PalenqueBob

have them become customer service representatives on trains and in stations - question answerers or even clean up the stations - something to encourage users to use trains - security is always high on list of using public transit - New York an example - years ago i think it was dicey riding some trains some time but now i believe security has been beefed up and it's not an issue.

Mab85

Is there anywhere online I can purchase a reservation for a private sleeper to say, Prague>Krakow or Krakow>Vienna?

PalenqueBob

Well yes...raileurope.com is a major seller of these in the US...however you could end up paying more than once in europe...sometimes not much but more often significantly more. That said these tickets are relatively inexpensive compared to the rest of Europe so if you want to have everything buttoned down, bite the buller. As usualy i suggest calling BETS (800-441-2387), a Raileurope agent who are experts and for this order would not charge RE's $18 mailing fee (for orders under $399, according to RE web site). I supposed you can do it at Europe prices thru the national rail websites of the departing country but not sure of this...perhaps someone else is more familiar with buying on Czech and Hungarian web sites. You may want to conisder the European East Flexipass if taking other trains as well - this pass covers Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and is bargain priced (prices: www.raileurope.com or www.budgeteuropetravel.com or www.ricksteves.com) - i think it's around $175 for five days of unlimited travel in second class and about $235 for 1st class - of course you have to pay extra for sleeping accommodations as the pass just covers the train fares and not optional sleeping accommodations. Again BETS is the one to call for any info on the pass and sleeping reservations. that the pass is valid in Austria makes it a bargain as fares in Austria are much higher than the other countries.