train tickets in switzerland

We bought our SBB tickets at the ticket counter. We could buy our ticket at the ticket counter in advance for a later day. My understanding is that the individual ticket was valid for the route shown on the ticket for the specified day printed on the ticket.

I understand the train tickets may have to be validated (stamped with time and date) before entering the train in some of the european countries. Is this a requirement on Swiss trains?

No, not in Switzerland. Normal tickets bought from a ticket machine or a manned ticket counter are valid on any train on that day. No reservations, no stamping needed. Just get on any train going in the correct direction and the ticket will (usually) be checked on the train.
You can buy tickets for future dates, it is an option on the machines or you can ask the ticket seller.

Hey Chris, I've always traveled on either a group ticket or a Swiss Pass so a point-to-point ticket is not something I've used in Switzerland. Question: If you don't stamp the ticket before boarding, how does SBB prevent a rider from using the same ticket again on that route? Is it just assumed that the rider will not backtrack to the starting point and take the same route again on that day? Just curious.

Tim,

The single tickets are good for the day of travel for the exact route purchased. As an example, we purchased travel from Luzern to Klosters via Thalwill. The ticket from Luzern to Klosters via Zurich would have cost more even though we were going to the same destination.

I suppose the Swiss assume that passengers are not so devious that they would try to get used one-way tickets to a co-conspirator back at the start of the journey to allow a second group to reuse the ticket. I don't remember if the conductor stamped or punched our tickets. But they do remember who the checked and only check new passengers.

Tim, The tickets have a date on them, so you can't re-use them on a later day. On long distance trains, a ticket inspector comes round to check your tickets, and (s)he stamps the tickets to stop you using them more than once. If you are on a train for less than ~20 minutes, there is a chance that your ticket does not get checked, because the ticket inspector was at the other end of the train, so in theory you could use that ticket again the same day. But who wants to go from A to B, back to A and back to B again all in the same day?

For urban zone systems (bus, tram, S-Bahn), where tickets are valid to anywhere in certain zone or zones, the tickets are often valid for 1, 2 or 3 hours only. Enough for your trip, but not enough for re-use.

If there is more than one route, and one is more expensive, then the ticket will say "via xxx". The SBB website ( https://www.sbb.ch/en/ ) will always give the quickest route, not necessarily the cheapest. Sometimes there is a slower but shorter, cheaper and more scenic route.

I know I've seen ticket stamping machines in Zurich Hbf. What are the functions for those machines.

I just left Switzerland. There was a conductor checking the ticket and punching a hole in it no composting machines like in France and Italy. Only on the route Bern to Lausanne they did not check maybe because it was pretty crowded at rush hour all the way.

I know I've seen ticket stamping machines in Zurich Hbf. What are the functions for those machines.

Tim, they are for Mehrfahrtenkarte (multi-journey tickets). These are tickets for 6 journeys for the price of 5. You buy them if you are travelling regularly, but not frequently enough to buy an "abo" (season ticket). They are more commonly used for short urban journeys. Details here: https://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-and-tickets/tickets-for-switzerland/individual-tickets/multiple-journey-tickets.html
Each time you want to use the Mehrfahrtenkarte you need to stamp it in an orange box on the platform, or by the door on a bus (photo here: http://lex.staticserver1.com/static/de/800/entwerter.jpg ). There is also usually a slot in bus/tram ticket machines for stamping Mehrfahrtenkarte.
When the ticket has been stamped 6 times, you need to buy another one.