Germany/Czech Rebublic............

[reb0118]

.......with a little bit of the Liechtenstein thrown in.

This November we have a trip to Germany/Czech Republic planned. I am in the process of booking up the various legs of the journey. I think I have done quite well with the advance bookable parts for the non railway staff members of our group.

London - Lindau (via Brüssel, Köln, Frankfurt, & Ulm) for £95 (1st Class)
Lindau - Pilsen (via München, Plattling, & Bayerisch Eisenstein) for £34
Leipzig - Berlin Schönefeld Flughafen for £16.50.

I would appreciate some information for the missing links of our trip. Viz.

1) We wish to travel from Lindau to Vaduz in Liechtenstein for a day trip (Sunday). Is there an equivalent of the Länderticket that would cover this journey? We would prefer to do it as a circular trip via the Bodensee ferry & Switzerland then to Buchs & Schaan Vaduz, returning through Feldkirch & Bregenz in Austria.

2) What would be the cost of an adult ticket from Pilsen (CK) to Karlsbad (CZ) via Cheb? I assume it would be cheaper to purchase locally in the Czech Republic rather than from Deutsche Bahn in the UK?

3)How long would it take to travel from Karlsbad to Colditz via Johanngeorgenstadt and would a Sachsen Länderticket offer the best value for this journey? I know some Ländertickets offer some cross border travel -does the Saxon one have any validity on the Czech side?

Thanks in advance for any info on the above.

Further to that anyone who have travelled in any of the areas mentioned feel free to comment or offer any insight from your trips.

 

[30907]

.

1) We wish to travel from Lindau to Vaduz in Lichtenstein for a day trip (Sunday). Is there an equivalent of the Länderticket that would cover this journey? We would prefer to do it as a circular trip via the Bodensee ferry & Switzerland then to Buchs & Schaan Vaduz, returning through Feldkirch & Bregenz in Austria.

2) What would be the cost of an adult ticket from Pilsen (CK) to Karlsbad (CZ) via Cheb? I assume it would be cheaper to purchase locally in the Czech Republic rather than from Deutsche Bahn in the UK?

3)How long would it take to travel from Karlsbad to Colditz via Johanngeorgenstadt and would a Sachsen Länderticket offer the best value for this journey? I know some Ländertickets offer some cross border travel -does the Saxon one have any validity on the Czech side?

(1) For the Bodensee trip the nearest is the Euregiokarte - there's a small-group version - but it doesn't cover the Swiss/FL section St Margrethen-Buchs-Feldkirch.
http://www.euregiokarte.com/en/euregio-zones/#&panel1-1

(2) You can get Czech fares at http://jizdenka.idos.cz/ - looks to be 214 Kr. or about £8, but there may be a group discount, or you may be able to take advantage of the local day-rover tickets. The main CD website is in English but Karlsbad is Karlovy Vary!

(3) Your trip to Colditz will take 6-7 hours (try Colditz Sportplatz as a destination, it appears to be the main bus stop).
Unfortunately the cross-border ticket offer won't quite do the trick - Celodenní jízdenka+Německo ("Day ticket plus Germany") will get you as far as Chemnitz - much the same as the Sachsen-Boehmen Ticket DB offer; the cheaper Egronet ticket gets nearly as far!
To get to Colditz you will need a Sachsen ticket (as you thought) which covers buses in the Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen http://www.vms.de and Mitteldeutschland (MDV).http://www.mdv.de/inhalte/index.php, and ordinary singles on the Czech part.

Now I have time to look properly, the VMS stretches from Johanngeorgenstadt to Colditz (by one route only though) so their Tageskarte might be enough.
Either way, all the times are on www.Bahn.de.

 

[Gordon]

I can't add much to the previous post, except to reaffirm that Colditz is no longer served by rail. (I visited by car back in 2001 and the station was a sorry reflection, even of its DDR condition pre 1989!)

Also to recommend that you avoid using Germanic place names for Czech places - you'll probably get along better with the locals if you do.

 

[reb0118]

Thank you for your informative replies. The euregiocarte looks interesting for our side trip to Liechtenstein ~ I realise that an additional fare is required from St. Margrethen to Feldkirch via Vaduz. I have roughed out an itinerary below:-

1) Dep. Lindau (Bodensee) Hbf. @ 09:40; arr. Friedrichshafen Hafen @ 10:21
2) Dep. Friedrichshafen Fähre @ 10:41; arr Romanshorn Autoquai @ 11:22
3) Dep. Romanshorn @ 12:00; arr. Rorschach @ 12:18
4) Dep. Rorschach @12:21; arr. Buchs (SG) @ 12:59
4) Dep Buchs (SG) @ 13:03; arr Vaduz, Post @ 13:18

We will have lunch & a few beers in Vaduz before a leisurely return to Lindau via Feldkirch & Bregenz.

