Confusion on SBB site

Posted by lai.m.cor on 08/28/17 11:30 PM

Hi there- I'm attempting to purchase a connection from Spiez to STECHELBERG (SCHILTHORNBAHN) on 20 Sept 2017. My end destination is Gimmelwald later that day.

Easy enough on the SBB site, I can plug in Spiez to STECHELBERG (SCHILTHORNBAHN) but I don't see that I can select times for these tickets? I arrive at Spiez at 13:53 from Florence on a trenitalia/eurocity train, so will need to catch a connection at Spiez sometime around 14:00 or later. Am I missing something where I need to select the departure of the SBB train from Spiez?

Posted by Sam

Green Bay

08/29/17 12:56 AM

21142 posts

Trains in Switzerland, for the most part, go on the show-up and jump-on method. Your ticket will be good on any departure that day on that route. You might want to print out the itinerary you want to take with the track numbers, but if you miss a connection, there will be another one coming along.

Posted by Edgar

Medford, OR, USA

08/29/17 01:52 AM

5837 posts

https://www.sbb.ch/en/timetable.html
To buy tickets, click on the red box to the right of the routing and it will ask for passenger infor etc.

From: Spiez
To: Gimmelwald (Schilthornbahn)
Via: Stechelberg, Post

Date Wed, 20.09.2017 with 14:00 departure

14:05 Spiez, Platform 2
R 6724 Direction Interlaken Ost
14:28 Interlaken Ost, Platform 8

14:35 R 169 Direction Lauterbrunnen
14:55 Lauterbrunnen, Platform 2

15:05 BUS 141 41063 Direction Stechelberg, Hotel
15:22 Stechelberg, Post

15:36 BUS 141 41074 Direction Lauterbrunnen, Bahnhof
15:42 Stechelberg, Schilthornbahn

15:55 LB 39 Direction Schilthorn
16:00 Gimmelwald (Schilthornbahn)

Next train departs 14:33 and arrives final destination at 17:00 with later departures every half hour.

Posted by Ken

Vernon, Canada

08/29/17 06:08 AM

32350 posts

I've done a similar trip in the past, and on that occasion I simply went into the small station in Spiez and bought my tickets when I arrived there. If your ultimate destination is Gimmelwald, specify that and the tickets they provide will include all modes of transport. If you miss the 14:00 train, not to worry as there will be another one along in a short time. Switzerland has a very efficient transportation system.

Are you aware that when you arrive in Lauterbrunnen, you'll be transferring to the Post Bus for the short ride to Stechelberg.

Posted by Harold

New York, NY, USA

08/29/17 11:29 AM

11294 posts

The SBB website includes all local transit, not just trains. So, you should always put in your ultimate destination, and let it find all the connections (in this case, put in Gimmelwald, not Stechelberg).

Posted by Gone

not here anymore

08/29/17 11:45 AM

631 posts

I hope you realise that the 13:53 arrival at Spiez is a SBB train from Milan and if you are coming from Florence you will be changing there as well. trenitalia may have sold you the ticket but the second part of the journey is in a Swiss train. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L48CgDABSaM

By using this train in Switzerland you are missing some of the best scenery, it goes in a tunnel underneath it. Ask the Swiss conductor (who may not join until Domodossola) whether your ticket is valid by the Kandersteg route. If it is you have the option to get out at Brig, wait 20 minutes and go to Spiez on the scenic line, arriving at 14:44 which gives you plenty time to buy the ticket to Gimmelwald for the 15:03 departure (eventually arriving Gimmelwald at 16:30). If trenitalia have sold you a special cheap ticket you may not be allowed to alter the plan.