We bought 2nd class train tickets. We would like to go to the dining car for breakfast during the ride, but what is the protocol for our bags? We are traveling with two carry-on bags and small day backpacks (all RS items). I read RS' suggestions for putting the bags in the racks over our seats, but since we will be moving from our seats to the dining car, I would feel more secure taking them with us. Is this acceptable? Are there overhead racks in the dining car?
Thanks!
Be careful which train you take. Only the IC trains on that route have the SBB restaurant and about half the trains are IR which don't. Also only some of the IC trains are a direct service. Several make one or two changes -- not much fun with a breakfast plate. Also the journey is short - less than an hour, so you will want to be sitting down in there asap.
Have a look at https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-services/during-your-journey/sbb-restaurant.html
You can also grab and go at the Migros or many other outlets in Bern station before you go up to your train and eat at your seat.
If you're going in the working week be advised that that route is very busy with commuters at what most would consider breakfast time. Check the train you're interested in for the number (1,2, or 3) of stick figures which will indicate expected use. They are usually pretty accurate.
The video on the link I gave shows no luggage facilities and no overhead racks in the dining car.
I'd be very surprised if there were racks.
I often have breakfast on the train when I travel for work in France, and when I do so, I take my laptop bag with wallet etc. and leave my luggage. So does everyone else, and I suppose it is exactly the same I Switzerland.
Definitely take your bags with you. I would go straight to the restaurant car as you board. If you are using the SBB app, tap on “show train information” and it will tell you the composition of the train. It will also be on the sign that hangs above the platform that your train arrives on in Bern.
I was on an early morning Bern to Zurich train this week and sat in the restaurant area. The seats were larger than they are in the regular second class cars and I was able to put my large backpack under the table at my feet. It sounds like your luggage is fairly compact, I think you would have space for it.
Also, I asked someone I know who takes this route for work and they were pretty sure you would find luggage storage just outside the dining area, as you enter the train car. Take a look there as you enter.
The trip is one hour, a little longer if you are going past the Zurich main station to the airport. Plenty of time to eat breakfast. There are many direct trains. To be sure there is a restaurant, just look for the knife and fork restaurant symbol when you make your choice of which train to take.
myswisslife--thank you for this information. It's so helpful to have a better understanding of how to handle the situation. My husband is one of those that becomes faint/cranky if he doesn't eat often/regularly, so this way he can be comfortable when we arrive in Zurich. I assume the same suggestions apply when we take the train to Wengen (a week or so before the early morning train back to Zurich). I will be sure to catch a train that afternoon that has no stops before Bern and has a dining car. We will go straight to the dining car and have a quick bite before arriving in Bern. Thanks again for this helpful response. We leave today for Europe! First trip since the darn pandemic began.
If you want an extra half hour in the restaurant car you could change at Spiez instead of Bern.....