Now with regard to fares. There are four travelling (three railstaff with FIP free coupons for Germany, Lake Constance Ships, Switzerland [SBB u. Privat], and Austria) and one public fare (who will be using the euregiocarte mentioned above). We will have about 30 -35 mins. in Romanshorn so will it be possible to buy the St. Margrethen - Buchs(SG) there? I assume that we will be able to buy the Lichtenstein bus tickets on the bus as we only have 4 mins interchange at Buchs? Also as we will require two further buses to return (Vaduz - Schaan; Schaan - Feldkirch) I assume a Tageskarte/dayticket would be available and if so would offer savings on the single fares.

Once again thanks for any help given previously.

Although I personally quite like to visit museums, castles &c., I am travelling with some philistines - so what can be done in Liechtenstein for a few hours on a chilly November afternoon. (I will enquire if they have an interest in false teeth!?! ). I have visited Vaduz once before for the football (Liechtenstein - Schottland) but was really just in & out (your match ticket covered the bus fare from Feldkirch) so it will be nice to visit again sans kilt.

Cheers

 

[30907]

http://www.liemobil.li/content.aspx?auswahl=5401&mid=5401

You can certainly buy the tickets on the bus. Depending on how they calculate the zonal fares, a Tageskarte may be slightly cheaper - I am sure contacting them in English via the website would get an answer.

I'd be very surprised if you can't get the St Margrethen-Buchs ticket at Romanshorn - which is useful, since I gather from other forums SBB no longer sell on board and are as unsympathetic as certain TOCs to ticketless travellers.

 

[Oscar]

http://www.liemobil.li/content.aspx?auswahl=5401&mid=5401

You can certainly buy the tickets on the bus. Depending on how they calculate the zonal fares, a Tageskarte may be slightly cheaper - I am sure contacting them in English via the website would get an answer.

The prices on the website suggest that Liechtenstein follows the Swiss custom of pricing Tageskarten (day tickets) at twice the price of a single.

 

[Gordon]

.

So far I have not seen mention of the Ostwind Tarifverbund.

This covers a large area of north east switzerland (somewhat surprisingly there is clearly no cross-border agreement with any operators in Austria or Leichstenstein.)

It looks as though Romanshorn - Buchs is 6 zones so the zonal fare would be CHF13.80



.

 

[reb0118]

You can certainly buy the tickets on the bus. Depending on how they calculate the zonal fares, a Tageskarte may be slightly cheaper - I am sure contacting them in English via the website would get answer

Already did so - got a most informative answer back very quickly.


The following is from "Verkehrsbetrieb LIECHTENSTEIN mobil"

Sent: Monday, 2 September 2013, 9:21
Subject: Your trip to Liechtenstein

Good morning reb0118.
Thank you for your request. Here the answer.

Arriving in Buchs, lime colored Buses heading Liechtenstein are waiting at left side of the Exit of the Railway Station «Buchs».
Line 12 is serving the south part of Liechtenstein heading Schaan- Vaduz-Triesen-Balzers and further to Switzerland SARGANS.
Line 13 is serving the north part of Liechtenstein heading Schaan-Nendeln-Eschen- Mauren- Schaanwald and Feldkirch (nice Line through the whole Country to Feldkirch)
Line 13 starts at ’13 and ’43 hourly from Buchs.
Line 12 starts at ’03 and ’33 hourly from Buchs.
Anyway, Schaan is the traffic point to change Busses and Buslines to all directions.

TIP: Once in Liechtenstein make a visit our customer Center in Schaan. (Green glass cylinder in middle of the Bus Terminal) if you need more informations.
And www.liemobil.li
If your Railway ticket does not include the Liechtenstein Busservices , by a ticket t on the Bus. We accept Swiss francs and Euro.


Best Ticket and best Price for your Trip is:
From Buchs to Vaduz on Line 12, 3 zones for Chf 4.80 /PP (get ticket on the Bus in Buchs)
Later on from Vaduz to Feldkirch on Busline 14 , 4 zones 6.40 /PP(get ticket on the Bus in Vaduz)
Total PP 11.20
To compare: 23.60/pp Day Card

 

[30907]

.

So far I have not seen mention of the Ostwind Tarifverbund.

This covers a large area of north east switzerland (somewhat surprisingly there is clearly no cross-border agreement with any operators in Austria or Leichstenstein.)

It looks as though Romanshorn - Buchs is 6 zones so the zonal fare would be CHF13.80

Think you mean St Margarethen- Buchs, which is correct if the OP has got the Euregiokarte.

