MySwissAlps.com includes Roger Sexton
Forum replies
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in reply to: Train from St Moritz to Paris on 31 January, 2027
Hello again
Regarding the question raised in your reply 4, I have just looked at http://www.sbb.ch for the journey on January 28th. There is only one possibility if you want to arrive in St Moritz ‘early pm’.Leave Paris Gare de Lyon at 07 18 arrive Zurich Hbf at 11 26. (TGV – compulsory reservation.)
11 38 IC3 from Zurich to Chur arrive 12 52. Across the platform at Chur to the
12 58 IR38 to St Moritz, arrive 14 55 (2 55 pm).Kind regards
Roger
in reply to: Train from St Moritz to Paris on 31 January, 2027
Hello Cobra
The only practical train route from St Moritz to Paris involves taking a French ‘TGV’ high-speed train from Zurich to Paris.
I just looked at http://www.sbb.ch for SUNDAY 31st January and there are convenient TGV trains from Zurich at 11 34 and 13 34. They take just over four hours.
Seat reservation on TGVs is compulsory. A Sunday at the end of January is going to be very busy, so book your seat as soon as possible.
It is essential that you do not miss your TGV at Zurich. So allow plenty of ‘buffer’ time at Zurich Hauptbahnhof.
If I were making this journey and I booked on the 11 34 I would leave St Moritz on the 07 05 IR38 train changing to an SBB IC train at Chur. Similarly, if I booked on the 13 34 I would leave St Mortiz at 09 05.
Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
in reply to: How to reach Thurauen Nature Center from Zurich?
Hello Joanie
How to get to Thurauen Nature Center
I consulted the Swiss Electronic timetable http://www.sbb.ch and typed in Zurch Hauptbahnhof to Thurauen Nature Center.
It immediately indicated that this attraction is at the village of FLAACH, about 20 miles north of Zurich on the east bank of the river Rhine.
The timetable gave me three possible ways of getting to Flaach for a journey leaving Zurich not earlier than 09 00. One routing I rejected as it takes longer than the other two.
Route via Henggart
Catch the 09 16 S12 train bound for Schaffhausen and get off at Henggart at 09 50.
Catch the 10 00 route 675 bus bound for Rafz and get off at Flaach Ziegelhűtte at 10 17. The nature center is a 556 metres walk from this stop.
Route via Rafz
Catch the 09 37 S9 train bound for Rafz getting off there at 10 15. Catch the 10 21 675 bus bound for Henggart and get off at Flaach Ziegelhűtte at 10 36
This pattern of service repeats itself every hour 365-days-a-year
For the return journey the bus to Rafz leaves at 18 minutes past each hour and the total journey will be 65 minutes. The bus to Henggart leaves at 36 minutes past the hour and the total journey will be 66 minutes
Public Transport Passes and Tickets
If you are investing in Swiss Travel Passes the STPs are of course valid on all regular Swiss trains and buses.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/
If you do not have STPs then the full one way single fare is 15.80 CH via Rafz and 18.00 CH via Henggart. (Expensive!)
?Combine the Rhine Falls with the Nature Center?
The Falls are a few miles north of Flaach. Take the bus from Flaach to Henggart and then a train northwards to Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/rhine-falls/
If you plan to make this combined trip and are not investing in Swiss Travel Passes buy Zurich Verkehrsverbund (ZVV) ‘All Zones’ one-day tickets for the day of your excursion.
(Note that an alternative route from Flaach to the Rhine Falls is via Rafz, taking a train from Rafz to Neuhausen. If you have STPs, they will be valid using this route. The ZVV all zones all-day ticket will NOT be valid for the Rafz to Neuhausen section of the journey.)
Very best wishes
Roger
in reply to: 3 days in Pontresina in October
Hello Poorvi
Further to Anna’s very helpful reply, get out a good map of Graubunden canton and then note the following points.
Landwasswerwelt centred on the Landwasser viaduct is close to FILISUR. So on your journey from Chur to Pontresina, break your journey at Filisur.
Sils Maria is reached by bus from St Moritz.
Muottas Muragl is a short (level) hike or bus or train ride going north from Pontresina.
Bernina Line Diavolezza, Alp Grum and Psochiavo are all stops on the Bernina Line. There is a very attractive lake SOUTH of Poschiavo. Shortly after this lake you reach the the famous circular viaduct at Brusio.
Public Transport Pass. If you are not investing in a Swiss Travel Pass consider investing in a both zones Graubunden Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/graubundenpass/).
