalenQ-- I have tried to go onto the www.bahn.de/en website but it is telling me I can't buy tickets online when I put in my date with Brussels to Lucern...am I doing something wrong?? "

I tried to do so and it worked at the DB site www.bahn.de
but only for the trains via Cologne.

The train I mentioned cannot be booked yet, but it seems to be more expensive than that via Cologne. https://ch.oui.sncf/fr/

PalenQ

Yes for May 31 for departure Brussels Midi about 10:30 a.m. the fare to Lucerne via Cologne is currently 59.50 euros p.p. vs regular fare of over 200 euros.

Some on MAY 30 for about 85 euros.

Can't beat 59.50 euros but that ticket may be gone by now - you never know.

And yes fares for other routes not on yet.

bornintheusa

Thanks to you all for helping me sort this out..will just keep checking fares as maybe my 5/30 date is too far in advance -- you have given me many different options to look into

PalenQ

I'd consider booking the 59 euro route via Cologne - won't get any cheaper and chance to stop off at Cologne Cathedral to see that gem. 85 euros on May 30.