Good afternoon- we are a group of 6 looking for the smartest travel from the Brixlegg area to Lucerne. We will be returning a car from time spent in Austria and wish to use the train. I see Innsbruck may be an option but looks like the only choice is to go through Zurich first? Any other options I’m not seeing? The one way rental is already costly and taking it to Lucerne seems foolish with the border fee.
Yes, you will have to transfer in Zürich. I can not see where there should be a problem. If the train from Innsbruck should be delayed and you missed your connection, you just take the next train. There are two trains per hour.
The trains from Innsbruck to Switzerland terminate at Zürich HB. They start in Vienna and come via Salzburg before Innsbruck, they run roughly ever 2 hours. Then it is only another hour to Luzern, 2 trains per hour.
"looks like the only choice is to go through Zurich first?" - do you have some objection to going via Zürich? It is the shortest route.
Information about the trains here: https://www.seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Innsbruck.htm#Innsbruck-Switzerland
Thanks for the advice. We don’t really have an objection for going through Zurich, just weren’t sure if we were navigating wrong as it is our first time traveling there. It seems like it makes good sense and simple to jump on a train to Lucerne. It will be nice to let someone else do the driving!