Note that there are some very scenic bus and train rides in the Chur area. They will all be covered by the Graubunden pass. Also, both the Swiss Travel Pass and Graubunden Pass as valid to Tirano.Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
Hello again Sally B
(Like andrew) I am a British ‘senior’ who has been visiting Switzerland regularly for many years….
On reading your thread earlier today my initial reaction was that I could not say anything useful. However, casting my mind back, I have from time-to-time bought books in Switzerland. To be more precise books on Swiss public transport; books written in German and/or French. Books difficult to obtain in Britain.
About 30 minutes ago I spotted that andrew had filed a reply, focusing on his recent purchase of a Mondaine clock. His last sentence is ‘Note that, when I had looked, UK supply was limited.’ [My emphasis.]
My conclusion is simple. Buy Swiss-made items in Switzerland if they are difficult to obtain in Britain.
Best wishes for your holiday
Roger
Hello again Ram.
Three more points supplementing my previous reply.
Two Stations in Basel
Note that Basel has two main line stations. stations.
‘Bad‘ is short for Badischer Bahnhof. This station is north of the city centre. It is owned and run by German Railways (‘DB’). It is German in its design, and has German style platforms. Most trains serving this station are German. But there are some Swiss trains, running local trains under contract to the German ‘Land’ of Baden-Wurttemberg.There is a ‘Verbindungsbahn’ (jointly owned by German and Swiss Railways) leading round to the SBB station to the south of the city centre. All trains to/from Switzerland (and France) use the SBB station.
Buses Geneva Airport to/from Chamonix
There is a service which runs all year provided by ‘chamexpress’. Go to http://www.alpybus.com/chamexpress. I am sure this service would carry heavy luggage such as baclpacks.
Another Train Route Geneva (Airport) to/from Chamonix. From Chamonix go via St Gervais-les-Bains and Geneva city centre.
Best wishes
RogerHello Ram
First, I need to stress that, as Chamonix is outside Switzerland, detailed information about that resort is outside the scope of MySwissAlps.
Are Geneve, and Geneva Airport stations 2 different locations?.
Yes. The train from Renens will stop first at the city centre station, and then terminate at the airport.Understand there are shuttles that run from Geneva (??) to Chamonix Sud.
I believe coaches/buses operate between Geneva Airport and Chamonix. Suggest you search the Chamonix website for details. (The coaches/buses may run only in winter.)
(If I were going from Basel to Chamonix, I would go by train, changing at Visp, Martigny and Vallorcine.)Any suggestions on how to spend 2 days in Chamonix will be greatly appreciated.
Again, I suggest you search the Chamonix website.
However, I do recall that fifty years ago I had a day excursion from my Swiss base in Martigny to Chamonix. I took the train via Vallorcine, and then took the cable car up the Aiguille du Midi. I thoroughly enjoyed both the train and cable car rides!Heading back to Geneva Airport on the 19th and target to hit the Airport by 11 AM
If there is not a convenient coach/bus, suggest you go by train changing at Vallorcine and Martigny.
Kind regards
RogerHello again Janelle
We planned to depart from Chur and I was hoping to get on the Allegra unit that pulls the Bernina Express. I guess with a STP we can line up at the station and try our luck and if unsuccessful get the next regional train.
On the current timetable the Bernina Express leaves Chur at 08 17. The draft for the timetable starting on December 13th indicates that it will be at 08 17 on the new timetable!
Swiss stations do not have ticket barriers. On the day of your Bernina trip be on the relevant platform (probably 13) by about 07 50. Wait towards the western end of the platform for the train to come in from the sidings. I would wait close to the steps/escalators which lead up to the bus. station.
How long are you staying in Chur? Have you seen the thread I started about the Bernina Railway on April 12th this year?
Best wishes
RogerHello Janelle
The timetable provides for three three types of train running on the Bernina Railway between St Moritz, Pontresina and Tirano.
They are the Bernina Express, which runs two to four times a day depending on the season
The RE9 trains which run every two hours St Moritz to Tirano, omitting some of the smaller stations.
The R9 trains which run every two hours St Moritz to Tirano, and serve ALL stations. Taken together, the RE9 and R19 provide an approximately hourly service.
(I do not expect this pattern to change with new timetable starting in December.)The Allegra Units
These are three-car electric units with very powerful motors. (Needed to cope with the steep gradients.) These units act as the locomotive, and pull (never push) ALL the trains on the Bernina Railway.