If I read the Liemobil site correctly, through ticketing is coming next year!

 

[Oscar]

Think you mean St Margarethen- Buchs, which is correct if the OP has got the Euregiokarte.

If I read the Liemobil site correctly, through ticketing is coming next year!

The site says that:
- through ticketing with the Verkehrsverbund Vorarlberg is already available and these tickets can be bought on board Liechtenstein buses.
- it will be possible to buy through tickets to Ostwind destinations on board Liechtenstein buses from the end of 2013.
- Normales Billett Schweiz fares are available to/from any station in Liechtenstein (presumably those to and from Ostwind destinations will be withdrawn at the end of 2013, following the Z-Pass model). These tickets can be bought in Switzerland or on the SBB site. St. Margrethen - Vaduz one way costs 18 CHF without Halbtax.

 

[johnnychips]

If your mates don't like the museum - and I found the one in the centre of Vaduz interesting - then there is only food and beer. I did hear that Liechtenstein was famous for manufacturing dentures, but I don't know if the factory does visits

 

[simonsimek]

(1) For the Bodensee trip the nearest is the Euregiokarte - there's a small-group version - but it doesn't cover the Swiss/FL section St Margrethen-Buchs-Feldkirch.
http://www.euregiokarte.com/en/euregio-zones/#&panel1-1

(2) You can get Czech fares at http://jizdenka.idos.cz/ - looks to be 214 Kr. or about £8, but there may be a group discount, or you may be able to take advantage of the local day-rover tickets. The main CD website is in English but Karlsbad is Karlovy Vary!

(3) Your trip to Colditz will take 6-7 hours (try Colditz Sportplatz as a destination, it appears to be the main bus stop).
Unfortunately the cross-border ticket offer won't quite do the trick - Celodenní jízdenka+Německo ("Day ticket plus Germany") will get you as far as Chemnitz - much the same as the Sachsen-Boehmen Ticket DB offer; the cheaper Egronet ticket gets nearly as far!
To get to Colditz you will need a Sachsen ticket (as you thought) which covers buses in the Verkehrsverbund Mittelsachsen http://www.vms.de and Mitteldeutschland (MDV).http://www.mdv.de/inhalte/index.php, and ordinary singles on the Czech part.

Now I have time to look properly, the VMS stretches from Johanngeorgenstadt to Colditz (by one route only though) so their Tageskarte might be enough.
Either way, all the times are on www.Bahn.de.

use www.cd.cz there u will find everything about czech rail plus is english

 

[30907]

The site says that:
- Normales Billett Schweiz fares are available to/from any station in Liechtenstein. These tickets can be bought in Switzerland or on the SBB site. St. Margrethen - Vaduz one way costs 18 CHF without Halbtax.

Hadn't read that far! That's just less than the combination of Ostwind and Liemobil tariffs already reported.

 

[reb0118]

- Normales Billett Schweiz fares are available to/from any station in Liechtenstein. These tickets can be bought in Switzerland or on the SBB site. St. Margrethen - Vaduz one way costs 18 CHF without Halbtax.

Hadn't read that far! That's just less than the combination of Ostwind and Liemobil tariffs already reported.

I note that Au (SG) seems to be the last stop in the Euregiocarte area and a ticket from there to Vaduz is 17 CHF.

That said it seems cheaper to split the fare at Buchs (SG)

Au (SG) - Buchs (SG) 11.80 CHF
Buchs (SG) - Vaduz 4.80 CHF

Well 40 Rappen anyway. Unless of course these are zonal fares so the ticket could be used again to return to Schaan?

 

[Oscar]

Beware that not only local Thurbo trains stop at Au (SG) and to travel to Buchs will require a change, probably at Heerbrugg. Neither Au nor Heerbrugg is worth a stop-over and in Altstätten, the centre is quite a long way from the SBB station.

Buchs to Vaduz (3 zones) is valid for one hour and yes, a return journey or travel anywhere within the relevant zones is permitted for the hour.

 

[Gordon]

I passed through Sargans the other day and noticed a Lichstenstein bus serving the station there.

 

[reb0118]

Are DB AG FIP free international coupons valid from Plattling to Bayerisch Eisenstein?

 

[30907]

Don't know specifically for FIP (someone else will be along soon....) but the general rule is that the DB tariff is valid on tendered local services like this one.

A small number of routes have a different system called "NE-Anstoss-Tarif" IIRC which is an add-on, but this isn't one (if you have the S&W Atlas, the lines are coloured differently). Usedom is one (slightly atypical) example.

An easy way to check is - can the DB online system offer a through fare, using an IC/ICE part way? If yes, the DB tariff applies - it does in this case.