Train transfer time Munich to Lucerne

It is tight but not unusual. Small station. Connecting train probably will be just across the platform. Have luggage in hand near the door and ready to jump off when the train stops. When the conductors checks your ticket, ask him the platform number for the connecting train. He will be able to tell you that.

It has been 15 years since we traveled in Europe. What can we expect in going across the German/ Swiss Border?

"Connecting train probably will be just across the platform."

Can't happen. The connecting train, IC 185, uses track 1, which has it's own platform next to the station, so you will have to go down into the tunnel to change platforms. Still, there is probably enough time. You won't be the only people making the change. Just make sure you are at the end of the car, with you luggage, ready to get off when the train stops. Locate the nearest stairway and follow the herd to it. Stay with the herd. The conductor will be on the platform watching the people get on and won't release the train if there are passengers boarding.

Same thing in Zurich. You'll have 9 min to make a 5 platform change. Depending on where you are on the train, you'll walk to the end of the dead-end platform, go across the ends of the platform until you find the one for the connecting train. If you have time, find your carriage (if you have reserved seats, otherwise find any car with a 1 or 2 on it, depending on the class of your ticket). There is also a connecting tunnel in Zurich. If you are a long ways from the end of the platform, it might be faster to use it.

Crossing the border from Germany to Switzerland will be pretty much the same thing as crossing any state-state border in this country. Both Germany and Switzerland are Schengen countries so there are normally no passport checks. Switzerland is not a member of the EU so they could have customs checks, but that is not usual, either.

Nothing I would think..both schengen countries.. No passport checks

mkh,

"What can we expect in going across the German/ Swiss Border?"

As the others mentioned, nothing usually happens when crossing borders these days. However, I have encountered random checks by Police on occasion. They never seem to check my Passport so I must look "reliable" or something, but I've seen others getting the "third degree".

In 1990 (before Schengen), I went by train from Offenburg, Germany, to Zürich via Basel. At Freiburg, the last stop before Switzerland, Swiss border police got on the train and went from person to person checking passports. They had portable radio devices, and were keying in the numbers. When he got to me, I started to hand him my passport, but when he saw the American Eagle symbol on the cover of my passport, he just waved his hand. Didn't even look in my passport. That was passport control for an American back then.

Swiss border police still get on the trains, but Schaffhausen is practically inside Germany (borders on 3 sides). In fact, the Americans bombed it by mistake in WW II. So there will not be time. Anyway, they are just looking for "suspicious" people. You're not suspicious looking , are you?

Ha, Ha! I am soo very suspicious. :-) No, just the "nice" family next door type. Unless the teenagers go bonkers in the next few months.

Thanks all for your replies, it is appreciated!

If you miss the connection at Schaffhausen, there are two departures per hour, via Zurich, departing about :18 and :40 after each hour. If you're traveling with a rail pass or a full-priced ticket, you can use that on the next train. If you're locking in advance-discount tickets, then I would adjust the transfer time to plan for the next later connection. Alternatively, I'd might choose a schedule that has one connection instead of three, even if that first leg is by bus.