Even when pulling the Bernina Express, the Allegra unit can be used by passengers without seat reservations. With respect to the Bernina Express, the local population are well aware of this, and will head to the Allegra unit at the front of the train! (There is no ‘infotainment’ and no on board refreshments.)I am British and regularly visit Switzerland always investing in a first class Swiss Travel Pass. My experience of travelling in Allegra units is very positive. During daylight hours the blinds are left ‘up’ – so you do almost get a ‘cab ride’.
I am not sure what your brother means by the ‘real thing’. For me the Bernina Express (and the Glacier Express) are not the ‘real thing’. Real Swiss trains are those where you mix with the local population.
Best wishes
RogerHello munish_k
Welcome to MySwissAlps
Question 1.
I am assuming that by jaunfraugh you mean Jungfraujoch, by zematt you mean Zermatt, that by Maureen you mean Műrren and that by mt titles you mean Mount Titlis (near Engelberg).
This itinerary is certainly OK, except that a day trip to Mount Titlis would be quite a long day trip from Interlaken. The journey back would be in the dark.
Question 2 Which Public Transport Pass(es) Should You Invest In?
This is a difficult question. You may have to do some quite complex mathematics.
How are you getting to and from Interlaken? You mention Eurail Pass. That would only be sensible if you are visiting at least one other country in addition to Switzerland.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/eurail-global-pass/
Swiss Travel Pass(STP) needs to be considered if you are making a number of longer distance trips within Switzerland.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/
Half Fare Card(HFC) together with a Jungfrau Travel Pass needs to be considered.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/jungfrau-travel-pass/Half Fare Card together with a Berner Oberland Pass(BOP) needs to be considered
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/
If your ‘family’ includes child(ren) between six and sixteen then if you invest in either a STP or a HFC you are entitled to a FREE Swiss Family Card(FC). This FC will entitle you to take the child(ren) FREE on all forms of Swiss public transport – even the lake boats, cable cars and buses.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/tickets/discount/
Question 3 Accommodation
I would suggest you look at some of the smaller places close to Interlaken; for example Wilderswil, Lauterbrunnen, Spies or Brienz. (Spiez is a very good public transport ‘hub’.)
Question 4 Other suggestions
The boats on beautiful Lake Brienz will be running on December 5th and 6th; but not after the 6th.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-brienz/
There should be a boat operating on Lake Thun every day.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-thun/
If you invest in a JTP go on the line Grindelwald to First.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/grindelwald-first/
If you invest in a BOP, go up the line from Mürren to Schilthon.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/schilthorn/
If you do go Zermatt, go up the Gornergrat for the best views of the Matterhorn. (50% discount with STP and with HFC.)
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/gornergrat/
Polite Request
In any future discussion please be careful with your spelling of place names.
Kind regards
Roger
Hello G Anna
The reply form Gramcookie clearly relates to both my reply and that from moderator Annika. It is brim full of useful suggestions!
Here is the reply with my comments.
Gramcookie’s reply. My comments are in squared brackets [ … ]
Lucky you to be going for 7 days to Davos. I love Davos (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/davos/).
I have been spending holidays there for the past 20+ years. In Most of the mountain railways, gondolas, etc, close down by about October 11. Schatzalp will remain open for the entire month. Weather will be cool verging on cold, and there may be snow in the higher elevations. You probably should plan on doing lower altitude walks. [I can confirm that Schatzalp runs until October 25th]I was just there in early June – it snowed a couple of times, but only high up. If it is possible, I would suggest one of my very favorite hikes. From the Davos Dorf train station take the bus to Durbdden. From Dubodden walk down through beautiful but sometimes very rocky trails to Teufi and then continue from there back to Davos. Check first to see if Durbodden has received any snow. It is quite high up. If you want to walk up, rather than down, you can do the walk from Davos to Teufi and you will not encounter snow.
Take the funicular up to Schatzalp, there are several wonderful trails up there, plus you don’t want to miss the Schatzalp hotel where 100 years ago, European royalty suffering from TB came to rest and recuperate. You can take the funicular back down or walk down, it’s an easy to moderate walk.
The walk around Lake Davos is easy and absolutely gorgeous. don’t miss it. follow it with a walk on the Hohenweg, a beautiful walk above Davos. From this walk you will see paths leading to Schatzalp, so you can experience the hike up the mountain.
