Here's a question for you...maybe it is a dumb one...but I have a Swiss-Austria rail pass, and I am travelling from Zurich to Salzburg.....does the pass only cover the route through Austria and NOT the route through Munich???? Do I have to be careful what train I ride??
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33850 posts
Correct. Yes. However there is a corridor through Germany between Innsbruck to Salzburg. The train on that corridor does not call in Germany and an Austrian pass is valid on those train.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
When you say, "NOT the route through Munich", you are referring to Zürich to St. Margrethen to Lindau to Munich? No, it would not be covered, but you might not want to use a rail pass day for Zürich to Salzburg anyway. If you book far enough in advance, you can get a Europa-Spezial fare for that route for €39 pP. Using just the Swiss-Austria pass, you would go through the Tirol, from Buchs, Swit, to Innsbruck, and then without stopping from Innsbruck (Kufstein) via Rosenheim to Salzburg. You could also go a longer, all Austrian, route under Berchtesgaden through Zell am See to Salzburg, but you would have to selekt it specially. Most trains don't go that route.
Posted by
OP
Cape Breton, NovaScotia, Canada
10 posts
Thank you for your input! I am using as much info as I can and do not really trust my understanding of the schedules or routes or costs. On the SBB website (www.sbb.ch)- there is a train from Zurich Airport that runs to Salzburg almost nonstop through Sargans Buchs Feldkirch Bludenz St. Anton am Arlberg Landeck-Zams Innsbruck Hbf Salzburg Hbf Duration: 5:38; runs daily I am thinking this is the way to get from point A to B with my Swiss -Austrian rail pass ?? Which I have already purchased !! There is not a way to confirm that the pass covers it until we actually get to the station!! I have checked rail costs and I am unable to find the good deals for less than 55Euro . Thanks again Everyone! The trip is almost complete thanks to your help and Rick's books...gotta love that 10% discount! AND I bought his favorite day pack! Can't wait to get there.
Debbie
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33850 posts
Debbie, that is using the corridor I earlier spoke of. Yes it would be covered. There are no mandatory reservations on the Railjet from Zurich to Salzburg. You do have to change trains in Zurich HBf. 7 minutes should be no problem. Is your pass First Class? You should note that there are two flavours of First Class on the Railjet, normal First Class and super duper First Class. If yours is a First Class pass I would expect that you would be expected to travel in normal First Class.