The rail station connected to the airport-it makes it very easy.

As Steve said, the train station in the Zuerich Kloten airport is easy to find.
It is down two or three layers from baggage claim as I remember.
But it is in the same building so you can get there without going outside.

There are carts to carry your luggage and escalators to transport you. I don't advise using the cart on the escalator, but people seem to do it. Some have a problem, however.
There is a shopping mall on the level immdiately above the tracks. The mall has several stores where you can buy food items, chocolates, reading material, and gifts. There are also some eating places and a bank.

We were in the Zurich airport to fly out last summer, so we did not actually use the rail facility, but we did take the train to Lauterbrunnen in Sept of '98. Even jet-lagged, we found the right train with minimal difficult.

If I spotted the right Regensdorf on the map, there is a train every half hour. According to the schedule, there is one change, and the journey takes 17 minutes.
The Regensdorf I saw on my map is to the west of Zuerich. So I hope I found the right one.
I cannot help you with the hotel.

You can look at the train schedule yourself by consulting the SBB website at www.sbb.ch It is in 4 languages.

Bob,

Carts on an escalator - - man, oh man, let me tell you something - - I am NOT a safety-freak/worry-wart - - I drive too fast, and I frequently don't wear my seat belt.

But carts on escalators are more dangerous than most people realize. No one should EVER take anything on an escalator - - wheels or not - - unless they feel comfortable lifting it easily and quickly - - like I mean above your head - - in a hearbeat.

I once made a terrible mistake taking a heavy handtruck on an escalator - - I didn't realize how crowded it really was, and I didn't have the time or inclination to find the elevator. When I go to the top, I literally could not get it up over the small lip at the end of the escalator - - it was a period of something like 5 or 6 seconds, I suppose, but long enough that people were being mechanically propelled into the functional equivalent of a brick wall. Fortunately, there was a strong passerby nearby the top of the escalator, and together he and I moved my obstruction before serious injury occurred to me or anyone else - - but I really learned a lesson.

Taking a "SmarteCart" or other luggage trolley (especially loaded down heavily) on an escalator is REALLY flirting with serious danger.

As I said, I don't recommend carts on the escalator. True, I saw it done, but I also saw it cause a major problem.
I was not tempted, believe me!!
Zurich Kloten Airport is, to me, strange.
It is multi-floored, and the check-in counters are upstairs. The waiting areas are too small, and you ride a bus out to the airplane. You can actually wander around the place wondering where the H are the checkin counters.

Mary,
Here's a website with a map of the airport at Zurich: www.swissair.com/service/airport/zurich.htm#maps
There's also a map (not as good) at: www.zurich-airport.com

As I recall, as you exit the baggage claim/customs gated area, you turn left and head downstairs. As the maps show, the SBB connection is in terminal B, so the length of your hike will depend on which terminal you land in. It can be a looong hike, so use wheeled luggage or the luggage cart. By the way, I'm 5'3" and weigh 115 lbs and have no problem with the carts on the escalators -- just be sure you have the brake set! There are also elevators available.
suzann