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How long does it take to switch platform in Geneva CFF train station – Platform 8 to Platform 6 ?? I will be reaching Geneva CFF station at 10:19 AM(Platform 8) and I need to catch a train to Montreux at 10:30 AM(Platform 6).
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Hello Prasadj and Welcome to MySwissAlps,
11 minutes should be ample. You can find a map of the station at http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/railway-stations/geneva-station.html.
Thank you so much!! 🙂 🙂
HI Prasad
This is a very frequent question on our site – there is no need for you to worry as the Swiss travel system is made with this in mind. You will find more details on this link http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable under “tight connections” (scroll down to view).
Have a great trip!
Maria.
Sorry Maria, but this is bad advice in this instance.
That is because Platform 8 at Genève Cornavin (which I first set foot on 58 years ago…) is a French platform. If a train arrives late from France the Swiss will not always hold the connection (because the Swiss trains are so much more frequent it is not considered necessary to hold some trains given that another similar train will be along with perhaps 30 minutes at most.
Regarding the original question, physically it takes about 5 minutes to walk from platform 8 to platform 6. This is nearly always fine, but you do walk through a national border customs hall to exit platform 8 so there is an outside chance some sort of unscheduled security check could be in place. Extremely rare but possible. As stated above a much more likely problem is the late arrival of the train from France.
Hi 1960man
Great that you have such detailed knowledge of the platforms to point this out! However as you say the route to Montreux from Geneva is quite frequent so should not be a problem.
Prasad, to check the trains and frequency between Geneva and Montreux you can use the timetable: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable
Maria.
Thank you so much Maria 🙂
Thank you, 1960 man.. I will keep that in mind while planning the schedule for the day.. I was planning on taking a MOB panaromic train from Montreux to Zweisimmen. I will reach Geneva at 10:19 AM, I thought if I could catch 10:30 am Geneva to Montreux train, I could board the 11:44 AM Panaromic train to zweisimmen.. now, I think it’s safer to plan for 2:44 pm MOB panoramic train. I have a Swiss pass for 8 days, but I want to reserve tickets for montreux to zweisimmen..
You will only miss the connection at Genève if the TGV arrives severely delayed. A few minutes late and CFF might hold the 10.30 for a few minutes. In any case it’s your choice depending on how much time you have.
If you delayed your MOB train even later (eg 15.44) you would even have time to squeeze in a ride up to Rochers de Naye and back
Some personal observations:
you don’t absolutely need to use the panoramic train on the MOB. Swiss trains have large windows, even if not officially panoramic. The key element of a ‘panoramic’ coach is ‘toplight’ windows above your head but in practice very few of the major views from panoramic trains are directly above your head, so the view through the normal side part of windows is normally fine.
You will get roughly the same scenic experience from any train on the MOB and reservation is not obligatory
Here is the timetable PDF for the MOB:
http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/ fileadmin/fap_pdf_fiel ds/2019/120.pdf
It is very scenic, but the MOB route is far from being the most spectacular (although any dubbing of this nature is going to subjective and personal) in Switzerland.
Than you so much 1960 man, I like the 15:44 MOB plan better .. 🙂 🙂 Will try to visit Rochers-de-Naye, looks interesting…
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