Best Train Passes to get for Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland

Ebenezer, Why do you think buying a pass is the correct thing to do?
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London to Amsterdam involves Eurostar to Brussels and then Thalys to Amsterdam. Passes are not valid on Eurostar, and are surcharged on Thalys. A pass may be useful for Netherlands+ Germany, and a Swiss pass may be useful for Switzerland.

You need to do some number-crunching. Make a spreadsheet, list all your trips with the advance purchase fare in one column and the pass cost in another.

For Switzerland there are 3 options:
1) Swiss Pass (includes all trains+buses+city transport), but only a discount for the higher mountain railways (higher than Mürren).
2) Half price card + 50% (=child's fare) for all trains+buses+city transport+mountain railways.
3) Full fare for everything.
Again, you need a spreadsheet and do the arithmetic yourself.

I would not get a rail pass for any of them, but buy well in advance on-line for long distance routes. In Switzerland, if you have more than 240 CHF of planned travel per person, get the Half Fare Card.

The Global pass is most expensive and you don't need that much coverage. The Select pass can fit just your countries of travel and longest train travel days. In 2017, it will fully cover trains to/from Zermatt, although the Glacier Express still requires a seat reservation. Since Strasbourg is so close to the border (about $5 for a ticket from Kehl), I would not add France on the pass.

If you also you leave off Benelux and buy a ticket from Amsterdam to the German border, then the 2-country version of the Select pass (Germany-Switzerland) can be cheaper since it offers a 2nd-class version for all ages. For instance, 5 days of travel within 2 months is currently $230 per person, but that's the nonrefundable sale version that's offered through Dec. 30. Don't rush to purchase it if you're not sure.

Since this pass gives you 25-50% discounts on many mountain lifts and the trains from Interlaken up the Lauterbrunnen Valley, I would not buy a separate Half-Fare card on top of it. Of course, a Swiss Half-Fare Card would be a good idea if you have no other pass.

The Eurostar train from London to Brussels doesn't accept rail passes; those tickets may go on sale in January or February. However, I recommend flying from London to Amsterdam on Easy Jet or similar (www.skyscanner.com).

I would fly from London to Amsterdam then go to German and Swiss railway sites to book the 5 point to point tickets you will need. If you have a set itinerary and book well in advance you will definitely save over a rail pass, which may then require individual seat reservations (and supplements) for premium trains.

Amsterdam to St. Goar
St. Goar to Strasbourg/Heidleberg
Strasbourg/Heidleberg to Zermatt
Zermatt to Murren
Murren to Zurich

None of these routes require any reservations or supplements, unless you decide to take the Glacier Express.

Whilst seat reservations are not compulsory on German ICE trains, I wouldn't want to travel in July without one.

Hi,

I've already bought my rail pass for the upcoming trip starting in May, but in your case, I don't advise a Pass with your itinerary and trip duration, and certainly not the Global. If one is traveling in, say 5 countries, you don't need a pass covering all five countries, ie unnecessary. It just depends on which countries those five are.