In June I am meeting my husband in Frankfurt and then traveling by train to Lucerne. We have never travelled by train and need advice on whether to buy a rail pass or ticket. Also wondering about changing trains, most have connection times of 10-13 minutes and I'm nervous that this won't be enough time to find the right train. We will then be going from Lucerne to Munich for a short stay. Then on to Frankfurt and back home to Michigan. Thanks for any advice you can give me.
Posted by
Green Bay
20145 posts
Watch Rick's quick primer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AxtbifeoBY
Train transfers, ignore rail pass pitch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBLrjKFP9Xw
With basically 3 legs, don't buy a rail pass. Buy tickets on line up to 3 months in advance at www.bahn.com
Sparpreis (Saver) tickets will get you the best price but they must be used on the trains shown on the ticket. Kinda like airline tickets.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19099 posts
"Kinda like airline tickets."
Ya know, Sam, I'm always amazed at how people stress about tickets for specific trains, but don't blink an eye about plane tickets that are at least as limiting.
Unless you are in a huge train station with platforms that are far apart, 10 -13 minutes is a lifetime in train change world.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
The main reason to worry about short connection times would be when connecting to a long-distance service, especially international, or if traveling to catch a flight. In those cases, give yourself more time.
For your travel in Germany and Switzerland, online timetables will usually show you the planned platform numbers in advance, so you have an idea of which direction to head. Double-check signs on the platform, of course. You can see station maps for Basel or Zurich at http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/am-bahnhof/railway-stations/trafimage-maps-station-plans/station-plans.html.
Posted by
Green Bay
20145 posts
I see your worry is the 10 minute change at Basel. Be ready to exit the train as it pulls into Basel SBB. Check what platform you arrive on, and if you have to change platforms, take the escalator up to the cross-over bridge then to your new platform, down the escalator and onto your new train. Should take less than 5 minutes to accomplish. If the train is late for some reason (it happens), just board the next train to Luzern, there are 2 every hour plus one requiring a connection at Olten.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
ghager1, 10 minutes is standard changing time at Basel SBB.
All platforms are parallel, and there are escalators up from each platform to a wide walkway (with shops) which connects all platforms, then an escalator down to your desired platform. Station plan here: http://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/infrastruktur/trafimage/bahnhofplaene/plan-basel-sbb-a4.pdf
You can look up your arrival and departure platforms on www.sbb.ch with a small risk they might change the platforms at the last minute. They also make announcements on the trains. "Next stop Basel SBB, your connecting trains are xx:xx to Luzern, platform yy, ....." and similar announcements once you get off the train, but both these announcements are in German only.
And, if you miss your train (or want to buy something at the station), there is a train to Luzern every 30 minutes. No reservations are needed on Swiss trains, no problem.
Note, there are two "main" stations in Basel, Basel SBB and Basel Badischer Bahnhof. Trains from Frankfurt call at both, but it is the second one, Basel SBB, which you need to get off to catch a train to Luzern, not the first.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Photo of the walkway at Basel SBB here: http://danimu.ch/Basel-Weihnachtsmarkt-Weihnachten-2011/Basel-Bahnhof-Weihnachtsbeleuchtung-Passerelle-Bahnhofhalle-viele-Geisterbilder-2011-4030.jpg
Notice the blue platform numbers (5|6 and 7|8) above the escalators, and the blue destination boards above the escalators (either side of the clock) showing the train on that platform. So, if you are changing from platform 5 to 8, it is not far to walk!