The walk along the river is always very pleasant. At the end, you will see, up to the right, a church on a hilltop. this is the frau munster and it is worth a visit. Take the bus to Clavadel, get off at the hospital, take the path near the bus stop that goes down hill. Walk past the horse farm and towards the signs for the Friedhof am Wald, ‘cemetery in the woods’. A nice walk and a very charming cemetery to visit. From there walk down past the armory and you will find yourself back at the river where you can walk back to Davos or take the bus back.
The local buses, by the way, are free with the premium card, which anyone who stays overnight in Davos, whether at an apartment or a hotel, will receive. I don’t think you will need more than the half fare card for your trip. [if you are making a number of longer trips, consider investing in the Graubunden Pass.]
I would suggest as an outing, going to St. Moritz, walk around the lake, then take the path to Pontresina where you will emerge at the railway station. From there you can take the Val Rosegg walk and take the horse drawn wagon back, or visa versa, wagon first and walk back.
While in St. Moritz, be sure to go to Hanselmanns, for coffee and cake.
The Bernina Express (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/bernina-express/) is a magnificent train ride that ends in Tirano Italy. You can also do this using local trains directly from Davos. [I personally never use the Bernina Express. I always use the local ‘regional’ trains.}
You might want to take the train from Davos to Monstein and visit the highest brewery in Europe.
Don’t miss the Kirchner museum in Davos. Also, I suggest you pay a visit to the Davos tourism office for other local museums and tours.
There is so much to do and enjoy in Davos. I am quite certain that you will have a wonderful holiday.
Very best wishes from Roger
in reply to: Tickets to/from Como San Giovanni via SBB
Hello Cabinjon
Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/) NOT valid to Como
While the STP is valid to a number of destinations in Italy, notably Domodossola, Tirano and Mals/Malles (at the end of the spectacular 811 bus route), it is not valid to Como. Get the SBB booking office at Luzern to sell you the tickets for Chiasso to Como and Como to Chiasso. You will need to give that office the approximate time at which you want to travel.
Trains which go Lugano-Chiasso-Como
Avoid the EC trains as they are very busy and seat reservations are compulsary for cross boarder journeys. Use the excellent ‘TILO’ local trains organised jointly by the canton of Ticino and the province of Lombardia. Going south from Lugano the S10 trains go only as far as Como. The RE80 trains (which can be very busy) go though to Milano Centrale. Going north from Como the S10s run to Bellinzona; the RE80s are bound for Locarno.
the Italian train system, ticketing, and validation rules and procedures convinced me it is nowhere near as straightforward and coordinated as the Swiss system.
One of the reasons why Swiss PUBLIC TRANSPORT (not just the trains) is the best in the world is the co-ordinated ticketing system.
Kind regards
RogerHello Yup
Get out a map of the Graubunden canton of Switzerland.
Note that Switzerland has given almost all its trains route numbers! (Just like buses in cities!) This system is very helpful.
Going via Landquart
Going from Bernina Diavolezza to Chur via LANDQUART there is only one possible itinerary. Here is a specimen journey, on the assumption you are travelling in the next few weeks.
12 34 RE9 train Diavolezza to Pontresina, arrive there 12 53. (The RE9 will be going to St Moritz.)
From Pontresina catch the 13 05 R15 (Rfifteen) train bound for Scuol-Tarasp, getting off at Saglians at 14 03.
At Saglians you go straight across the platform and catch the 14 05 RE4 train to Landquart, arrive 15 10.
From Landquart catch any train for the short ride to Chur. They are VERY frequent!
It is more scenic via St Moritz and Filisur
(WARNING There is a problem with this route today, 13 August. Consult http://www.sbb.ch)
For example, catch the 12 34 RE9 from Diavolezza to St Moritz, arrive there 13 11.
The take the 14 05 IR38 train to Chur via Filisur. The spectacular Landwasser viaduct comes just after Filisur. Sit on the left hand side in the direction of travel.
Best wishes
Roger
Hello Miltiades
First a polite request. Do not write your contributions to this forum in block capitals. Sentences written all in block capitals are difficult (and tiring) to read.
Wednesday 19th August
I am assuming that you are still resident in Cyprus. While Cyprus is in the EU, it is not in ‘Schengenland’. Switzerland is not in the EU but is in Schengenland! It follows that on arrival at Zurich airport you will have to go through the European Entry and Exit system ‘EES’ and there may be delays.
