Understanding bus fares in Swiss timetable
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Grand Swiss Adventure 2022
Hello myswissalps
After a gap of 4 years since my last Swiss Adventure, I’m looking forward greatly to a month in Switzerland (September), exploring as many new byways as I can. I’m repeating the pattern of 2018, which I enjoyed so much: a one-week package tour from the UK, staying in lovely Leysin, followed by planned abandonment there so that I can start a 22-day Interrail ‘Global’ ticket, but using it almost entirely in Switzerland (rather than buzz from Finland to Portugal) before a quick return via Metz, Lille and the Eurostar.
I love the ease of moving around Switzerland with Interrail, especially into little known areas and hidden valleys, mostly away from the tourist centres. This really is an adventure, as I’m 75 and will be travelling solo, with a smattering of German, a bit more French and hardly any Italian, but it was a breeze for me 4 years ago.
My roving itinerary will take me to Leissigen (near Interlaken), Balerna (Ticino), Aigle, Koblenz, Buchs SG, Tirano and Mörigen (near Biel), with 3 or 4 nights in several places and lots of rail exploration. As I’m on a tight budget with such a long trip, I’m staying in homely AirBnBs, with one budget hotel in Tirano.
There are a few limitations, such as unavailability on buses, but this does not worry me at all – I’ll be hoovering up the train miles and branch lines, dropping off at a rural request stop and walking to the next. However, my itinerary does throw up a few queries.
Understanding bus fares.
I’ll need to use and pay for two buses on my trip:
Bus query 1: Interlaken West to Leissigen (now that Leissigen station has closed). The SBB website shows bus route 60, at ten minutes to the hour, cost from CHF 2.80. However, delving deeper, it turns out that there’s a Libero Individual ticket for zones 740 and 750, valid 60 minutes, cost CHF 4.60. What does this mean? Without a half fare tariff will the cost of my single bus ride therefore be CHF 9.20? Such a pity that the bus service doesn’t count as a rail replacement service.
Other queries – does the driver accept either cash or contactless card payments for the journey?
Thankfully, a free return journey may be possible (thanks to Interrail-valid sailings on Lake Thun – I think!) on the morning ferry from Leissigen (See) to Interlaken West, thence via East Station to Luzern. The timings seem a bit tight – Interlaken West (See) arrive 10.49, Interlaken West station depart 10.53, Interlaken East arrive 10.58, depart for Luzern 11.04, but I shouldn’t be surprised if it’s do-able. Are the Lake Thun sailings pretty reliable for timing?
Bus query 2: I plan to travel from Neuchâtel to Buttes by train, arriving 10.25. There’s a 10.28 bus, route B392, to Ste Croix, tickets priced at ‘from CHF 2.40’ single. Looking deeper, there also seems to be a Mobilis ticket, cost CHF 3.70, so perhaps I need to pay CHF 7.40 without half fare discount? I’m sure the 3 minute connection will be honoured, especially as the next bus is three hours later! The bus link will allow me to travel over two lovely branch lines.
Grateful for your advice
John
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