Rail Ninja or CP Comboios de Portugal?

Anniespar · Mar 13, 2024

Hi all

Does it matter which website I use to purchase train tickets? They're both the same from what I can see, right?

jungleboy · Mar 13, 2024

They’re not the same. Use CP, which operates the trains. Rail Ninja is a third-party booking site.

Tincatinker · Mar 13, 2024

Nope. One is a secondary seller the other is the national rail company. Any problem with the secondary seller is your problem. Any problem with the national rail company is theirs

Anniespar · Mar 13, 2024

Tincatinker said:
Nope. One is a secondary seller the other is the national rail company. Any problem with the secondary seller is your problem. Any problem with the national rail company is theirs

Thanks!

Anniespar · Mar 13, 2024

jungleboy said:
They’re not the same. Use CP, which operates the trains. Rail Ninja is a third-party booking site.

OK, thanks.

trecile · Mar 14, 2024

Definitely don't use Rail Ninja. If I were to use a booking site other than purchasing directly from Comboios I would use a reliable site like TrainLine.com.

Here's a post from a recent thread about Rail Ninja:

hikingmd_05 said:
This is an update on my inquiry on the rail ninja booking platform.
Yesterday, I requested an update on our tickets since the departure date is 10 days away thru the platform’s support service. I got a reply that our chosen departure date has been changed so I requested a refund. Within an hour after the cancellation of the 1st leg (Madrid to SdC on March 22), I received another email regarding ticket change of the next leg, SdC to Madrid on April 1 (from cost saver to flexible) n the cost of the difference ($132) should be paid which I did. I was surprised later that not only the 1st leg but also the 2nd leg cancelled! And I was assured of a refund.
So, our grp of 4 decided to fly to Santiago n return to Madrid by train (booked thru Trainline).

Anniespar · Mar 14, 2024

trecile said:
Definitely don't use Rail Ninja. If I were to use a booking site other than purchasing directly from Comboios I would use a reliable site like TrainLine.com.

Here's a post from a recent thread about Rail Ninja:

Thank-you for this information - will not use Rail Ninja!

CalgaryLynn · Mar 14, 2024

Anniespar - thanks for asking all these questions. I had exactly the same ones. I just got my ticket off CP and the site is really buggy. First you have to register and it doesn't take postal codes (with or without a space) so I just put in some random numbers and it worked. I had to try about 6 times before I finally got my ticket and I used PayPal to pay as other sites said there were issues with foreign credit cards. Good luck!

Anniespar · Mar 14, 2024

CalgaryLynn said:
Anniespar - thanks for asking all these questions. I had exactly the same ones. I just got my ticket off CP and the site is really buggy. First you have to register and it doesn't take postal codes (with or without a space) so I just put in some random numbers and it worked. I had to try about 6 times before I finally got my ticket and I used PayPal to pay as other sites said there were issues with foreign credit cards. Good luck!

Thank-you so much for letting me know about your experience!! I'll remember the challenge surrounding entering postal codes, I'll use all numbers too!!!

Anniespar · Mar 14, 2024

CalgaryLynn said:
Anniespar - thanks for asking all these questions. I had exactly the same ones. I just got my ticket off CP and the site is really buggy. First you have to register and it doesn't take postal codes (with or without a space) so I just put in some random numbers and it worked. I had to try about 6 times before I finally got my ticket and I used PayPal to pay as other sites said there were issues with foreign credit cards. Good luck!

And how far in advance did you purchase? When are you traveling by train in Portugal?

jungleboy · Mar 14, 2024

Anniespar said:
Thank-you so much for letting me know about your experience!! I'll remember the challenge surrounding entering postal codes, I'll use all numbers too!!!

Portuguese post codes look like this: 1200-347. So Portuguese websites may demand a similar pattern for registration.

Steven Dwyer · Mar 14, 2024

One definite advantage to buying direct from CP (Comboios Portugal) or Renfe is they will provide you with notices of schedule changes and cancellations. Very easy to get a refund on cancelled trains and in peak periods it helps to get advance notice if you need to rebook.

Anniespar · Mar 14, 2024

Steven Dwyer said:
One definite advantage to buying direct from CP (Comboios Portugal) or Renfe is they will provide you with notices of schedule changes and cancellations. Very easy to get a refund on cancelled trains and in peak periods it helps to get advance notice if you need to rebook.

yes, CP seems to be the best choice!! Thanks!!

CalgaryLynn · Mar 14, 2024

Anniespar said:
And how far in advance did you purchase? When are you traveling by train in Portugal?

Hi again - I just purchased yesterday and will be using ticket on April 4th....Lisbon to Porto...

Anniespar · Mar 14, 2024

CalgaryLynn said:
Hi again - I just purchased yesterday and will be using ticket on April 4th....Lisbon to Porto...

Perfect, I'll purchase mine tomorrow!!

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