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going from Pontresina to Zuerich using Glacier and Wilhelm Tell Express

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thank you so much for your replies to my questions about getting from Varenna to Pontresina.

I researched on the SBB website how to get from Pontresina over "Reichenau" (listed in your book, it looks like that's where we could take the Glacier Express) or, as this does not seem to work, over Chur, then over Andermatt and Goeschenen to Zuerich.

It seems this can be done with multiple changes and lots of headaches, and will cost around 160 CHF per person. -

1. Where would I buy the tickets for this? in Pontresina? -

2. Is there a different way to look for trains on these 2 routes? - We looked up the Glacier Express web site: however, their itinerary shows a lot of going back and forth between Davos and Chur, that seems unnecessary…

thank you so much!

Claudia

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You need to look at this on a map. A Swiss rail map is here: https://www.swisspasses.com/railpass/overviewmap_en.pdf
The Glacier Express runs east to west, from Chur or St Moritz to Zermatt. The William Tell express (which is a boat plus a train) runs north to south. They cross over near Andermatt, but Swiss railways are 3D. The north south route is in the Gotthard tunnel at that point, under Andermatt and there is no connection. Note these are both just one tourist train on routes which carry many other regular trains.
Pontresina to Zürich is east to north, neither the Glacier Express nor the William Tell Express makes sense for that journey.
Of course you could combine part of either route and take a circuitous zig-zag route from Pontresina to Zürich. Just go to www.sbb.ch enter Pontresina to Zürich (and a date and time) and add (for example) "via Andermatt". This will give you a route. It will not be fast, but it will be scenic. You can also display a map of the chosen route.

You can buy tickets from anywhere to anywhere in Switzerland at any Swiss station. You just have to explain your desired route. Pontresina - Andermatt - Zürich HB is CHF 106.40 2nd class per person. That is "full fare". If you are doing that much train travel (plus Tirano - Pontresina) it may be cheaper to get a half fare card.

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