Hello all,
Going to Germany Austria and Switzerland end of June to mid july.
Considering the Swiss rail pass (8 day continuous), as we will be there for 8 days and using transportation heavily in berner oberland for 5 of those days.
Here's my Question: On the first day of the rail pass we will travel from Hall in Tirol to Luzern.
How do I book my train travel to get the most out of the Swiss rail pass?
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
Assuming it is a 2nd class pass, go to www.sbb.ch/en and buy tickets. When prompted for "reduction", choose "GA 2nd class". If Hall in Tirol does not show up, just use Innsbruck Hbf and buy a local ticket for that portion when you get there.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
Alternately you can book a ticket from any ticket provider from your start point to the nearest Swiss border station. From there your Swiss Pass will cover you 100% for your remaining travels to Lucerne.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
A Swiss Pass is valid from the first Swiss station. On this route (Innsbruck - Zürich - Luzern), that is Buchs (SG).
You can see that on the official map of what the Swiss Pass covers here: https://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/sbb/de/infotexte/uebersichtskarte-sts.pdf
East of Buchs the line is grey (not covered), after Buchs it is red (covered).
You can either by a ticket on the SBB website, selecting "GA" as a reduction. Or alternatively just buy a ticket from Hall in Tirol to Buchs AG on the ÖBB (Austrian railways) website: https://www.oebb.at/en/
I just checked, and for Fri 28th June they are currently selling tickets at € 37.70
Note you will have to have your Swiss Pass on you when you arrive, or get off the train at Buchs and buy one; which means continuing on a later train. The easiest way is to buy a self-print Swiss Pass on the SBB website.
8 days = CHF 418 (here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/travel-in-switzerland/international-guests/swiss-travel-pass.html )
Posted by
OP
Nazareth, Pennsylvania
93 posts
Thank you all for the great advice.
You've given me the answers I needed.
Some of the websites weren't clear on this and you have been a great help!
Thanks again!
Paul