If you really want to travel to St Moritz on the first available service then you will need a full price ticket – 84 CHF http://www.sbb.ch is telling me that the current price of Saver Day Pass Tickets. Is 106 CHF, so that is not a sensible option.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/saver-day-pass/
If you want to buy a point-to-point Supersaver ticket you will have to allow yourself a considerable ‘safety margin’ for delays. I would suggest three hours. The SBB timetable is quoting me 56.40 CHF if you leave Zurich Airport at 18 15. You would reach St Moritz at 21 58.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/supersaver-ticket/
Saturday 22nd August
Unfortunately you do not indicate the time of your flight out of Zurich. I would again give yourself a ‘safety margin’ of three hours. For the moment I am assuming that your flight is at about 18 00 or later.
Consulting http://www.sbb.ch, if you left St Moritz on the 11 05 IR38 train and changed (in the usual way) at Chur and Zurich Hauptbahnhof, you would reach Zurich airport at 14 44 with plenty of time to go through the necessary procedures.
An ordinary full price ticket is of course 84 CHF. A supersaver ticket is (currently) 65.40 CHF and a Saver Day Pass is 106 CHF.
A Saver Day Pass would be the right choice if you have got the whole day at your disposal and you want to make the detour via Lucerne (called Luzern in German).
Best wishes
Roger
Hello again G Anna
Welcome back!I am not qualified to advise on hiking possibilities around Davos. I hope others will help. (Note that in October, some of the cable cars will not be operating.)
Regarding excursions, Davos is in the centre of Switzerland’s largest canton, Graubunden, and some spectacular excursions are possible by both bus and train. On this website, go to the ‘train passes’ section and research the Graubunden Pass. I think you should seriously consider investing in the ‘both zones’ version of this pass. I would stress that this pass is valid on BUSES and trains.
The jewel in the crown is probably the ride to St Moritz by train, changing at Filsur; you can then continue to Tirano using the sensational Bernina line.
For a very exciting bus ride first go to Zernez via Klosters by train. Then catch the 811 bus over the Ofen Pass to Mals. Like Tirano, Mals is just across the boarder with Italy.
Another exciting bus ride is to to go Chur via Lenzerheide.. There is also an occasional bus service to Susch, over the Fluela Pass, but that only runs until 25th October.Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
Hello again Komal
Thank you for your kind words in your reply three.
In my reply two to the thread started by Dixies Family I did indeed write
I am praying those dates are NOT at the end of September!)The reason I wrote that comment has nothing to do with Switzerland.
If you look first at the Dixies Family’s ‘thread’ you will see that it includes two nights in MUNICH. And in the journey from Wengen to Fussen (in southern Bavaria) discussed in my reply two, one leg of the journey, that from Zurich to Buchloe, will be on a very busy Zurich to Munich Eurocity train.
The explanation for my comment is the misnamed Munich ‘OKTOBERFEST’
This is a huge beer festival which takes place every year in Munich at the end of September. Great for beer lovers…. But for everybody else….
Kind regards
Roger
Hello again Komal
- Bernina Express: I’ll be traveling from Lugano to Tirano to Thusis and have already made a 1st Class seat reservation for the train portion. I plan to purchase the route-specific point-to-point Class Upgrade later. Do I need to purchase the upgrade for my son as well, or only for the adults?
You will need three seat reservations on the Lugano to Tirano Bernina Express BUS. Recent contributions to this forum suggest that the bus can get fully booked. So, if you have not already done so, make those bus reservations as soon as possible.
https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/bernina-express/
On the Bernina Express TRAIN you will of course need three first class seat reservations, But while your son does need a seat reservation, for him you do not need to pay for an ‘upgrade’
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/train/classes/
2 Bern to Locarno via Domodossola: We’ll be traveling from Bern to Locarno via Domodossola on September 27. Do we need a reservation for the Domodossola–Locarno section?
September 27 is a Sunday. Seat reservation is not compulsory for the Domodossola to Locarno section. BUT the train is likely to be very busy, so I would strongly recommend seat reservations.https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/centovalli-railway/
3 Zurich Airport & EES: What has been the recent experience at Zurich Airport for entering and exiting Switzerland under the new EES system? Is there any indication of how long the process is currently taking for first-time travelers from North America?
I am British resident in England. Rather surprisingly there has been not much recent discussion in this forum about EES.I arrived at Zurich Airport from London at about 15 00 on Thursday June 18. (Passengers on all flights from outside ‘Schengen’ go to the same ‘Arrivals Two’ area so it is immaterial that you are from North America and I am from Britain.)
