Basel to Colmar by train - ticket validation?

I have just replied to your other post about train tickets from Zürich airport to Basel, but now you are asking about going to Colmar.
If you want to go from Zürich airport to Colmar, why are you buying a ticket just to Basel? Buy a ticket from Zürich airport direct to Colmar. Otherwise you will have to waste time at Basel station buying a second ticket.

If you are staying overnight in Basel, yes you will need to get two separate tickets.
Trains for Colmar leave from the SNCF (French railways) part of Basel station, platforms 30-35, which is separate from the SBB (Swiss railways) section. About 3-5 minutes walk. It is signposted. There is roughly one train per hour.
French tickets (unlike Swiss tickets) do need validating (time stamping). There is a machine just after the doors into the SNCF part of the station to allow you to do this. This will take all of 10 seconds!

Thanks Chris for the info - Yes we are going all the way to Colmar. I just didn't know if buying the tickets would be separate or what. Looks like I can buy them on the Swiss sight all the way through. So when we change trains in Basel I am assuming we are having enough time to make our connection. Assuming all goes well and we get through customs (no checked bags) and passport check, we could make the 9:43 train from Zurich airport to the main station at 9:53 - make a change to the ICE train which leaves at 10:00 and arrive at Basel SBB at 10:53 at platform 10. The train to Colmar leaaves at 11:21 from platform 30 on the TER train. Sounds doable? So we would validate only the ticket from Basel to Colmar - and we can buy the entire trip on the Swiss site.

Looks like I can buy them on the Swiss sight all the way through

I hope you mean in the Swiss railstation and not online in advance. You may make the train at 9:43am but it doesn't take much of a flight delay to make you miss it, then you may lose what you paid for the tickets.

Incidentally its worth looking at the routing on the https://www.bahn.de/p_en/view/ train site because you could do this journey w/o having to change at the Zurich main station. The Swiss train site has you take InterRegio 2262 to the Zurich main station, you have 7 minutes to change to InterCityExpress 74 to Basel, and then take TER 96222 to Colmar. But the InterRegio 2262 train is actually going to Basel!! The bahn site shows it arriving in Basel and giving you 9 minutes to make the TER. The Swiss site gets you into Basel on InterCityExpress 74 with 28 minutes to make the TER.

I am a tad confused John. So you are saying pick the trains I want off the bahn site then book on the Swiss site? And are we talking two different trains here?

the bahn site will show you accurate train information throughout Europe, but only sells tickets for trains which start, finish or travel through Germany. It is very easy to use.

The SBB site shows you lots of information on Swiss trains and is just a little harder to use. It will sell you the train all the way to Colmar, but as said above, don't do that.

Neither the TER trains in France nor the trains in Switzerland are cheaper in advance.

JR, DO NOT buy the tickets in advance. There is no price advantage in doing so, and you run the risk of missing your train if your flight is late. just buy the tickets at Zürich airport station when you get there. You may manage to catch the 09:43, or you may miss it and be one hour later.

From the Swiss railways site ( http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html ):

Zürich Flughafen dep 09:43 platform 4 IR 2262
Zürich HB arr 09:53 platform 14
Zürich HB dep 10:00 platform 15 ICE 74
Basel SBB arr 10:53 platform 10
Basel SBB dep 11:21 platform 30 TE296222
Colmar arr 12:05

And exactly the same one hour later at 10:43 (but different platform numbers). It will take less than 5 minutes to walk from platform 10 to 30 in Basel, so you have plenty of time.
Fare CHF 52 single.
All sites (SBB and DB) show the same trains.

Here is the journey from the DB site:

Zürich Flughafen dep 09:43 IR 2262 platform 4
Basel SBB arr 11:12 platform 7
Basel SBB dep 11:21 TER96222
Colmar arr 12:05

However I don't know if the Swiss station will sell you this journey; their machine might only show the option with the change in the Zurich main train station

John, the SBB site is showing the other option as it always gives the first faster train, giving you more time at Basel SBB.
It doesn't make any difference to the tickets, as all SBB tickets are valid on any train. You just buy a ticket from A to B.

Thank you! I will NOT buy tickets in advance and will wait until we get to the Zurich airport station to purchase the tickets to Basel/Colmar. Thank you for the great info!

JR,

it isn't clear to me which you prefer, the extra connection and faster train as far as Basel or just hunkering down on the slower one. I suppose it will all be down to how you feel on the day, as either has advantages and the ticket doesn't care.

If you do make the extra change and take the ICE you will have a bit of time in Basel. That could be a good thing if you want to stock up on a bit of food and drink. There is a Migros mini supermarket in the station, on the route between the main platforms and the French area with a good selection and there are many little counters and shops for everything from chocolates to pretzels.

The mural over the booking hall is worth a look too.....

Or you may decide to watch the scenery pass a bit slower on the slower train, and then make your way directly to the French train (yet another reminder to visit the composter machine on the way to the train).

I guess I am getting more confused (which seems to be easy to do right now lol). I want the fast train to Colmar. So what abbreviations of trains should I be trying to book?

JR

Deep breathes.

It really isn't too tough.

Go back up thread and read John's answer, then drop down again a couple to Chris F's answers with the train names.

Which ever way you get to Basel, you have to get off there and change trains. The only difference is if you take the fast train from Zürich you have more time in Basel; if you take the slow train from Zürich you have less time in Basel; either way you will be getting on the exact same train in Basel to Colmar and arriving there at the same time.

The Inter-regional Swiss train - the slower one - and the German ICE - the faster one to Basel both cost exactly the same, and there are no reservations.

It is entirely your choice which to take.

Thank you everyone!

"what abbreviations of trains should I be trying to book?" - You DON'T BOOK. When you arrive at Zürich airport, You just go to the station and buy a ticket to Colmar.
Get the first train that comes heading for Zürich HB (which may, if you are very lucky, carry on to Basel), At Zürich HB, get the first train heading for Basel (look at departure board, or ask). At Basel, get the first train heading for Colmar. It really is that simple.