Switzerland train transport

Jennifer, first of all, it would help a lot, if we knew where in Switzerland you will be traveling. Train changes are very common. Perhaps we can help you keep the train changes to a minium. As for the luggage, you will have an issue. The steps onto and off of the the train carriages are narrow and a bit steep. Plus while you are trying to get on and off, other passengers are trying to get on and off also. Many times, the other passengers are very kind and will assist you with your luggage. Other times not. Once you get your luggage in the carriage, you should be able to find a place to store it. Another interesting issue will be train changes. In Switzerland, it is not uncommon to see 8-12 minute train changes. Yes, the Swiss are that good and their trains are really on time. Again, depending on where you are going, this may not be a big problem as you new train will come in on the same track as your previous train. Sometimes not. Your new train could be on a different platform. Let's see what we can do. More information please.

Josephine, I agree with the previous reply - some additional information would be helpful. Although you're travelling from Singapore, I would suggest using smaller luggage if possible. Keep in mind that YOU will have to haul your luggage on and off the trains. There are usually 2 or 3 steps to board trains. Larger luggage items will have to be stored in the racks at one end of the car (be sure to watch your bags, especially when the train is in stations, or they may "disappear"). Changing trains is not that difficult, but if you haven't done it before there may be a slight "learning curve". In many cases, you'll have to go downstairs into a tunnel and then up to the next platform. Switzerland is better organized than some other countries, as they provide ramps for wheeling luggage or elevators. Many cities have more than one station, so you'll need to know which stations to specify when you're buying tickets. Again, with more information the group here will be able to offer better suggestions. Switzerland is not exactly a "budget" country, so it would be a good idea to plan your rail trips carefully. Cheers!

Thanks All This is our route. We have a draft planning but realise that taking train with luggages is a problem to us. As Ken mentioned, travelling by rail have to be planned carefully especially we have a "budget". Zurich - St Mortiz - Zermatt - Montreux - Interlaken (Grindelwald) - Jungfraujoch - Lucern - Bern - Zurich Changing platforms also a problems as we have to catch the train in order to reach our destination on time. We have a few B&B or youth hostel in our mind which we are quite interested but still we do not know how close these accomodations are to the station. Please advise if there are other solutions to our problem. Do let me know if the group require more information. Thanks

Josephine, you give two primary reasons for utilizing large pieces of luggage. The first, that you are traveling FROM a great distance is completely bogus. How can that make any difference? Now, the length of stay, number of stops, and differences in climate of the stops might be significant. But, not the distance from home to Switzerland. Secondly, you indicate that you will be picking up a lot of "stuff" during your travels. I realize that you have taken great care to point out that you are on a budget. However, you might consider shipping things home. Another consideration, everything in Switzerland is very expensive. If you are on such a tight budget, perhaps you will not really have funds to acquire as much as you anticipate. Whatever, anticipate many train changes with very short transfer times.

Josephine, thank you for your travel agenda. First, I would suggest that you don't need luggage that large for your trip. You can pack lighter. We are seniors and we are able to do 3-week trips with our 24" roller bags. Only rarely have we had to struggle getting on and off the trains. At Zurich, there is a train station beneath the airport. There is a platform there so you don't need to worry about the stairs. From Zurich Flughafen (airport) to St. Moritz, you will not avoid changing trains twice. The first will be at the Zurich main station. Again, you will have a platform with no stairs. From St. Moritz to Zermatt, I'm assuming that you will be on the Glacier Express. If you are on the Glacier Express scenic train, you will have no train changes. If you are instead on the Regional trains on the same tracks, you will change trains 2-3 times. Take the Glacier Express. From Zermatt to Montreux, are you going via the Golden Pass scenic train? If yes, you will have 3 train changes. Visp and Spiez have platforms. You will have 10 minutes at Visp and 12 minutes at Spiez. If you need to change platforms, you have to go down to the tunnel under the tracks. Usually, it's about 25 stairs down and 25 stairs back up. Often in Swizterland, there are elevators that actually work. If you are not taking the Golden Pass, you will have only 1 train change at Visp. From Montreux to Grindlewald, 3 train changes. You won't be taking luggage to the Jungfraujoch. From Grindlewald to Lucerne, it's 1-3 train changes depending on the run. Again, platform changes. Same with Lucerne to Bern and Bern to Zurich. You can see all of this on www.rail.ch including which track the trains arrive on and depart from. As for station names, you'll be safe by picking the first one listed. For Interlaken, you want Interlaken Ost. For the Glacier Express, you want the "D" train. Pack light.

You can have Swiss Rail transport you rlugage bbetween the stations by "Fast Baggage" if you want. The charge is 22 CHF per bag, which is enough to make me want to pack light and carry it myself! But if you want to do it for some of the tougher days, you have to deliver your bag to the train station before 9 am. You pick it up at your end station after 6 pm in the evening. You can read about this on the Swiss rail site www.SBB.ch under "services".

Larry, thanks for the information, very detail indeed. I will replan my tour bearing in mind all of your advises...one of them is to pack light....:) Sasha, thanks for pointing out the "fast baggage" services. The problem is that we can only pick up the luggage at the end station after 6pm, what if I can reach there before that. Another option I can think of (to make use of this fast baggage services) is to pack one or two days stuff and carry along with me and the rest together with the luggage to be sent to the third or fouth destination / stations. But may I know how safe is it I can leave my luggage for them to send to another place? David, just explanation on my thinking. Travelling from great distance is one of my reasons for utilising large pieces of luggage as I know I may not travel back the second time. The lengh of stay indirectly affect (you are right) as I will be travelling for about two weeks and also from great distance. And you know as a lady we will tend to bring alot of stuff with us. Yes I am on a tight budget on accomodation, transport etc etc so that I will have the extra to spend on swiss stuff / souvenir. Thanks for highlighting to me that everything in Switzerland is very expensive. I will take note of that. You have a point that I can ship things home but I will still have to carry them with me till the end of the trips so that I accumulate and ship home. By the way, is the shipping cost expensive in Switzerland? Lastly, thanks to all once again for the information.