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Swiss Half Fare Card Validation questions

Posted by (Seattle, WA, US) on

Hi all. A little background. Purchased the Swiss Half Fare Fare from Rick Steves/Rail Europe for our July trip. Plan to use purchasing online ticket from Milan to Lauterbrunnen. Prior to purchase emailed Rick Steves office and they confirmed can validate on the train via the conductor. Had also emailed SBB and they confirmed can use the card to purchase online and don't need it validated.

Just received the card and being extra cautious I emailed Rail Europe and have been told that I can't validate on the train but have to do in the station. So, I emailed SBB again and sent a photo of the card. They told me I can have this version of the Half Fare Card validated on the train by the conductor.

So..... I would like to avoid issues on the train so wanted to ask if anyone has had experience getting this particular version of the Swiss Half Fare Card validated on the train. I've emailed SBB again with Rail Europe's answer and also emailed Rail Europe the SBB answer. Thanks for sharing feedback on your experiences with this!

Posted by
21139 posts

Why are you even talking to Rail Europe?? The deal is between you and SBB. There are no other middle men. It is a Swiss Half Fare Card. Do whatever SBB says, its THEIR card, and ignore Rail Europe.

Posted by
519 posts

Thanks Sam. I bought it thru Rick Steves and they issue it so figure they would know the rules with their product since it's different than the card on the Swiss rail site. At the end of the day I do trust the SBB folks more since it's their system but I'd hate to have a problem on the train and either get fined or have to get off the train to validate and buy another ticket.

Posted by
16895 posts

Sounds like you'll be all set to go, once you book the online portion of the Swiss ticket. Show your Swiss products to the first (Italian) conductor onboard, along with your valid Italian ticket, so he knows that you have tickets for the whole route, and he can give a heads-up to a Swiss conductor who boards later.

Posted by
519 posts

Thanks Laura,

I emailed the Rail Europe response (where they changed their stance a bit and said they "advised" that we get it validated at the station as not all trains will allow us to validate onboard.) back to SBB who again said the conductor can validate the pass. I'll print off the emails and bring with me just in case, but sounds like we should be good to go. Thanks all for your help.

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