6274 posts
Hi Reps23,
The Swiss Travel Pass is only valid in Switzerland. If you are travelling from Lyon to Montreux, only the Swiss portion is covered by the railpass. You will have to buy a ticket for your trip from Lyon to the Swiss border e.g Geneva or Basel. Similarly, if you are travelling from Lindau to Zurich with the Swiss Travel Pass, you need to buy a ticket from Lindau to the border down e.g St Margrethen or Buchs.
Please find information about how to use the Swiss Travel Pass here: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/howtouse
Information about tickets from France and Germany here:
http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/france/price
http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/germany/price
Regards,
Anna
8889 posts
If you travel from Lindau across to Rorschach on the Bodensee ferry the fare is discounted 50% with the Swiss Travel Pass.
72625 posts
As the name suggests the Swiss travel pass is only valid within Swiss borders (with a couple of minor exceptions due to border or track ownership quirks)
From Lyon you are in SNCF (French Railways) territory as far as Genève Cornavin. There you change into a Swiss internal train to Montreux
At Lindau, a Swiss locomotive takes over from German for technical reasons, but the line then traverses the edge of Austria before reaching the Swiss border station at St Margrethen which is where the STP becomes valid.
72625 posts
Thanks everyone for all your help. I have read and read and tried the spreadsheet but it is unfortunately become way too confusing. First I thought I should get a Eurail Global Pass. Now I think the Swiss travel pass for 7 days. Then I change my mind to the half price pass.
So this is what I will do. Point to Point tickets for Nice to Avignon, Point to Point tickets from Lyon to Geneva, point to point tickets for Lindau to Zurich. Then either the Swiss travel pass or Swiss Half Fare Pass of Switzerland travel.
Again thanks for trying to help.
Phyllis
72625 posts
Hello Phyllis,
Yes, choosing the best ticket/pass option is often a challenge, due to the offers being very varied and numerous.
One quick input, if you travel from abroad on a day when your Swiss Travel Pass will be active you ONLY need a ticket up to the border stop of Switzerland, from there your pass will cover the journey. Same is true if you hold the Swiss Half Fare Card, then the part of the journey IN Switzerland is already reduced. Find details below:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/validity
– http://www.myswissalps.com/swisshalffarecard/validity
You can use the timetable to find out which stop you’ll need a ticket for on either route:
– http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable
Get back to us for any further support if needed and enjoy your planning.
Best,
Steph