Swiss train formation info in timetable or app?
A traveler named PlymouthGus is preparing for an exciting trip to Switzerland in 27 days and seeks clarity on using the SBB website for train information, particularly for the route from Zur Flughafen to Wengen. They also want to know about the Lauterbrunnen train's consistency in splitting and the specific cars that go there.
- Use the SBB app to check train formation about 15 minutes before arriving at your next station for easier transfers, especially if you're carrying luggage.
- Train sectors indicate where to wait for specific train cars on the platform, making it easier if you have seat reservations.
- Don't rely solely on the SBB website; platform display boards provide the necessary train composition information on the day of travel.
AI-generated summary-
I saw advice in the forum about clicking on the train journey showing on SBB and then going to the top of the page to see a tab for “train formation”. I’ve tried that for a Zur Flughafen to Wengen route and could not find a tab showing that. I then tried the SBB website with the same result. Wondering if Anna or someone might be able to post a screen shot showing that tab.
Secondly, does he train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen always split? If so, is it always the same cars that go to Lauterbrunnen (as in cars 1 and 2, for example)?
Thanks for the baby sitting. Counting down 27 days to go to heaven in CH.
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Hi PlymouthGus!
If you click open a connection presented on the SBB website, there’s the option “Show train information”: see the first screenshot attached. If you click on this, you’ll get to see the train’s composition and the corresponding platform sectors: see the 2nd screenshot.
This is not available for all trains though. And it’s mostly not necessary to study this info in advance. On the platforms’ display boards you’ll find clear info about the train composition and the platform sectors. If you even need this info, for example because you need to be seated in a specific sector due to seat reservations or a train that splits, it won’t be a problem to figure this out while waiting for your train.
As for the trains to Lauterbrunnen: yes, these get split at Zweilütschinen. The coaches to Lauterbrunnen usually depart from sector A of the platform: The timetable (https://www.myswissalps.com/timetable) shows this option too: see the 3rd screenshot.
Does this help you out?
Oh, jetzt sehe ich das licht.
Some of my confusion is that when your trip is Interlaken Ost to Wengen (through Lauterbrunnen) there is no tab for train formation. However if you just input Ost to Lauterbrunnen, it does appear (although now it states no info available).
Your answer was excellent. So just confirming that sectors define a certain number of cars in a row and in what order on the platform.
Finally, Are the numbers below the sectors the train car numbers?
Vielen dank, Plymouthgus.
Hi again!
A sector indicates a specific part of a (long) train platform. The sector letters are displayed above the platforms, so you’ll know where at the platform to wait if you want to board in a certain coach/section of the train.
Yes, the numbers between the sector letters and train composition in the attaches screenshots indicate coach numbers. You’ll hardly ever need those though. It’s usually only relevant if you have a seat reservation, and those too are mostly not necessary (and sometimes even not possible) for Swiss trains: https://www.myswissalps.com/train/reservations.
By the way, I too didn’t see any train info on the SBB website yesterday. Maybe some temporary glitch? It might explain why you first did see info for Interlaken-Ost Lauterbrunnen, and then didn’t.
Anyway, I hope it’s all clear now :-)!
Hi PlymouthGus,
If your train connections or transfers are more than 10mins, it’s not a problem looking at the platform display boards indicating the Sectors. However, from experience, when we arrive at a station with a short transfer time with luggages, it’s recommended to check the app for the train formation about 15 mins before you arrive at the next station. This is because when we alight and need to get to the next platform, the platform for the next train can sometimes be crowded and depending on where you are (esp the bigger stations), the display boards on the platform may be quite far away. So quite a bit of time is used up trying to check the signboard.
So checking the sbb app for the train formation of your connecting train eg 15mins before you arrive, makes it more convenient as you already know which sector to stand at the platform for the next train. This is particularly helpful if you are taking 1st class as there are less carriages or if you have specific seat reservations. The app also prempts you should there be a last minute change of platforms for the connecting train (which happened twice during our journeys).
If you have no luggages and have a longer transfer time, then it’s fine if you don’t wish to check the sbb app.
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