Rail Ticket

       Rail Europe ticket is too expensive for us as in i have the budget for our trip. So i tried to check online, i know that most of them does offer a cheaper rail ticket especially when we are travelling in a group.

German rail : Bahn.de

I send them request regarding my trip thru website.

They gave me the offer and ask me for Credit Card detail once i confirm. Frankly, i don't feel safe by sending them all the card detail thru email. Maybe because that i am a gamer and i know how hacking do. I do feel safe with the company, it just that i am worried if their database being hacked.

I replied their email on my booking, but there isn't any reply from them. I guess that is kind of auto generated email or what.

I started to worry when December is  coming soon. So, i'd again check their website, made my called to UK office. Unfortunately, i get teh replied that *The number you have dailed is not in service* I have no idea why. I have to call to Germany office.

I found that when called to Germany office and ask for rail service they will usually hold ur call and reply you, *All of our agents is currently busy, please try again later* and end the call.

I have no choice and to choose number 5, which is customer service, i guess. I am glad that finally i get someone to help and book my ticket ticket at last.

She is very kind and patient, we both took a long time to book the ticket due to English is not our first language and that is only way for us to communicate.

By requested, I receive my email confirmation from her and i found there was a mistake and she change it on the spot and resend the email for me while i was still on the line.

She told me that i will receive my ticket thru post. I considered that solved.

After 10days, i still havent receive my parcel of tickets, I called up to German railway again. This is when i had my real hard time. I been called up more than 20 calls yet still nobody are able to speak English with me.

Part that i was really piss is, they dun even bother to explain, or get back to me. They just said that they will transfer my calls to the person in charge and again i heard * All of ur agents is currently busy, please try again later. * You know...

I started  to get anxious. I keep on calling and call again, I'd learned the lesson that, don't expect somebody pick up ur call or on hold the lines if you choose 1 for rail service. They will just directly pass you the msg that i mentioned and end your call. I been calling for more than 24hours, and i wasn't know that they are actually operating 24/7.  I was even sacrified my sleeping time to wait for office hour in Germany  to make call to them. But still, there's nobodies are able to speaking English with me.

I keep try to tell them how anxious i am to the customer service. Requested them to maybe pass to some 1 who might know a little english, to check my ticket status for me. I finally found 1 at last. He told me  to calm down and wait for my tickets, unless it still not yet delivered until i am leaving to Germany.

Another week, there's still no parcel of tickets.  I ran to all the post offices nearby and ask if there is any parcel under my name or my house address. They told me that i must have a consignment number to retrieve it, or else i wont able to trace any parcel.

Yet i have to call to the Bahn.de again. And again, there's nobodies are able to speak with me, i was like a ball being kick here and there. But this time i'm luckier, after a few calls, i get myself to the right person. ( I was actually keep on begging them to not to end my call directly, i just need their ref number for my parcel. I was really worried due to I am departing from Malaysia real soon.)

At last, my manage to get someone pick up the call, she don't really able to speak English, and ask me call back later. I said, NO... PLEASE DON'T... I CALLED FOR TIMES BUT EVERYTIME THEY CLOSE MY LINE....SO HARD FOR ME TO GET TO SOMEONE TO IS ABLE TO SPEAK A LIL BIT...

She requested for my phone number and promised  me that she will get someone who speak English to call me back later. After 10mins, i received a call from Germany, a guy talked to me, i tell him my problems and he asked me for my fax number to fax me the Travel Documents that which will allow me to use for travel.

I cried a few times due to this.. But no idea... this is almost 50~70% cheaper compare to buy from raileurope.

Funny right?

Sweden rail : sj.se

This rail company, doesn't offer group booking, but their fare is quite cheap tho. I booked my ticket from Stockholm to Oslo from this company.

I was tried to book when i was in SG, but failed that day. I have no idea why, like credit card error or what..
After a week when i was in MY, i tried again. =) booked and printed everything online.

Senior citizen fares from this company is a last min offer. So you wont able to buy it in advance.