Portugal - train tickets

HelenV

Does anyone understand how I go about purchasing train tickets in Portugal? I've been there before with a friend and she purchased all travel tickets as I was completely ignorant in that regard. There is something called an Andante ticket but I haven't the remotest clue what it is and what it means. Please help!!

Zaph

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zagmund

You'll need to give a bit more detail. If your friend purchased them in Portugal, was it as simple as going to the counter and asking? Or do you mean she booked online and you want to do the same?

Check out www.seat61.com which is usually good on such things.

z

mistress_gi

Ok first thing is first what train do you need. You the national rail
www.cp.pt

and then you have the equivalent to the luas in Porto only
www.metrodoporto.pt

if you are going to Lisbon then you need the metro
www.metrolisboa.pt

There are no advantages of buying online in either of them as there is no discount. If you need the inter city bus then it is cheaper online.
how do I know? I am portuguese and am in portugal at the moment. If there is anything wlse I can answer let me know!
You should be ok with english in Lisbon or Porto just in case though ask in the airport they will help you there.
Have fun!

HelenV

zagmund wrote: »

You'll need to give a bit more detail. If your friend purchased them in Portugal, was it as simple as going to the counter and asking? Or do you mean she booked online and you want to do the same?

Check out www.seat61.com which is usually good on such things.

z

Thanks for your post.

I'm talking about buying train / metro tickets at the station itself. My friend purchased the Andante tickets at a machine and she was clicking and clacking for a few minutes before handing me the ticket which I then had to have validated(?) at another machine.

Then we went to the train station where she purchased another ticket which I produced to the ticket checker on the train. I was nearly thrown off the train 'cos it wasn't validated.

I'm travelling to the same place again this Summer without her and I've been searching the internet for ticket guidance without success.

My friend is a whiz (she travels a lot) but she has little or no interest in explaining the method of purchase / validation to me

I'd feel a whole lot happier travelling if I knew in advance what I was supposed to be doing ticket wise.

suds1984

I'm sure it's just a case of going to the machine and finding the button to change the language to english (very often the English flag) and then should be just a case of picking a destination and paying the money. Once you have it changed to english, know where you are going, it should be pretty simple.

HelenV

mistress_gi wrote: »

Ok first thing is first what train do you need. You the national rail
www.cp.pt

and then you have the equivalent to the luas in Porto only
www.metrodoporto.pt

if you are going to Lisbon then you need the metro
www.metrolisboa.pt

There are no advantages of buying online in either of them as there is no discount. If you need the inter city bus then it is cheaper online.
how do I know? I am pprtuguese and am in portugal at the moment. If there is anything wlse I can answer let me know!
You should be ok with english in Lisbon or Porto just in case though ask in the airport they will hel you there.
Have fun!

Gi, I'm flying to Porto - getting Metro to Campanha and train and bus to Torreira, Aveiro.

There were some tickets we retained and put in the ticket machines when getting on / off on different occasions.

In Ireland you simply buy and travel so I'm going to be kinda lost in Portugal:(

HelenV

suds1984 wrote: »

I'm sure it's just a case of going to the machine and finding the button to change the language to english (very often the English flag) and then should be just a case of picking a destination and paying the money. Once you have it changed to english, know where you are going, it should be pretty simple.

I think it's rather more complicated than that - honestly - I felt like a silly child. I know about changing the language o.k. but you firstly get the ticket, you then have to put it back in again and then validate it at another machine altogether before getting on the train. I just don't know what it's all about.

mistress_gi

Well metro do porto has a page in English

http://www.metrodoporto.pt/en/


but honestly you are better off just asking for help at the information desk at the aiport.

I really hate the system they have up there it is confusing even for me.
When taking the train to aveiro though make sure you stay away from the regional trains it will take you forever to get there because it stops in every single place on the way. You can either take the express bus from batalha (just a short walk from campanhã) or take the intercidades or the alpha train.

mistress_gi

Turns out I was wrong it is cheaper to book online especially if you book 5 days in advance.

ElizKenny

HelenV wrote: »

I think it's rather more complicated than that - honestly - I felt like a silly child. I know about changing the language o.k. but you firstly get the ticket, you then have to put it back in again and then validate it at another machine altogether before getting on the train. I just don't know what it's all about.

Its the same in Italy. You have to validate the ticket at another machine before getting on the train.
Travelling with a ticket that hasnt been validated in that machine is the same as having no ticket when the inspector comes.

HelenV

ElizKenny wrote: »

Its the same in Italy. You have to validate the ticket at another machine before getting on the train.
Travelling with a ticket that hasnt been validated in that machine is the same as having no ticket when the inspector comes.

Yes but is there some way I use the ticket repeatedly over the following week / month. What I'm confused about is the actual purpose of the ticket I purchase at the machine? Can I use the same ticket for other short journeys within a certain area or do I have to purchase a new ticket for each journey. Am I correct in thinking that once I purchase the ticket I can re-use it and the train fare costs less the next time until the ticket life runs out?

I'm a bit of an old fool I'm afraid and need things explained in baby steps

Tigerandahalf

I would imagine there is credit on the ticket. In the Lisbon metro anyway you can buy a ticket worth 5/10eur or something like that. You then have a certain amount of journeys you can make with that ticket. That ticket is disposable but it can also be topped up. It has to be validated. The reason is you could get onto a train and do a journey without an inspector checking it and thus have had a free journey. Sometimes the ticket machines can be awkward but someone in the queue is likely to speak English. Part of the fun of travelling.
Also you can go to a helpdesk in the big stations and the person will swipe your card and tell you how much is left on the card. I know you are going to Porto but most of these systems are similar. A good idea is to google the Porto transport system and it will show you maps of the bus and metro/train routes etc.


http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto_Metro