Enough time change platforms at Bern and Zurich?
A traveler is planning a trip from Interlaken Ost to Vienna, making stops in Bern and Zurich. They are concerned about making tight connections—specifically, changing from platform 4 to 7 in Bern with only 8 minutes, and from platform 34 to 9 in Zurich. They're looking for advice on whether the transfers are manageable.
- If you're able-bodied and not carrying heavy bags, you should have enough time to make your connections in Bern and Zurich since the Swiss rail system is designed for this.
- Consider changing trains at Spiez instead of Bern to potentially avoid changing platforms altogether.
- Use luggage carts to help navigate escalators at Zurich HB if needed.
AI-generated summary-
We are travelling from Interlaken Ost via Bern and Zurich, to Vienna.
At Bern train station we must change platforms from number 4 to 7, and our connection is 8 minutes. How far away are these 2 platforms, and is the timeframe to change possible?
When we arrive into Zurich, we arrive at platform 34, and need to change to platform 9 for our final journey. How far are these two platforms from each other, and how long does the transfer take?
If anyone can assist with this enquiry, we would be very grateful. Regards
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Hi Trish
We often get this question on our forum, the short answer is that provided you are able-bodied and are not carrying tons of luggage you should have enough time, as the Swiss rail system plans it that way. You can read more about it on this previous post: http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/time-between-trains
To view a map of the stations you can follow these links:
- http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/am-bahnhof/railway-stations/bern-station.html
- http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/railway-stations/shopville-zuerich-main-station.html
Hope this helps and have a great time in Switzerland!
Maria.
You can change at Spiez instead of Bern. The two trains at Spiez may well serve the same platform meaning you wouldn’t even have to change platforms.
Platform 34 at Zurich HB is below ground so you will have an escalator to ride up.
You can also manipulate your journey to use a train that doesn’t arrive in the underground part of Zurich HB
Hi Trish…as usual, 1960 man has given excellent answers.
To understand them, you should be looking at the timetable, which no one has linked before in this thread. Probably you are using it, since you know your track numbers.
Since we don’t know your date or time of day for travel, it is hard to give specific answers.
That said, the timetable will tell you if there are trains 3n minutes earlier to Zuerich, for example. Multilevel train changes in Zuerich are aaminor nuisance, but can be confusing. Follow the signs. Use the pay-per-use luggage carts, if needed. They go up and down escalators. If you choose not to recover the 2 CHF deposit, just forget it.
Slowpoke
Hi Slowpoke
The timetable link is in the previous post I linked about the same subject which Trish has most probably been using. Here it is for anyone else planning a similar trip: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable
Be sure to use the advanced timetable to see the platforms. Some excellent advice from 1960man to minimise the connection time on your particular route!
Maria.
Thanks
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