Rail Ninja or CP Comboios de Portugal?

[Anniespar]

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]

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

 

[Tincatinker]

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]

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]

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

OK, thanks.

 

[trecile]

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:

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

Perfect, I'll purchase mine tomorrow!!

 

[SusieP]

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.

Thank you for this! We are getting ready to head out to Lisbon, then Porto. Should I set up an account now, from the US before we go?

 

[BarbaraW]

To all struggling with any railway websites I strongly recommend www.seat61.com. it's a non-commercial site set up by a train enthusiast and has practical information on routes, costs, the vagaries of individual rail operator websites and the best place to buy tickets for particular journeys. I've used it several times before travelling to, and within, Spain and Portugal and it's always proved reliable.
Because of just the sort of glitches you describe Seat 61 suggests using the Trainline or Rail Europe to buy tickets in Portugal, though I've been fine with CP.pt