How to read the Swiss train schedule
A traveler is planning a trip to Switzerland in March and is looking for advice on how to navigate the train schedules. They have potential stays in Lessoc and Unterseen and are confused about the train lines and schedules available, especially the S50 and 266 train options.
- Use the Swiss Railways timetable to find train and bus schedules; it allows you to enter your accommodation's address for precise details.
- Avoid relying on Google Maps for public transport information; it's better to check the official Swiss Travel app or website.
- Consider getting the Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel on the public transport network for easier travel throughout your trip.
AI-generated summary-
Hello. I am planning a trip to Switzerland in March. I am looking at several airbnb places to stay in during our vacation. I cannot figure out how to read the train schedule. One of the places is in Lessoc, and the train is a 10 minute walk from the house. It says S50 and 266 on the google map. I don’t know what that means. I can’t tell if the train stops there multiple times a day. The other place is in Unterseen. This seems like it would been near the Interlaken station. Is this a bigger station, with more train times and choices? I am very confused and appreciate any help or guidance.
Thank you!
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Hi Scout,
Always best to use the Swiss Railways timetable to find train, bus etc connections.
You can enter the hotel or house’s address in the timetable and it will give you the schedules and details.
http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable
The timetable also shows you the type of transport (train, bus, boat etc).
Let us know if you have more questions!
Try not to use Google maps for train and public transport information. It is not ‘the Swiss train schedule’ but Google’s interpretation of it…
For location of public transport, use ‘Schweizmobil’:
I know most places in Switzerland but didn’t recall Lessoc, so looked it up and I have in fact passed through it many times as it is on the Gruyere railway line (TPF).
It is close to Montbovon, when the Bulle – Gruyeres – Montbovon line meets the MOB railway (aka Golden Pass) Montreux – Zweisimmen
Here is the 2018 PDF (2019 due out soon) from the traditional printed Swiss timetable (called the ‘Kursbuch’):
http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/ fileadmin/fap_pdf_fiel ds/2018/253.pdf
Thank you both so very much!
Bonjour 1960man,
I have clicked on your first link (schweizmobil) three times without success. Each time I get a “404 Not Found” message. I’ll see if I can find another way in (perhaps some sort of back door) but I’d appreciate it if you could give us the working link.
Earlier this year I mentioned small pocket-sized regional schedules produced by the CFF that are available in the train station in Neuchâtel (and I assume all major train stations throughout Switzerland). Last month I picked up new ones (photo attached), a 92 page one for “Région Neuchâtel” and a 63 page one for “Region Biel/Région Bienne” (bilingual, of course) even though I haven’t been on a Swiss train in all of 2018. I also picked up a copy of something I had never seen before (two photos attached), a 124 mm x 175 mm (B6?) 252 page “Horaire cantonal” which seems to detail everything that moves (train, tram, bus, carpostal, funicular) within the canton, and I am wondering if these exist elsewhere, say in the canton de Genéve or Vaud. The nice thing about all of these is that they are small enough to fit in a pocket or a hand bag and require no batteries. 😉
like all long links it has broken over two lines. You just have to paste it together in notepad or equivalent
or just go to Schweizmobil main page, click on ‘MAP’ and then check the box against whichever category you want to see. Checking the box against ‘Rail Bus Boat’ gives every single public transport stop in Switzerland.
Hello 1960man,
After getting those repeated 404 messages I just googled “Schweizmobil.ch" and had great fun looking around. I love looking at all kind of maps. By the way, have you ever seen the following ? maps.vasile.ch/transit -sbb/
A few seconds ago two IC5 trains passed each other in the tunnel south of Vaumarcus, NE.
Peterli,
Thanks for posting those links. The SBB animation is quite impressive and underscores the efficiency of the rail network, and it’s fun to watch — I’ve bookmarked it, along with the Switzerland Mobility Map. I’m a train buff, and a map lover as well, so this stuff falls into my sweet spot! Love the Montreux train station as well because I understand it’s the only train station in Switzerland where three different rail gauges terminate.
Scout,
And to bring this back on topic, I think the SBB ap with the Traveler’s Wifi (10% savings if purchased now through the end of November) are invaluable tools for spontaneous or scheduled travel in Switzerland.
http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/discounted-travelerswifi-portable-internet-hotspot
http://www.sbb.ch/en/timetabl e/mobile-apps/sbb-mobile.html
Have a great trip!
As I understand it this is not real time, so the two trains might not have just passed each other at Vaumarcus.
You understand correctly. It is a real time simulation based on the timetables. But you know that this means those two trains most likely did pass each other in that tunnel. 😉 Punctuality is of utmost importance for the proper functioning of the the Swiss public transport system. 🚄 🚏 +
For trip planning, The SBB timetable as linked is surely the best source of information.
However, they do offer an SBB app for smartphones, which is useful while traveling.
Slowpoke
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