Zurich airport-Kandersteg: platform display board
LeeAnn is traveling from Zurich Flughafen to Kandersteg on August 18 and is seeking clarification on train symbols, particularly regarding routes with multiple destinations and platform displays. She wants to understand how to identify the correct sections of the train and the information displayed on departure boards to ensure she boards the right train.
- Look for platform indicators that help you identify the correct section of the train for your destination.
- Trains with multiple destinations will be marked with a branching arrow symbol and clear announcements to guide you.
- Always check the display inside the train for your specific stops and destinations to avoid confusion.
- If unsure, don’t hesitate to ask train conductors for help at any time.
- Consider getting a Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel on trains, which can simplify your journey.
AI-generated summary-
Hello,
On August 18, I will be traveling from Zurich Flughaven to Kandersteg and the SBB site indicates my route in the attached picture.
Can someone please explain the symbol and “from Spiez as RE 4271 heading towards Brig” and the symbol that indicates “train with multiple destinations: Pls. observe indications on coaches”. I have found through research that, “There are a few trains that split during their journey. They stop at a station along the way and split in two sections: one section continues to one town, the other to another town and different sections of the platform will take you to different stations so you should be seated in the section bound for your destination. If a train has multiple destinations, you will see so at the platform display and in/on the train itself”. I have tried to find a picture/example of this situation and/or a verbal explanation but to no avail.
Also, I have attached another example of a platform display board. Can someone please explain the information indicated? I understand the following:
IC61 is the type of train
08:56 is the departure time
Interlaken Ost is the destination station
Liestal, Olten, Bern, Spiez are the stops along the route
Yet what I don’t understand:
The ABCD’s
The 264, 263, 262’s, etc
The 1 & 2’s I believe are 1st and 2nd class
Hopefully this will get me started to understand where we need to stand & sit. Thanks so much!
LeeAnn (libbynomore)
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Hi Leeann,
You have understood correctly in regard to your first question. There was no attachment for this one though? Please re-send before I respond. Thanks.
Your second question:
The ABCD’s that you will see on most train platforms in Switzerland. Each section of the train is broken down by the letters A, B, C, D. This is to help you board the train at the appropiate section of the train. If for example, you knew you wanted to board 1st class. If on the display board, you saw that 1st class is going be located between sections A and B on the train platform, you would want to be stood in the section A and B.
Another example if you wanted to board with your bike. There is sometimes a designated carriage/coach which allows bikes. This again could be indicated by using A, B, C, D so you can board comfortably.
The numbers you see are most likely to be carriage numbers so you can identify which carriage you need, if you had made a reservation for a seat.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thanks Yolanda for the answer about the platform display board. Yet can you can tell me what the 264, 263, etc numbers are for?
Also, I’m not sure what happened to the other upload but I’ll try again. I’m wondering how the the display board, as well as how the platform itself, will look when we have a train that has “multiple destinations” and one that the schedule says, “from Spiez as RE 4271 heading towards Brig”.
Thanks so much!
Attachments:
Hi Leeann,
Those numbers, I am pretty sure are the carriage/coach numbers to the train.
In regard to trains that have multiple destinations.
“A dividing train is a train which divides into two separate train compositions en route. These units serve different destination stations. In short: a train with two destinations. You can identify dividing trains by the symbol of a branching arrow provided in the train information in the SBB Mobile app and on the SBB website. “
All information would be displayed in/on the train. Additional information can be found in the below link:
Also, you can always ask the conductor(s) for assistance if you are unsure if you are boarding in the correct section of the train.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thanks again Yolanda. Sounds like I just need to ask someone for assistance when I get there.
LeeAnn
Hi Yolanda and anyone else looking for an answer to my question. I finally found this:
Explanation for the notation “From Spiez as RE 4271 heading towards Brig”:
The train from Bern is RE4171 but then gets split in Spiez, and there the section to Brig proceeds with its own number RE4271.
Explanation for the notation “Train with multiple destinations: Pls. observe indications on coaches”:
Yet train numbers are not even mentioned on the departure boards. What you are looking for in Bern is an RE with destination Brig/Zweisimmen as this train has a section going to Zweisimmen and another to Brig. This will be mentioned on the departure board, on the platform indicators, on the train itself and on displays in the train itself.
Then on the platform there are indicators that show you which part of the platform to wait depending on where you are going. Then you need to check on the actual scrolling sign on each train carriage to see which train is taking you to your destination. The destinations are also marked on the trains, and in the trains. And there will be announcements. You really will need to willfully ignore a lot of information in order to be on the wrong train. Do not worry. It will be very clear to you once you are here.
Hope this helps for future reference!
Thank you very much Leeann,
This is great information.
Enjoy your trip here.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi LeeAnn,
Thanks for that good bit of info.
You’ll see when you’re on board that all trains will have a monitor (basically a TV ecreen) that will have all the stops listed, times, etc. Also, as far as trains dividing, when tou go from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen, that train usually will divide at Zweilutschinen, with one going to Grindelwald and the other one to Lauterbrunnen. So you do have to make sure you’re on the right carriages on that one. Have a great trip.
Regards,
Danielsan
Thanks for the tip Danielsan! We will definitely have to be alert during our train travel:)
LeeAnn
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