[Anonymous]

1 August 2019 at 13:05:12 #823177

Good day. I am a bit concerned with the amount of time between train changes especially with two rather large pieces of luggage.

For example, the Centovalli route that has been suggested from Zermatt to Lugano has four changes. We arrive in Brig Bahnhofplatz PT 14 (10:37) and then depart at Brig PT 7 (10:44) and only have 7 minutes between.

I am not familiar with any train stations and I not sure how to difficult it might be to find the platforms? Some stations may be on different levels?

Can you give me any advise or suggestions please.

Thanks

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[Annika]

Reply 1 of 7 • 1 August 2019 at 15:15:21 #919118

Hi Tbone1311! The Swiss timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) is designed to ensure smooth transitions and displays train and platform changes that are doable. Generally, 7 minutes is enough. This should also go for your change in Brig, even though it’s a short walk from the Bahnhofplatz platform to the other platforms. All stations provide clear signs guiding travelers to the right platforms, and on multi-level stations you’ll find ramps, stairs and/or lifts. If you want to prepare thoroughly, you could even study the maps that are available for most larger railway stations. You’ll find them through http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/railway-stations.html, e.g. this one for Brig: http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/railway-stations/brig-station.html.

In some cases, a few minutes can be too tight, especially if you travel in a larger group or carry along a whole lot of luggage. If you don’t feel comfortable with the schedule presented by the timetable, you can catch an earlier train to allow for more time.

I hope this is reassuring!

[kim11]

Reply 2 of 7 • 1 August 2019 at 16:47:03 #919119

I know it seems nerve-racking but thousands of people make these connections every day! However, there are two important things you need to know to make this do-able for visitors (particularly those not accustomed to public transportation).

First, for journeys involving multiple changes you must know in advance which track (or platform) you are arriving on and which track your next train departs from. You don’t have time to figure it out after you’ve arrived. There are two ways to get this information. (It seems you may already know this based on your question but I’ll describe anyway.) One way is to request a printed timetable from ticket window staff when you buy your tickets. Another, perhaps even better, way is to download the excellent SBB app to your smartphone. Here you can check on timetables, arrival/departure tracks, and get up to the minute updates for schedule changes or construction delays (almost always known in advance). I highly recommend that you download the app and familiarize yourself with it before arriving in Switzerland.

Second, you, your traveling companions, and all of your luggage need to be standing at the train exit door when it pulls into the station. If you wait until the train stops to begin gathering your selves and your things you likely won’t make the connection. If you have lots of luggage, I recommend that one person get out onto the platform then receive the luggage being handed down by another.

[User]

Reply 3 of 7 • 1 August 2019 at 18:37:09 #919120

Hi Tbone1311 –

In addition to the excellent perspective and useful answers provided by Annika and Kim,

I’ll add a few comments,

1.- Using the timetable linked by Annika will allow you to see that for many (but not all) cases, there will be another train along in half an hour or an hour. The app mentioned by Kim lets you sort out alternate routes, as well, if you miss a connection. Th e Centovalli line does not run so frequently, but it is worth the effort ride it.

2.-Station maps are often provided in a couple of places on the SBB website. The first…when you set up a journey, scroll down to the bottom of the page and you’ll usually find station maps.

The second…on the SBB website under Stations and Services:

Use “Find your station”

http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services.html

3.- The only seriously multilevel station is Zürich HBf ( Hauptbahnhof, main station).

plans.trafimage.ch/zue rich-hb?lang=en&layer=zurich_a ussenplan&x=683159.61& y=248087.52

Here, click on Zürich:

maps.trafimage.ch/#/ch .sbb.netzkarte?layers=ch.sbb.bahnhofp laene.printprodukte&la ng=en&display_srs=EPSG :2056&zoom=2&x=675250. 00&y=232750.00&baselay ers=ch.sbb.netzkarte.r elief,ch.sbb.netzkarte .luftbild.group,ch.sbb .netzkarte.landeskarte ,ch.sbb.netzkarte.land eskarte.grau

Slowpoke

http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/railway-stations/trafimage/tra fimage-karten.html

You can make the connection times, because of excellent signage, but you should make sure that you know the contingency options, At that station, you are almost always able to catch a nother train on the same route in 30 minutes or one hour. Trains to the airport run 5 to 10 times per hour….

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 4 of 7 • 1 August 2019 at 23:22:17 #919121

All Swiss major stations have official minimum connecting times (MCT), planned out by the railway authorities carefully to be the correct amount of time in which passengers can comfortably make a connection with luggage etc. eg The MCT for Interlaken Ost is 5 minutes

Most major interchange stations in Switzerland now have ramps to make it easier to wheel luggage from platform to platform

It is worth remembering that psychologically humans tend to think time passes more quickly than it actually does in reality. In this case 7 minutes is actually quite a long time. Try sitting at home and actually timing 7 minutes – it’s longer than you imagine

On my daily commute I cross the whole of central London in not much more than 7 minutes.

[User]

Reply 5 of 7 • 2 August 2019 at 1:17:46 #919122

Hi 1960man –

<<“All Swiss major stations have official minimum connecting times (MCT),

planned out by the railway authorities carefully to be the correct

amount of time in which passengers can comfortably make a connection

with luggage etc. eg The MCT for Interlaken Ost is 5 minutes”>>

On the journey alluded to by Tbone 1311, unfortunately, not all stations are “Major.” Nor, are they Swiss.

Some years ago, I hauled luggage up and down major stairways, at Domodossola.

And, although the “railway authorities” may be Swiss, and thus almost infallible, they do plan for mostly Swiss customers. The Swiss are known for quaint customs, such as having the ability to walk at a reasonable pace. So, invoking the plans of those authorities may provide a bit less certainty than making a promise to travelers from overseas with too much luggage because they , perhaps, bring their own food, who read German with difficulty, and English perhaps not fluently.

Hence, contingency planning.

Slowpoke

[User]

Reply 6 of 7 • 2 August 2019 at 19:26:22 #919123

Thanks for all advise, appreciated

[cam223]

Reply 7 of 7 • 5 August 2019 at 21:01:39 #919124

We did the transfer with lots of luggage–snowboards and large suitcases at Brig. We were at the train door and ready to go. In the smaller stations, there isn’t any problem. Large stations like Zurich may present a problem–all the information and suggestions on this thread are very good. Check it out in advance and see what you are comfortable with and when the next train for your destination leaves the station.