Luggage space on Swiss replacement buses in case of railway closures
A traveler named Subrata is planning a trip to Switzerland and wants to know about luggage space on replacement buses when trains are not running. They are concerned about being caught off guard as they expect to travel solely by train.
- Replacement buses in Switzerland are well-organized and have sufficient luggage space, making them reliable for travelers.
- For those using Swiss transport, always check the Swiss electronic timetable to see if replacement bus services are in operation.
- Rural buses typically have dedicated luggage holds, while urban buses have designated multi-purpose areas for storing luggage.
AI-generated summary-
While travelling in Switzerland by train there may be unforeseen situations when a part of the journey has to be undertaken by bus, because of a section (or sections) of the rail network being closed due to maintenance or other miscellaneous reasons. I am curious to know whether the replacement buses provided by the Swiss Railways have sufficient space in their holds for accommodating luggage. This assumes importance for tourists who may come to the country expecting to travel all the way to their destinations by train, and, instead, being caught off guard by having to shift to buses for a part of their journey.
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Hello Subrata
Swiss BUSES are just as efficient as Swiss trains. And remember that there are a number of important resorts (eg Saas Fee, Adelboden, Lenzerheiden and Flims/Laax) which cannot be reached by train.
I have been visiting Switzerland for 55 years, and I have experienced rail replacement buses on a number of occasions. They are always extremely well organised., very well supervised, and run to a realistic schedule. Much better than in my home country of Britain!
With the exception that buses cannot carry bicycles (and the like), there is always plenty of room for luggage.
You speak of ‘tourists who may come to the country expecting to travel all the way to their destinations by train, and, instead, being caught off guard by having to shift to buses for a part of their journey.’If tourists use the Swiss electronic timetable http://www.sbb.ch to plan there journeys, that will normally clearly show those cases where rail replacement buses are operating, and the times of the BUSES will show up on the screen. The only exception to this rule are where an emergency has only just arisen. Eg extremely violent storms have just blocked a line. That is something which could happen anywhere in the world.
Kind regards
Roger
Hello Roger,
Many thanks for your elaborate reply. I now fully understand how efficiently the buses (including the rail replacement types) operate in Switzerland, and that there is adequate space for the storage of luggage. Does this also mean that, in general, all PostBus services in this country (including those that operate primarily within a city & its neighbourhood) have dedicated holds for luggage? I guess this must be the case. However, I would like to be sure on this count.
Regards
Subrata
Hello again
I will have to generalize.
Rural Bus Serivces. Whether operated by Postbus or any other operator, rural buses generally do have luggage lockers. Buses on some routes pull luggage trailers.Urban Bus services These are always operated by low floor vehicles, some of them very long (up to 24 metres). Passengers enter and exit by ANY door. If you have luggage, it is usually stored in the ‘multi-purpose area’ opposite one of the sets of middle doors. This area is also used by wheel chairs and prams. (Look for the doors which are marked with a wheelchair or pram symbol.)
There are British-built double-deckers running in the St Gallen area. They have multi-purpose luggage areas on the lower deck.
Trams/streetcars are usually low-floor with multi-purpose areas.
Regards
Rogerused by wheelchairs and prams.
Hello Roger,
I have now come to know a lot more about luggage storage facilities in buses in Switzerland than I could obtain from any other source. Many thanks once again for being so prompt and helpful.
Regards
Subrata
Hi Subrata,
In addition to Roger’s helpful replies, this guide about luggage on Swiss trains, boats and buses may be useful: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/luggage/
Hello Annika, Many thanks for providing this useful link.
Regards
Subrata
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