Team USA Wheelchair Rugby Eurotrip

Usually there no trainlines to recommend, as between cities you take the line that connects them. International trains are typically operated jointly by the national train companies involved. Eg. Zurich to Munich is operated by SBB till st. Margarethen, then by OBB till Lindau and then by DB from there on. Munich Salzburg is operated by DB.

I would suggest you book your tickets with the national railway operator of the country where the trip starts. In your case especially since you will need assistance, and that needs to be organised by the company where the trip starts.

So for Nottwil - Munich look at www.sbb.ch, and especially https://www.sbb.ch/en/travel-information/individual-needs/travelling-reduced-mobility.html
You may need to get in touch with them. In Switzerland most trains have level access so people in wheelchairs just roll on. The issue will be the Zurich - Munich train, where a lift is needed to get on board, so you need to ask for that in advance.

How many in your party will be in wheelchairs? That might be an issue, as there is normally only one lift available, and the number of wheelchair places is also limited. The Zurich - Munich train for example can only take 2 wheelcairs, and they are in 1st class.

Munich - Salzburg is on of the few routs in Europe where you do have a choice of operators. I would go with Westbahn, as their trains are fully accessible. For the DB operated RJX service you would again need a lift... But again WestBahn only takes two wheelchairs per train.

The alternative is to take the regional train on a Bavaria ticket, as that train is accessible too. Or book with DB but for the RJX you will again need to arrange help in advance, as there you also need a lift to board.

Thank you for your response! Sounds like a handful for transport, I was doing some additional research and found the Eurail, offers a global pass (covers 30 countries)... is this something you know of or recommend? Like you said, since we will need assistance it's easier to get in contact with the operator where the trip starts, so I think regardless gettin in touch with whatever line we take ahead of time so they can prepare to onboard us would be needed... I may have up to 3 athletes in wheelchairs, I myself do not have a physical disability, im wondering if ill have no choice but to buy a first class ticket if those guys can only be held in 1st class. in regards to traveling, typically we are use to delays because most transport operators in the US taking the time to allow ppl with disabilities to onboard. Not sure what the case over there is. But im prepared to do whatever in advance so we can make this happen. If not I think some ppl may cut their trip short as to avoid the hassle. and I would be stuck solo.

Three people in a wheelchair is not going to be an issue in most trains.
Swiss double deck IC trains can take up to 10 wheelchairs. The local that serves Nottwill can normally take 4. One advantage you have is that most trains in Switzerland are low floor, so you just roll on. That means eg. visiting Luzern during you off time is perfectly doable.

It's just that there are a few high floor trains with limited capacity still around, and Zurich - Munich just happens to be one of those. So yes, start by getting in touch with SBB.

I don't think you will need to get 1st class tickets. AFAIK the rule is that if the only wheelchair places are in 1st class then you can use them with a 2nd class ticket. I do not think an Eurail Pass is going to be very usefull in your case. You have only two big travel days.

Where are you flying out of?

Boston (BOS) to Zurich!

Do contact the organisation as well. They will be able to help. I assume that since they need to get a large amount of wheelchair athletes from the airport to Nottwil that they will have some arrangement.