How long do I need to change trains at Basel

Short summary – read this first

Annie is traveling from Lucerne to Paris with a train change at Basel. She wants to know the platform for her TGV Lyria train to Paris, which departs at 8:34 after her arrival at 7:56, and whether 38 minutes is enough time for her connection.

Key takeaways:

The TGV to Paris departs from platform 9 at Basel, not from the French side of the station.
38 minutes is a comfortable amount of time to make your train connection.
The signposting at Basel station is very good, so navigating should be easy.

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AI-generated summary

Annie_25
Participant

4 posts

6 March 2025 at 23:31:17 #2420579

I am travelling from Lucerne to Paris via Basel. If I arrive at Basel (Platform 6) at 7.56, how long do I need to connect to the TVG Lyria train to Paris? There is one leaving at 8.34 but I don’t know which platform this leaves from? Can anyone tell me which platform I need to go to, and is this a comfortable change/connection time.
Thank you.

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Roger Sexton
Participant

1640 posts

Reply 1 of 2 • 7 March 2025 at 6:07:45 #2420581

Hello Annie

I have just typed in Lucerne to Paris into the Swiss timetable (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/) as though I were travelling today and wanted to go immediately.

It is telling me to catch the 06 54 IR26 to Basel, arriving there on platform 6 at 0756. The TGV to Paris (which will have come from Zurich) departs from platform 9 at 08 34.

I cannot guarantee that on the day you travel the platforms will be the same, but the fact remains that 38 minutes is AMPLE to change trains.

(It is worth noting that as the TGV to Paris comes form Zurich it departs from the main SWISS part of the station, not from the slightly more distant FRENCH part of the station used by the trains which shuttle between Basel and Strasbourg. Also note that the signposting at Basel station, just like all other Swiss stations, is very good.)

KInd regards

Roger

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Annie_25
Participant

4 posts

Reply 2 of 2 • 7 March 2025 at 14:54:15 #2424032

Thank you Roger.

The information you’ve provided is reassuring and helpful. You’ve put my mind at ease, it sounds as though it shall all be fine. I’ll go ahead and book.

Regards,
Ann.

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