buy TGV Lyria ticket, get on at later stop? (Paris-Zurich, start at Mulhouse)?

For one, the Paris-Zurich TGV Lyria doesn't go through Colmar. You would need to take a local TER train to Basel to get it. Don't know offhand, but at least on German trains, seat reservations expire 15 minutes or so after train departure time.

Are you going to be staying in Switzerland? If so, what type of transportation will you be using? If you're going to be using a Swiss family pass for Switzerland then I would just take the train from Colmar to Basel and then get a separate ticket from Basel to Zurich on the Swiss pass. I've not done this but it's worth checking into. If you're planning on renting a car in Switzerland, then just take the train to Basel and rent the car there instead of Zurich.

sorry, I thought this train went thru Colmar. In that case, start journey at Mulhouse. For a family of 6, the tickets from Basel-Zurich are as much as Paris-Z discounted tickets. We are only going into Zurich for the day and then going to ZRH for flight. We are not getting a Swisspass or Swiss transfer ticket.

If you are driving, why not drop the car at Basel Euroairport, which is actually in France. Then take the bus to Basel SBB station and next train to Zurich. Cost is 37.40 CHF per person for anyone 17 and older, half price for under 17.

dropping car in Basel adds extra $$ for us, as we were going to drop minivan in Colmar and then spend the night + next day without a car. But, thanks, again. I looked at local trains from Colmar-Basel, only 14 euros, then we can train to Zurich. That gives us a good, easy option.

Anyone over 60 and under 26 gets a 25% discount when traveling non-rush hour on the Colmar-Basel leg.

The real issue here is seat reservations, which are required on a TGV. As noted I'm sure they expire if the seats are not used promptly, and you have to pay separately for them.

Phred, the requirement for seat reservations on a TGV only applies in France. Once the TGV is on SBB (Swiss railways) tracks Swiss rules apply. No reservations and any ticket is valid on the train. Getting on a Paris-Basel-Zürich TGV at Basel to go to Zürich just needs any normal SBB ticket and you can choose any empty seat.

I also think seats on TGV's are not freed up if they are not occupied. This rule applies in Germany because reservations are optional. Sometimes people travel on a different train to the one they booked, and this rule is to allow seats to be used by other passengers who get on without a reservation. This does not apply to TGV's in France, as you need a resevation (with a set number) before you can get on the train.

I concur with the earlier posters. The easiest way from Colmar to Zürich is one train to Basel (a 200 Km/h TER), then catch any train to Zürich, there is one every half hour. It may have "SBB" painted on the side, or it may be a German ICE or a French TGV; but once on Swiss tracks they are all the same.

Advance fare tickets like this are strictly enforced in countries that offer them. If they catch you getting on at Mulhouse with a ticket from Paris you will almost certainly be fined.

thanks for your replies. We will just take a local train to from Colmar to Basel and then train from Basel to Zurich if we decide to add Colmar. thanks, again. Elaine