how to transfer from train to train

Hi there Jodi,

Not a silly question at all! While it depends on the issuer/country, you'll probably receive your actual ticket with as one for Paris to Interlaken, with all of the stops listed right on it, and you'll probably have a few other tickets that are just seat reservations. If you have any, those will only get stamped on their respective ride, while the main ticket will get stamped for each leg of the trip. I'm reasonably sure that your tickets will probably all be validated on the train itself, although you may want to wait until someone else posts to double check that

As for the actual transfer, just hop off the train at the right stop, and either follow the crowds if it's a popular route or take a look at the TV screens/posted signs for when and which track your next train is leaving from. Hop over or under the other tracks to the right platform, and off you go!

Brian

In Germany, one ticket is valid for the entire trip. If you are taking multiple trains, each conductor will want to see your ticket and will probably "punch" it. In Italy, I believe (never been there) tickets must be validated in special stamping machines before you board.

The main things about a train change.
Try to know in advance where (platform number) your next train will board.

Be prepared when you get to the station. Proceed to the end of the car and be ready to get off when the train stops.

Travel quickly to the next train's platform. Stay with the "herd". The conductor is not going to release the train while people are getting on.

We had 20 people in our group making a transfer in Milan Centrale. We only had 15 minutes and we rushed madly to gather luggage, get off the train, find the new train and get on with our luggage. We barely made it. Yes, be as ready as you possibly can.

If you do not get an itinerary with your ticket, that tells you what track your next train is leaving from, then ask the conductor who stamps your ticket. They should be able to tell you which track you should go to. I have never traveled in any of the countries where I had to validate a ticket, so check on the boards here for those countries. You don't have to in Germany or France.

If you buy a regular ticket for Paris-Interlaken, I believe that you will have to insert it in the yellow "composteur" machine at the gate at the station in Paris. "Compostage"--a validation stamp--is standard procedure at French train stations. Tickets you print yourself (like PREM's) do not require "compostage." You show those to a conductor after you get on board.

The advice given here is good. After train travel in Europe for over 20 years I have learned to always move fast wherever you are.

Always ask for a computer print of your trip which should show train numbers and names, stations where changes are required, track numbers and times.

When leave a train look for a RR employ on the platform to ask about your connection. Sometimes the overhead signs will help you.

Read the signs on the sides of the cars. Observe the no smoking cars. Also watch for first and second class cars.

When you board a car always ask a passenger if your car is going to your destination. Sometimes the train will drop cars in route without stopping and you can end in another town if you are in the wrong car.

That happened to my daughter once when she was in the last car and she had to retrace her route to get to her destination. Luckily the conductor accepted her ticket and did not charge her.

For a change in Basel, you will probably come into the Basel, SNCF (French) station and depart from the Basel, SBB (Swiss) station. Fortunately, they are adjacent (end to end, actually). Before Switzerland became a part of the Schengen Treaty area, you had to get off the train in the SNCF station, go through passport control and customs where the border intersected the platform, then board another (or the same) train on the Swiss side. I don't know how they do it now. The French train might come all the way into the Swiss station.

We had a Rail Pass (and seat reservation tickets)....so don't know about P-T-P tickets.

We traveled from Paris to Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen. We stayed on the same train from Paris to Zurich. Changed trains in Zurich to Interlaken Ost.

We traveled through 8 countries during the 8 weeks....don't recall ever having to get off one train and get on another at a border.