Paris to Interlaaken train advice needed

Just looked up the route at the Swiss Rail site http://rail.ch and it doesn't list any trains with connections at Karlsruhe? In any event, your fastest route will be via Basel from Paris Est station, journey time between 5.5 to six hours depending on your departure. You have plenty of time to make the connection, even if you miss it, there are direct trains to Interlaken every 30 minutes.

If you book far enough in advance (up to three months allowed) at www.tgv-europe.com, you can get discount fares for Paris Est-Interlaken Ost with a connection in Basel (Bale in French). To keep the site in English and to avoid being bumped to the Rail Europe site which doesn't offer discount fares, choose Great Britain as your country of residence.

Thanks a lot for your input. It is good to know 6 minutes switch is doable and there are plenty of trains even if I miss one.

Michael: I am looking for trains on June 13th. I don't know if the trains I am looking at are available only then.

I appreciate the pointer to tgv-europe and the tips. It seems to open up for reservations only 60 days in advance. However, it seems to offer options other than those I found on sbb.ch.

Thanks again.

Normally you can book up to three months in advance at tgv-europe.com. However, the semi-annual timetable changes will occur (coincidentally) on 13 June. You won't be able to book on the site until French national rail issues new timetables which they will do a month or so ahead of 13 June. FYI, times are likely to change by only a few minutes here or there, if at all.

They don't have the full schedule for June up yet---that is too far ahead. June 13 is a Sunday. If you look at a Sunday within 60 days, say April 18, you will see the direct route Paris--Basel---Interlaken Ost in 5.5. hours. No need to go to Karlsruhe, which takes an additional 2 hours. The change time at Basel is 9 minutes.

This route is unlikely to change more than a few minuttes, so just be patient and book in April, when the full schedule is up, for your June trip.

Lola,

Did you find the 5.5 hours route on sbb.ch?

Thanks a lot.

Sorry about the previous mail. I was able to find the train referred to by Lola on sbb.ch. The lesson learned for me is that I should not book too soon if I want all the options!

If you book at www.tgv-europe.com, you can get discount fares; but you won't be able to book until the new timetables are uploaded that will go into effect on 13 June. (See my posts above.) Keep checking the site until all departure times for 13 June appear. (They should pretty much match the ones for 6 June which you can see now.) That site shows the six-minute connection. It will give you the choice of arriving at Interlaken West or Interlaken Ost. I presume you will want to choose Interlaken Ost.

To be sure you make your connection, be standing at the door of the train when it pulls into Basel (Bale) so you and your child are the first ones to get off.