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swiss train travel help needed!!

I will be flying into Geneva in june and taking a train to interlaken and then 5 days later need to get to salzburg. I would have to travel back by train to geneva and then fly to salzburg which seems to take way more than 7 hours. when doing reseach someone suggested taking a train
interlaken to bern
bern to zurich
zurich to salzburg
which seems like a better plan. I am trying to figure out which rail pass to go with. can I only get a swiss flexi pass, kids will go free with a swiss family card. would you have to pay for a separate ticket from zurich to salzburg or does the swiss flexi plass cover that? I will also be taking a train from salzburg to vienna. is it worth getting a 2 country rail pass? what is the cheapest way to get from interlaken to salzburg?

also, if I buy swiss rail passes will that get me up to Jugnfraujoch and schilthorn included?

Posted by
20084 posts

It is 7 1/2 hours to Salzburg by the route you suggested. If you had a Swiss Pass, that would cover you as far as Buchs, Switzerland (border with Liechtenstein) then you would pay for the portion from there to Salzburg.
Your Swiss Pass will get you a 50% discount for the portion of the Jungfaujochbahn above Wengen (free to Wengen). It would also get you a 50% discount on the Schilthornbahn. Another thing to consider is the Swiss Card for 199 chf pp. That gives you free travel from Geneva airport to Interlaken, free travel from Interlaken to Buchs, and a 50% discount on trains while you are in Interlaken.
I would not bother with a 2 country pass. Just get advance purchase nonrefundable discount ticket for Austria. You can also ride a train called Westbahn from Salzburg to Vienna for 23.90 euro/adult plus 2euro per child 14 or under (under 6 free). There is also a family card available in Austria (not sure the cost), then it is 43 euro for the whole family (again, 15 and older is considered an adult).

Posted by
3098 posts

Sam, how many times have I posted to correct you? The discount with a Swiss pass or Flex pass is 25% above Wengen, not 50%. Please see the synoptic map with the special notation for this route:

http://www.swiss-pass.ch/sites/default/files/pdf/swiss-travel-system-map.pdf

Sometimes the best price from Interlaken to Salzburg is a discount ticket on the direct Zurich to Munich train! bought well n dance on bahn.de to get the savings price. Use your Swiss or fles Pass to get from Interlaken to Zurich.

Posted by
20084 posts

Aha. Yes, I have the synoptic map on my desk next to my computer. I stand corrected.

Posted by
6898 posts

Since you are staying in one place in Switzerland, you can buy the Swiss Transfer Ticket. It will provide your full transportation cost from Geneva to Interlaken and from Interlaken either back to Geneva or to Zurich where you would transfer to a train going to Salzburg. While in Interlaken, the Swiss Transfer Ticket becomes a 1/2 fare card that will provide you a 50% discount to the two mountain tops. No Swiss pass or card will provide 100% coverage to the two mountain tops. 50% coverage is the maximum above Wengen and Muerren. For the Eurail pass, you are only 25% covered (you pay 75% of the fare) of all transportation beyond Interlaken Ost and into the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The postal bus inside the valley does not accept the pass. With minor exceptions, your Swiss pass or card is good only to the Swiss border. When purchasing your ticket to Salzburg, just show your ticket to the agent and they will make the adjustment.

Posted by
3098 posts

Yes, a Half Fare Card ( or Swiss Card) does provide a 50% discount on the Jungfraubahn. But a Swiss Pass or Flex Pass does not. With those it is 25% above Wengen. It adds up to a considerable difference and it is important to help people understand this.

Posted by
3098 posts

"While in Interlaken, the Transfer Ticket becomes a Half Fare Care that provides a 50% discount...."

Sorry, but this is wrong. A Transfer Ticket is only good for two journeys, in and out. There are no additional discounts. Larry must be thinking of a Swiss Card, which is a Transfer Ticket PLUS Half Fare Card ( and costs extra).

Posted by
20084 posts

You tell 'em Sasha, and the Swiss Card is only 199 chf pp. The transfer ticket is 139 chf, so you are only paying 60 chf for the half fare privileges.