susan001

I'm seriously considering traveling to Murren on my own via train. I will be flying into Zurich. Will I need to book train transport ahead of time? Or can I just buy a ticket at the Zurich station? Will I need to buy the ticket to Lauterbrunnen at the same time or will I do that at the Interlaken Ost station? I'll be traveling in early July (around the 5th).

kwren

Buy the entire ticket at the Zurich train station - they'll even print up a little card with your itinerary for you: train changes with times and track numbers.

I hope you are considering a train pass of some sort.

victoria_reynolds

You'll have to sort out the economics, but with the train passes, train travel in Switzerland is so easy: Just check the schedule and jump on (do pay attention to the 1st class/2nd class cars where applicable). The first class pass also gets you the nice first class levels of the steamboats on the lakes. Occasionally, you may need to pay a supplement or your train pass renders you a discount on some of the excursions (the Jungfrauhoch tip comes to mind).

susan001

Thanks, Kwren and VR. I don't believe I'll be using the train enough to warrant getting the pass. I may do this leg on my own, and then meet up with a tour group. If, however, I decide to do an entire trip on my own, the pass may make more sense.

altamiro

Then, just buy the ticket from Zürich airport to Mürren at the airport train station. Some trains are bound through to Interlaken, other require a change in Bern. You will definitely have to change trains in Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, get to the cable car across the road and then the local train along the mountainside from the cable car top station to Mürren.

As to the tour group - Switzerland is probably the most "user friendly" country there is. No need for a tour group unless you specifically wish one.

susan001

Thanks so much, altamiro. I'm trying to get my courage up to do an entire trip solo. If I decide to do so, would it make more sense to rent a car once I'm in Austria (for visiting Hallstatt and other lake district towns)?

altamiro

>Thanks so much, altamiro. I'm trying to get my courage up to do an entire trip solo. If I decide to do so, would it make more sense to rent a car once I'm in Austria (for visiting Hallstatt and other lake district towns)?

You can do so, but the public transport in Austria is not much worse than that in Switzerland. The only problem is that not everything is in the OeBB transport database - so many bus lines are easy to overlook. Still, if you want to visit TOWNS, you don't need a car. If you want to go into the mountains, a car in the Hallstatt area might be helpful.

altamiro

And you are welcome of cours! Too late for my manners I'm afraid

bob_brown

Hi Susan.
In years past I have spent quite a bit of time in Lauterbrunnen where I rent an apartment by the week.

I have made the trip to Mürren several times. I am assuming that you mean that you will be traveling in 2007.

Your route to Mürren will be as follows:
Train from the Zürich Airport train station (in the airport building) to Interlaken Ost. You may need to change in Bern, depending upon your connection.

Be sure you go to Interlaken Ost because that is where you must change for Lauterbrunnen. Normally, you board the Lauterbrunnen car in Sektor 2A, but be sure to check the hangtag on the side of the railcar before you board.

In Lauterbrunnen, you will then change to the new cable lift system for the ride up the side of the valley to Grutschalp. From Grutschalp, you change to a little train for the ride to Muerren.

There should be no need for any advance booking. Buy your ticket at the train station in Zürich and head for Lauterbrunnen via Bern, Spiez, and Thun.

I partly agree with those who say you probably don't need a pass. But consider your options.

A Swiss card is $133[this year], plus postage from Rail Europe or 178 chf with no postage at the airport train station in Zürich.

The round trip fare from Zürich to Lauterbrunnen is 143 chf. Going on to Murren is about another 32.80 for a total cost of 175.80

With the Swiss Card, your inward trip and outward trip are included in the cost of the card at no extra charge.

Everything after that (with minor exceptions) is 50% off.

Assuming that you go and come via Zurich airport, the cost of the individual tickets is almost equal to the cost of the Swiss Card.

If you traveled more than that, you would save money. For example, if you wanted to ride to the top of the Schilthorn from Muerren, the individual round trip ticket is 98.40. You would save half of that amount with the Card. Otherwise you would pay ALL of it.

So before you dismiss out of hand whether or not a Swiss Card or other pass would help you cost wise, consider where you might want to travel while you are there.


I am surmising that you would return to Zürich for your trip back.

