Difficulties contacting the OEBB

I have been trying to purchase the discounted train tickets from Vienna to Budapest with no luck. First, my husband sent an email asking if we needed to call. After over a week, we decided to call. I tried two different numbers and basically, it hangs up each time. My husband tried as well and the same thing happened to him. First a man speaks, then we enter our selections, then there is music, and then it rings twice and hangs up. Does anyone have any suggestions?

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Have you tried booking using their online ticketing facility? I think the %26quot;Flexibel nach Europa%26quot; will do the Wien-Budapesth tickets, and you can print them out yourself after purchase. I%26#39;ve used this a lot for travelling within Austria and it works fine. You can do seat reservations like that too.

I avoid using the telephone where possible - my German%26#39;s not up to much!

r

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I believe that you can only book these discounted tickets by telephone at the ticket phone number ending in. 1717

Is this the number you called?

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Hi! Did you contact them at +43/5/1717, at which time?

oebb.at/vip8/…index.jsp

Normally it should not be a problem to book your tickets there! I only had the problem that sometimes I thought they %26quot;hang up%26quot; (no sound) but after some time somebody answered. Contact them between 7 am and 9.45 pm CET. The rail special at € 19 is only available in 2nd class.

Another possibility is to buy them online and print the tickets!

Go to:

https://ticket.oebb.at/bin/frame_ticket.pl…

Choose %26quot;Wien West - Budapest via Hegyes.%26quot;

Datum der Hinfahrt - Date of first journey

Datum der Rückfahrt - Date of journey back (If you want it one way, don%26#39;t enter a date)

Klasse - Class

Sitzplatz Reservierung - Reservation for seat ohne=none, mit=with (if you want one, have a look at the end of my message)

Reiseteilnehmer = People travelling

älter als 14=older than 14

Click on %26quot;Reiseteilnehmer hinzufügen%26quot; if you want to add a second passenger...

Ermäßigung - Reduction: KEINE=none

Zahlungsart: Mode of Payment

Click: Weiter im Bestellvorgang

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Standardpreis in allen betroffenen Ländern = Standard fare in all affected countries (This ticket is available on all trains at the date you chose).

RailSpecial - the reduced fare, only valid on the train you choose. Hinfahrt=way to destination Rückfahrt=way back.

It only shows the trains where the RailSpecial fare is available.

Choose the train you want.

Kundendaten - Client%26#39;s data

Anrede/Titel = Mr/Ms/Dr....

Nachname = Surname

Vorname = First name

E-Mail = ENTER IT, then the ticket will also be sent to your e-mail account.

Zahlungsdaten - Data for payment

Kreditkarten-Nummer = Numer of your credit card

Gültig bis = valid to (Monat=month, Jahr=year)

Tarifbestimmungen:

Ich akzeptiere die Tarifbestimmungen und Geschäftsbedingungen der ÖBB=I accept terms%26amp;conditions of ÖBB

Click %26quot;Weiter im Bestellvorgang%26quot;

Bitte um etwas Geduld, die Überprüfung Ihrer Daten kann etwas Zeit in Anspruch nehmen = Please wait a moment, processing your data can take some time.

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The next pays shows a summary. Bestellnummer=Order Number

Then you have 3 mins to click %26quot;Bestellen=Order%26quot; and your credit card will be charged. Wait a second and you will see your ticket, just print it. Your link which shows your ticket will also be sent to your e-mail-account. Mind that there%26#39;s no refund or changement possible for online-tickets.

If you want a seat reservation (which is € 3,40/person/oneway) you will have to choose:

Raucher/Nichtraucher = Smoker/Nonsmoker

Großraumwagen/Abteilwagen = coach car (4-4 seats) /compartment car (6 seats per compartment)

Fensterplatz (wenn möglich) = Window seat (if possible)

Choose the same connection you%26#39;ve chosen on top of the page by clicking %26quot;VERBINDUNG AUSWÄHLEN=choose Connection%26quot; vorherige=last connex. nächste=next connex.

So, now you%26#39;ve studied enough German, I don%26#39;t know why ÖBB is so stupid not to offer the booking dialog in English... but I hope that could help you. Just write another message if there are any questions. I often use the online-ticket and it%26#39;s very convenient, furthermore you save phoning fees.

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Thank you so much for your help! This is very useful to me and I don%26#39;t think I could have figured it out myself since I do not purchase from OEBB frequently. I did follow your directions but they only list dates through October 20 so I am going to check back next week since I need the tickets for November 11. I hope this does it!

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No problem, you%26#39;re welcome! Just wait, tickets for you date will be available later.