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Difficulty in booking Euronight Train

  • December 13, 2024
  • 11 replies
  • 337 views
May T

I’ve been trying to book 21 Dec EN40459 Canopus overnight train from Zurich to Prague (4 people) since months ago.  Tried DB, CZ, SBB and OBB railways’ websites.  At first, no timetable available, then Seat Reservation was not allowed.  I then recently realized Seat Reservation for overnight train is now possible until I read somebody’s conversation in this community.  So I tried to buy tickets with Eurail Pass discount in OBB.  Eurail Pass discount is not aavailable at DB, CZ or SBB railways.   After I paid with credit card at OBB, the system said my selected compartment are not available.  However, when I retry, there are no other compartments’ choice available but kept showing me the compartments I could not buy.  

I then wrote to CZ railway, and got a reply that there were only few places in 5-berth compartment but I need to buy at the stations international ticket counters.  Oh gee, I won’t arrive Europe until 17 Dec.

Please may I have advice on ways to book/buy tickets asap?

Best answer by thibcabe

Nightjet.com and ÖBB seem to work but indeed the issue must be on the travellers' genders aka 5 female sleeper left and none male for example. ÖBB only confirms that at or after payment…

You'll have to look at alternatives now. Sadly the Zurich - Prague night train doesn't run this year. I can think of:

Option 1:

- EN Zürich HB - Wien Hbf 21:40 - 06:32 176-216€ for 4 couchettes (not together)

From Vienna either use a second pass day or buy tickets. Direct RJXs are expensive but you could take the slower and cheaper train from Franz-Josef station (08:56 - 14:10).

However bookings seem to fail at the payment page as well.

Option 2: travel during the day. The most comfortable route will be via Linz. For example:

- EC Zürich HB - Innsbruck Hbf 08:40 - 12:11

- RJX Innsbruck Hbf - Linz Hbf 12:16 - 15:15

- EC Linz Hbf - Praha hl.n. 15:54 - 19:39

Seat reservations for 3€ altogether on the ÖBB website. Seat map for the 2nd train as well. Get seat reservations ASAP or you'll stand.

Option 3: overnight Flixbus. 1am departure for 76€ (don't do that).

11 replies

R
Railmaster
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  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • December 13, 2024

Reservations for that train have been open for some weeks now and 21/12 is a very busy day. There are only a few places left in 3-person sleeper compartments but these are gender-separated. How many men and women are there in your group?

Booking online via cd.cz currently doesn't seem to work, so that's why they said to go to a ticket office.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
T
Full steam ahead
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  • thibcabe
  • Full steam ahead
  • Answer
  • December 13, 2024

Nightjet.com and ÖBB seem to work but indeed the issue must be on the travellers' genders aka 5 female sleeper left and none male for example. ÖBB only confirms that at or after payment…

You'll have to look at alternatives now. Sadly the Zurich - Prague night train doesn't run this year. I can think of:

Option 1:

- EN Zürich HB - Wien Hbf 21:40 - 06:32 176-216€ for 4 couchettes (not together)

From Vienna either use a second pass day or buy tickets. Direct RJXs are expensive but you could take the slower and cheaper train from Franz-Josef station (08:56 - 14:10).

However bookings seem to fail at the payment page as well.

Option 2: travel during the day. The most comfortable route will be via Linz. For example:

- EC Zürich HB - Innsbruck Hbf 08:40 - 12:11

- RJX Innsbruck Hbf - Linz Hbf 12:16 - 15:15

- EC Linz Hbf - Praha hl.n. 15:54 - 19:39

Seat reservations for 3€ altogether on the ÖBB website. Seat map for the 2nd train as well. Get seat reservations ASAP or you'll stand.

Option 3: overnight Flixbus. 1am departure for 76€ (don't do that).

R
Railmaster
Forum|alt.badge.img+10
  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • December 13, 2024

Option 2: travel during the day. The most comfortable route will be via Linz. For example:

- RJX Zürich HB - Linz Hbf -> get seat reservations ASAP or you'll stand

- EC Linz Hbf - Praha hl.n.

The scenery will be quite nice on that route.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
T
May T
  • May T
  • Author
  • Right on track
  • December 13, 2024

Reservations for that train have been open for some weeks now and 21/12 is a very busy day. There are only a few places left in 3-person sleeper compartments but these are gender-separated. How many men and women are there in your group?

Booking online via cd.cz currently doesn't seem to work, so that's why they said to go to a ticket office.

thank you all for your feedback.  
We have 3 men and 1 woman.  I’ve put these information in when I tried to book at OBB website.   In fact, only 3 sleepers compartment was available and I chose that too.  The system should have assigned us into different compartments if beds were available?? 
 

 

T
Full steam ahead
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  • thibcabe
  • Full steam ahead
  • December 13, 2024

Well yes but likely only female sleepers are left or maybe 1 male/4 female. Impossible to know.

In my opinion you've got to find an alternative. Option 2 with the daytime scenic route through the Alps seems best. Book seats or you'll stand for 12 hours.

May T
  • May T
  • Author
  • Right on track
  • December 13, 2024

Thank you.  Option 1 sounds good.  I’ve tried to book at OBB the overnight train to Wien but got the same message that my selected couchette berth (I tried compartment for 4 and compartment for 6 separately as both are selectable) after credIt card payment.  My bank has now blocked my card! 
it’s really frustrating.

Option 2 is not our preference as we don’t have many days to spend in Prague. 
thank you again. 

R
Railmaster
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  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • December 13, 2024

You could also try booking on nightlet.com. Maybe that works better. Don't forget to add the Interrail/Eurail discount.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
T
Full steam ahead
Forum|alt.badge.img+6
  • thibcabe
  • Full steam ahead
  • December 13, 2024

Yes payment also fails for me on MÁV or elsewhere. I don't why as couchettes are not gender separated. Perhaps it's full but not shown.

If you must travel overnight... remains Flixbus. Rough night ahead and you'll be exhausted all day in Prague.

R
Railmaster
Forum|alt.badge.img+10
  • rvdborgt
  • Railmaster
  • December 13, 2024

You could also call ÖBB at +43 5 1717. They can also book reservations and send them via e-mail.

Please ask questions in the community and not via a private message. That's the quickest way to get a response. I don't work for Eurail/Interrail.
T
May T
  • May T
  • Author
  • Right on track
  • December 15, 2024

Thank you very much

 

May T
  • May T
  • Author
  • Right on track
  • December 18, 2024

I finally went to Zurich train station. The SBB office helped and also failed to buy tickets from the OBB system even though they could see sleepers and couchette compartments available.  The officer believed it was due to slow update in the system.  We  
I eventually bought seats to Wien through Nightjet.com.  
Thank you everyone for your advice and useful responses. 

T
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