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Having trouble purchasing a train ticket ON-LINE for Switzerland

Posted by (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on

I am trying to buy a simple TO/FROM train ticket (Zurich airport to Lauterbrunnen). The Deutsche Bahn web site that Rick Steves suggests (www.bahn.de) is really excellent. HOWEVER, when I get to the last screen it says «We are sorry but we cannot sell your requested journey online». So then I click on how to book an online ticket. It says «1. Find the connection you want on bahn.com». This works. Then it says «2. Got to «Ticket & Reservation» and select the Digital ticket. The problem is that the «Ticket & Reservation» tab/option is not available (does not become dark and «selectable»; I can't click on it). I even switched from Internet Exporer to Chrome, thinking this might be the issue. But is still is not an option I can click on.

If anyone has hints or advice, that would be useful. Many thanks!

Posted by
3126 posts

While that website is great for searching for ticket options, you can not actually purchase tickets for Switzerland using that website. You want to use https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html to purchase your Switzerland tickets.

Posted by
33821 posts

The Bahn is German national railway. It can sell tickets on trains that originate, terminate, or travel through Germany - only (with a few exceptions).

The trip you are asking for originates and terminates in Switzerland.

The company which runs the trains in Switzerland is the SBB. Those are the initials in the German language. Because Switzerland has 3 major languages (4 in fact, but only the major three are used for the railway name) of German, French and Italian, the name you will also see is SBB/CFF/FFS.

You need to go to sbb.ch/en https://www.sbb.ch/en and the Swiss Railways pages will appear - in English. The prices quoted are half price because most Swiss residents have a half fare card - so it defaults that way. You can clear the flag and then buy from them on line.

But there is no need to buy that journey on line. You can do it in the airport, on arrival. There aren't reservations, the trains run like clockwork, you just buy a ticket and get on the next one. No discounts on virtually all the Swiss trains.

Posted by
8889 posts

1) Wrong company. www.bahn.de is the website of DB, German Railways. The cannot sell you a ticket for other countries. SBB is the Swiss Railway Company: https://www.sbb.ch/en

2) Why are you wanting to buy a ticket in advance from Zürich airport to Lauterbrunnen? Totally unnecessary. There is NO discount fro advance purchase, no seat reservations. It is a "turn-up-and-go" service.

Just buy a ticket at Zürich airport station when you arrive. It will cost you CHF 81.60 (CHF 40.80 with a Half Price Card) and be valid on any train that day

Posted by
7209 posts

Actually I think OP wanted a ticket to Lauterbrunnen, but it makes no difference. Again, just buy when you arrive.

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