Now, unlike a previous experience on December 22nd 2025, there was a large but well organised crowd waiting to be processed. There was a ‘marshall’ organising the queues
Unlike what MAY be happening elsewhere, there was no automated ‘do-it-yourself’ system. There were about ten staffed booths which each had their own separate queue. The staff (in Zurich police uniforms) were polite, efficient and very thorough. Unfortunately I was allocated to a slow moving queue, and it was just over 30 minutes before I was processed. I had a brand new passport and I was processed in just over a minute.
I left on June 30th, going through passport control at about 07 30 for a flight due to take off at 10 05. There was no queue. I was processed in less than a minute.
My passport was not stamped in either direction.
Best wishes
Roger
Hello Daisy
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
What (electronic) timetables have you been looking at? What days have you been inserting as your travel days?
European PUBLIC TRANSPORT timetables will change on the weekend of 13th/14th December. So any times which are valid today may not be valid when you are travelling (around christmas).
Out of interest I went into the http://www.sbb.ch electronic PUBLIC TRANSPORT timetable, and keyed in an imaginary journey on 10 December leaving Innsbruck at 09 00 bound for St Moritz. It gave the following result. But first get out a very good map which shows western Austrian and eastern Switzerland.
http://www.sbb.ch told me to leave Innsbruck at 09 22 on an RE1 train bound for Landeck-Zams, arriving there at 10 24.
It then said catch the 10 45 number 273 bus (bound for Mals) to Pfunds Kajetansbrücke, a rather remote stop which is to the west of the main village. You get to the stop at 11 20.
Catch the 11 40 921 bus (bound for Ftan) getting off at Scuol-Tarasp station at 12 27. Take the very short walk to platform one, and catch the waiting R15 train leaving at 12 33 for Pontresina. You get off at Samedan at 13 43.
Straight across the platform will be the 13 48 IR38 train to St Moritz, arrive 13 55. Now I was delighted with this result. But as you will see from the map, this routing is very direct! Indeed it follows the valley of the river INN the whole way!
I would add that I have been travelling in the Alps for 55 years! In August 1975 I travelled from Landeck to Scoul-Tarsap by bus = it was very slow and indirect but I did not have to change.
In May 2023 I travelled from Mals to Landeck on bus route 273. (Amazingly, the Swiss Travel Pass is valid on this route.)
For the moment I am going to leave matters there.
Best wishes for your detailed planning.
Roger
Hello again
First note that the train you will be travelling on is an Austrian train, called a ‘RailJet Express’. But Swiss tickets such as Saver Day Passes are valid on it for the Zurich to St Gallen section of your journey. It follows that you only need a travel ticket St Gallen to Salzburg.
As the train is Austrian, I would use the OBB website.
Seat Reservation. The RJX train is likely to be very busy the whole way. (The RJX train also serves Innsbruck, Linz and Vienna!) Try and get a reservation (separate from your travel ticket) Zurich to Salzburg .
If the OBB website does not allow you to do this, get a reservation St Gallen to Salzburg. Just be on the platform at Zurich some minutes before 10 34 or 14 34 to grab the allocated seat for the first part of your journey! (The electronic display system will say that the seat is reserved St Gallen to Salzburg.)Best wishes
RogerHello again Brad
. Now I need help navigating what direction to go because I have been informed that there is train construction going on at the border of Austria after Buchs. This gives me a little anxiety. Could you please advise if this is true and how I should plan the best route that day? Thank you so much for your help!
Get out a good map.
For the next few months, the Austrian operated line from Buchs to Feldkirch is closed for engineering work.
Direct trains from Zurich to Salzburg will leave at 10 32 and 14 32. But they will go via St Gallen and Dornbirn, reaching the normal route at Feldkirch. They reach Salzburg at 17 02 and 21 04 respectively.
For the 10 32 departure you will need to leave Wengen at 07 13. Changing at Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken Ost you get to Zurich at 09 58.
For the 14 32 departure you will need to leave Wengen at 11 11. Changing at Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken Ost you get to Zurich at 13 58.
Whichever departure you choose you A SEAT RESERVATION WILL BE ESSENTIAL from Zurich to Salzburg. I would get this reservation as soon as you can.
https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-guide/austria-switzerland/
On the 10 32 or 14 32 your Saver Day Pass will be valid only to SAINT GALLEN. You will need separate travel tickets St Gallen to Salzburg via Feldkirch and Innsbruck.
https://www.myswissalps.com/details/saver-day-pass-validity/
Best wishes
Roger
