Feb 22, 2016 - 10:52 PM
Here's a detailed summary of the trip. It's really VERY easy, even for jet-lagged visitors!
The SBB trains depart directly from the Zurich airport (“Flughafen”).When you get off the plane and clear customs, simply follow the “Bahn” signs to get to the station downstairs. Once there, buy and/or have your discount travelcard validated at any ticket window. (This is important – if you board the train without having your card validated at the window you can be subject to a 180 Euro fine.) Ask for a printed timetable for your trip to Lauterbrunnen. That way you will know which track you are coming in on and where your next train departs from. Trains connecting to Lauterbrunnen leave at least once an hour. You don’t need reservations as the trains departing from the airport are usually pretty empty. They pick up lots of passengers along on the way, many at the main train station (“Hauptbahnhof”) which is your first stop. Food and drinks are available on all long haul trains, or you can buy something to take on-board with you at one of the many markets at the Zurich airport. Tip: take the escalator up one level from the ticket windows to find a nice large supermarket where the selection is better (and the prices less) than thesmaller shops and stands in the station. The train journey to Lauterbrunnen takes about three or so hours and is beautiful, particularly the last hour when youtravel right by the lakes (it’s amazing how close the tracks are to the water,sometimes it looks like you’re floating!). Thetrip usually requires two switches: usually one at Spiez or Berne, and always at Interlaken. There are assistants at every Gleis (track) to help make sure you get on the right train. There are a couple of spots that are a bit tricky. The first tricky spot is Interlaken, where there are twostops – Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost (East). Stay on the train until you get to Ost, which is the last stop for the SBB. There you will change to the BOB train bound for Lauterbrunnen. This is the second tricky spot as the same train is also bound for Grindelwald; it stops and splits in a little place called Zweilütschinen (“Two Rivers”). One half of the train proceeds to Lauterbrunnen,where you want to go, and the other half goes to Grindelwald, where you don’t.So, you need to make sure you get on the correct end of the train in Interlaken. It is well marked and there are many assistants to help out so be sure to ask if you have any questions. They spend their entire day trying to keep tourists on the proper end of the train so don’t be shy.
