[Tmalave]

11 March 2022 at 1:16:17 #826637

Hi all,

I have reservations for seats on the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano at 8:32 am. We have yet to purchase the tickets, but the website says the are not on sale yet. We are starting our day from Zurich. When I do buy the tickets, I have seen the timeline that a 7:07 am train arrives in Chur at 8:23 am and the Bernina Express leaves at 8:32 am. This short time makes me nervous because we will be traveling with luggage, and I have no idea how big the train station, is. Also if there is any delay, and we miss the Bernina Express train, we would be out of luck. Is this train OK to take, or should I try to buy an earlier train. And if so, how early?

Thank you in advance.

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[Beladrian]

Reply 1 of 10 • 11 March 2022 at 5:32:10 #939420

I have a similar question with Tamalave.

I checked the SBB App for a tip from Zurich airport to Appenzell and saw that I have to change trains at Gossau SG with a 7 minute gap. wondering if that’s doable given the luggage I have.

I guess I could always take the next train 30mins later but just wanted to know what to expect.

Thanks.

[Anna]

Reply 2 of 10 • 11 March 2022 at 7:10:11 #939421

Hi Tmalave,

When are you travelling? You can book the Bernina Express tickets up to 6 months in advance: http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/tickets

Based on the SBB timetable, the 7.07 train from Zurich to Chur arrives on Platform 9. The Bernina Express train from Chur to Tirano leaves from Platform 10. The platforms are basically side-by-side so all you need to is crossover to the other side. Even with luggage, this should be fairly quick.

Regards,

Anna

[Anna]

Reply 3 of 10 • 11 March 2022 at 7:19:13 #939422

Hi Beladrian,

Gossau has a smaller train station compared to Zurich Airport and switching from 1 platform to another should be fairly easy. The average SBB train transit is about 5 minutes so I think this is doable even with luggage.

Be sure to read this for practical information about how train travel works: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/practical/howtotravel

Regards,

Anna

[Tmalave]

Reply 4 of 10 • 11 March 2022 at 10:54:19 #939423

Thank you Anna for the response. I went to the official site to purchase de Bernina Express tickets for July, about three weeks ago (less than six months already). When I did that, on the site I could only purchase the seat reservations. It instructed me that the actual train tickets would be available 2 months in advance.

[Anna]

Reply 5 of 10 • 11 March 2022 at 14:57:41 #939424

Hi Tmalave,

You don’t need a ticket for the Bernina Express if you have a Swiss Travel Pass. Another option is to get a Saver Day Pass. A list of ticket and purchase options are available here: http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/tickets

Regards,

Anna

[Tmalave]

Reply 6 of 10 • 11 March 2022 at 16:00:32 #939425

Thanks again,

We will not have rail passes as they are not cost effective for us. We arrive on the TGV on a Wednesday afternoon. We then leave on the Bernina Express on Friday. Even if we added a day trip to Lucerne, the three day pass would still be more money. However, I didn’t know about the saver day pass. If we purchase these, can we get on any train (that is covered)? Meaning will we have to reserve on the train to Chur, or if we a get a pass for the day to Lucerne, can we take trains at any time? If we purchase at 52 CHF, two day passes is almost the same as the Bernina Express train fare.

[Anna]

Reply 7 of 10 • 11 March 2022 at 18:22:50 #939426

Hi Tmalave,

If you have the Saver Day Pass, you can also use it for the journey from Zurich to Chur. It is valid for 1 day and allows you unlimited rides on most public transport including trains, buses, trams and boats. You can find details how to use it here: http://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass/howtouse

If you book these passes early you might even get them cheaper than the regular price. However this is only available online.

Let us know if you need more information.

Regards,

Anna

[User]

Reply 8 of 10 • 13 March 2022 at 0:59:26 #939427

Switzerland’s railways are a lot different to very large countries in many parts of the world, such as USA and Brazil.

Passenger trains run very frequently on a dense network, so that the rail network operates like a whole-country version of the transit of a large metropolis such as New York.

This means that it is not necessary to reserve seats in advance or buy additional tickets except on a very small number of specific special services.

It also means that short connecting times between trains are worked out so that they are easily possible, even with luggage.

The operation of the national network (aka Swiss Travel System) is by what is called the ‘taktfahrplan’ principle, i.e. that trains run at the same times past each hour at least every 1 hour on most lines, and half hourly where necessary, and all services are programmed to interconnect with each other at nodal points with a minimal connecting time. This minimum connecting time is built in and is designed to enable you to continue a cross country journey without waiting for ages between trains if you have to change trains.

Within this concept, ‘freedom type’ rail passes such as the Swiss Travel Pass and Saver Day Pass act in the same way as 24 hour pass tickets on many city transit systems around the world, in other words they allow ‘hop on hop off ‘ travel on all the main modes of transport which make up the Swiss Travel System – federal railways, private railways, post buses, city buses, city trams, local railways, lake boats.

[User]

Reply 9 of 10 • 13 March 2022 at 1:13:29 #939428

@Beladrian and @tmalave

Refer to my other recent post, and also take a moment to think about how much time it actually takes to change trains at a small and medium sized stations. Short connecting times between trains are worked out so that they are easily possible, even with luggage. Taking 7 minutes as an example. This might not sound a lot of time but think about how far you can actually walk in a straight line in 7 minutes. At an average walking pace even with luggage most people can cover about 700 metres in 7 minutes, which is far further than the distance needed to walk between platform of connecting trains at most Swiss stations (really all except Zurich HB)

[Beladrian]

Reply 10 of 10 • 13 March 2022 at 9:44:33 #939429

Thanks 1960man. Good to know that it all helps travelers like us.