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Swiss Travel Pass + overnight train

Posted by on

Hi, I am hoping for some clarity on train travel within Europe. I've tried to research the questions I have...but I can't seem to find the answers. So I apologize if there is already a topic asking the same questions!

I will be traveling to Zurich in early October and staying in Switzerland for 4 days. I will be purchasing the Swiss Travel Pass for all my train travels within Switzerland those first 4 days. On the 5th day, I plan to take an overnight train from Zurich to Vienna. Assuming that the Swiss Travel Pass will cover up until the border of Switzerland and Austria...here are my questions: Does the train stop at the border in the middle of the night? Will I need to be awake for this to show my train passes to continue on? I would need to purchase a train pass from the Switzerland bordering city to Vienna prior to this...what is this city?

Any further information or tips on overnight trains would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Posted by
16893 posts

If your Swiss Travel Pass is for 4 days, it doesn't give you any benefit on the 5th day. And I would not bother upgrading the pass to try to get extra coverage of that last piece.

It's probably easier to just buy the whole ticket at www.sbb.ch. Or, if your pass is still valid, then you can enter that you will be using a Swiss Travel pass.

The border crossing point is at Buchs. You normally give all your tickets and passes to the first conductor to hold for the whole journey.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you for your quick reply Laura!

Sorry, what I meant to say is: on the 4th day, I will take an overnight train from Zurich to Vienna, arriving in Vienna on my 5th day. Thank you for the website and discount tip & border crossing city.

Posted by
20096 posts

What kind of sleeping arrangements are you planning? Are you traveling with others? Looks like nonrefundable ticket prices vary from 63 CHF for a seat to 152 CHF with a single compartment.
Like Laura said, if you have some sort of sleeping compartment (couchette, or compartment), you will give your passport and ticket to the steward and they will not have to wake you at the border. They will return it to you when they wake you prior to arriving in Vienna.

Posted by
3 posts

Thanks Sam. I am traveling with 5 others, so a couchette for 6 would be ideal. Thank you for your input.

Posted by
20096 posts

You should see if you can book the tickets ASAP. When I look at random week days in early October, the couchettes may be booked already, at least none that are completely open.
First look at the availability of "saver" fares, as these will be cheaper than standard fares using a Swiss Pass.
Also, if there is an open 6-person couchette, you will have to book 6 tickets if you do not want the chance that a stranger will be included in the couchette compartment.

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