Please advise which train service to use and if it's best to purchase tickets before we arrive in Europe. Thank you!
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Shelbelle, Look up trains at prices (and book tickets) on the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) website: http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html
You can also use the ÖBB (Austrian Federal Railways) site: http://www.oebb.at/en/
Trains between Switzerland and Austria are run jointly by the two companies.
Tickets bough in advance are cheaper than those bought on the day, so yes, buy as soon as you are prepared to commit. But, tickets are for a specific train (reserved seats are included on the international leg). Once you buy a ticket you are committed and cannot change your mind.
This is a slow but scenic route as it goes lengthwise through the Alps. There is one train every 2 hours, changing in Zürich. For example:
Luzern dep 09:35, Zürich HB arr 10:25
Zürich HB dep 10:40, Salzburg Hbf arr 16:03
For more info and pictures see here: http://seat61.com/international-trains/trains-from-Switzerland.htm#Switzerland-Vienna
Posted by
OP
7 posts
Chris, this is so helpful, thank you, thank you! I really appreciate you taking the time to lay it out for me.
Best to you,
Shelley