7 Night – Zurich, Lucerne, and Interlaken

<<“1) First question is about trains. I have looked at the sbb.ch timetables. How do I know which train to get on? For example, Zurich toLucerne. I see options for IR or S1. What do these mean? I would liketo take the Golden Pass route (don’t care if were in a panoramic coach).How do I know which to take? What platform does this leave from? Can Ionly check at the station?”>>

The time table is your friend.

Look further and deeper. You have barely scratched the surface.

Pick a train/time at random andclick on the “+”.

It will give new menus. You can see all stops if you wish (open “intermediate stops”) and a map. The abbreviations are meant to guide, not confuse. Somewhere the meanings are all listed. This is, after all, Switzerland.. ;-). Keep looking. Then, look again.

<<“I have looked at the sbb.ch timetables. How do I know which train to get on? For example, Zurich toLucerne. I see options for IR or S1. What do these mean? I would liketo take the Golden Pass route (don’t care if were in a panoramic coach).How do I know which to take? What platform does this leave from?”>>

The different trains have different levels of on-board service (look at the icons.) However, they differ mostly in the number of stops and/or changes. Some have restaurant cars- especially the Intercity trains. It is a network.. Compare durations, look at intermediate stops and changes. Some require change of trains, clearly visible in the time tables. Some make more stops.

“IR” is “Interregio.” Loosely, it does a bunch of local stops at each end, and skips all but the main stops in between.

S1 is “S-Bahn” #1. S-Bahnen are commuter trains, and make most local stops.. They are based ina particular city –

“Bern S-1” or

“Zürich S-10”

They run on regular tracks.

A few stops are “halt on Verlangen” – stop upon request. If you are on the platform out in the woods, press the button or the train will go past you. If you are on the train, press the green button before you come to the station or it won’t stop.

Arrival and departure tracks are clearly listed in the timetable. If you can’t see them, try again with the full SBB site.

For the Golden Pass Route, enter start and finish stations, then, if that does not work, fill in an intermediate stop like Zweisimmen into the “via” box.

You can check all this stuff on the internet. If there is a change, it may be displayed on a chalkboard at the station, as well as on the overhead screens. You generally don’t have to wait till you get to the station; you just have to dig more deepy into the tools you have already skimmed over.

Train staff are required to work in German, French, Italian, usually Romansch, and English. When in doubt, ask nicely if you can use English, please.

<<” and 1 night in Zurich before flying out.”>>

I always stay downtown the night before I fly out.

There are about 6-8 trains per hour from the main station in Zürich to the airport. There is a small pamphlet hand out with all those trains listed in it, available on the racks at the ticket office in the main station.. They run out of them now and then…ask.

The booklet is printed with its second half upside down, for regional trains around Winterthur or Kloten, So, If you don’t see one, turn them over to look at the other part.

The trains leave from several locations in the main station. The tracks are not all in one place. Good signs, but the terminal has grown like topsie, so some tracks are down under, or, don’t quite reach all the way to the railheads in the main hall.

If you choose to stay downtown you have a wider array of choices, and actual travel time to the check in may be faster than or similar to waiting for the hotel’s own shuttle bus to come back after a run to the terminal.

If you fly out on Swiss or its partners (at a minimum; maybe some other airlines, too) you can check your bags in at check in #3. It is in the airport’s train station, one level above the tracks. Saves hauling your bags over to the check in #1 or #2.

A taxi from airport to Downtown or vice versa is approx 65 CHF. Taxi’s are expensive. Actually, very expensive. Actually, excessively very expensive. Tips are not required, or even common, but taxis often get enough foreigners for customers that they expect to get tips. ;-(

I round up to the nearest whole CHF, if things have gone well.

The luggage carts stored near the luggage carousels in the arrivals hall at the airport can go up and down the escalators all the way to the train tracks. No need to look for elevators. If you use them on the escalators, step back one step when you start, or the pivoting action as the cart enters the incline part of the escalator may swing the handle into your chest or face.

I always recommend the Zeughauskeller on the Bahnhofstrasse, at Paradeplatz, for newcomers. It is an old armory, converted to a restaurant. Swiss food- including some Swiss French as well as mostly Swiss German.

However, in early June it was closed for alterations.

http://www.zeughauskeller.ch/ home

Looks like it might be open again.

Don’t worry about reservations for 2 of you, but go in before 1815 or after 2000 to avoid a 5-10 minute wait

If you want to leave a big bag in a locker overnight at the main station, you can avoid having to haul it to the station in the AM. Swiss coins needed.

<<“one larger bag ~40x20x20” (~100x50x50 cm) and two laptop-sized backpacks. “>>

Not all trains have floor level entry. Some have steps – and fairly narrow doors.

Newer cars have more luggage space, but all have some at the end of the car.

You will probably be able to fit that bag on the trains, but it will be awkward work.

However, what will it weigh?

There are weight/cost limits if you are coming in by air. Maybe, dimension limits.

If it weighs 35 or 40 kg, will you be able to handle it? You’ll have to get it on and off the trains, and maybe down the aisle, but it probably won’t fit between seat backs.

Everyone has there own style of traveling, but when you are trying to make fast connections, bulky luggage can be a real problem….for you and the other passengers that you are delaying.

Our own experience on many miles of Swiss trains is that a soft side (duffel) bag a bit smaller then 20 by 20 is easier, but we can get it on and off, if we have to. We have found over the years that having each of us carry a significantly smaller rollable bag, instead of one big one, works better for us.. The ones we use let us “stack” a smaller bag on “top” by the handle instead of over our shoulder if need be.

And, a bit larger backpack than “laptop” size is common and a convenient option to spread the load around a bit.

With a really large bag, and the multinight stay(s) that you project (particularly grindelwald which will involve smaller rail cars, I’d consider shipping a/the big bag ahead and retaining one day or overnight needs with you. The bag transfer system works well and I have used it many times.

There are different options.

http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/services/bagg age.html

Slowpoke

I would suggest the cogwheel train to the Gornergrat. Please see myswissalps.com/ gornergrat.

There’s a 50% discount for Swiss Travel Pass holders. Please see myswissalps.com/ swisstravelpass/ validity.