With the Swiss Card, you get 50% off of the list price for almost all rides in the Berner Oberland area. (I know of 2 minor exceptions.) You also get 50% off of all rides, other than your exit journey on the national rail system.

No Swiss national rail pass will give you more than 50% off the mountain cable ways and trains. (The Swiss Pass does NOT entitle you to a free ride on the mountain systems.)

You will need to make your own decision based on your plans.

susan001

Wow, bob brown, thanks for the detailed information, much appreciated. So if I follow you correctly, if I buy the swiss card, the round trip train fare will be included with purchase of the card? And this card may be purchased at the train station in Zurich? I had no idea the Schilthorn ride is nearly $100!

kwren

Susan - I am Bob's biggest fan as regards to train passes. Tell him what you will be doing by train and then buy a pass! He did not lead me astray!!!

susan001

I'm thinking it might pay to buy a swiss rail pass for 4 or 8 consecutive days, depending on what I decide to do. I would like to get a 1st class pass.

Thanks for all advice!

bob_brown

I should have said more clearly that the Schilthorn price was in Swiss francs. Multiply 98.40 by .82 or .83 to convert to an approximate US dollar cost. That is about $80.00

If you ride to the top from Mürren the cost is 65.60 chf round trip.

I should have been more specific and listed that prices were in Swiss francs.

Go to this web site and look on the right of center for a PDF file that has the prices of all the Swiss discount instruments.

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reiselust/i...ufsstellen.htm

The site will tell you that 8 day first class Swiss Pass is 462 chf, if two adults buy together. For a single, the price is higher: 543 chf.

I have ridden first class several times outside of Switzerland, but except for fewer people and a bit more space, I never was that impressed. I have not bothered with first class in Switzerland. Never thought it was a cost effective use of my money!

There is not the dramatic difference between 2nd and 1st class on the train as there is on domestic airline flights.
Of course the difference between business class and economy class when flying trans Atlantic is very great.

When trying to determine if a pass is going to save you money, there is only one way to tell. Predict as best you can which rides you want to take. Then using the www.sbb.ch website, total up the point to point costs. I also use the Jungfraubahn table of costs as well.
http://www.jungfraubahn.ch/de/Deskto...9/86_read-158/

Then figure out which is the most expensive: the pass or the individual tickets. The task is more difficult when you are having to figure in 50% discounts on the mountain rides.

The tools to figure it all up are available.

I just hope the weather is good enough for me to take advantage of my Swiss Card in about 10 days.

susan001

Thanks so much, Bob. I'll do the math! Thanks also for your insight into 1st vs. 2nd class. I'll go with second.

I hope you have a wonderful time in 10 days!

Susan

susan001

I have yet another question--regarding luggage on Swiss trains. If I have a suitcase larger than a carryon, will I have to check it? what if I have to change trains? I'm a little nervous about this. S

kleeblatt

Hi Susan! When the train stops at your platform, everyone gets off. Then you get on. As simple as that.

There is no one to check your ticket as you get on. Sometimes a conductor comes through as the train is moving and asks for your ticket.

There is a space to set down huge suitcases as you go in the door. For smaller suitcases, I would put them in the rack above your seat or between the seats that face back to back. I'd advise to pack light because you'll need to lift your suitcase up a few steps.

Travelling with luggage is easy. It's just changing trains at some trains stations that can be a bit stressful because you might have to go down through a tunnel and then go back up to a another "Gleis" (track) in a matter of minutes.

Don't worry. You'll get the hang of it easily. And if you do miss a train, another is bound to come within the hour.

Please take a look at the sbb.ch website. Put in en for English and start playing with it. It will give you more confidence in using our wonderful train system.

susan001

Thanks, Schuler! I'll never forget an experience I had in Scotland, running to catch a train with a huge suitcase... I got on board, but then I couldn't find an available seat! I walked from car to car with my big case, and then ended up outside between two cars, sitting on the end of my suitcase. What an experience!

bob_brown

I ride to Switzerland with all my gear in a big suitcase. I lift weights (no joke) to prepare!

Usually I find a space between the seats and slide my big one in.

Sometimes I stash it at the end of the car in a luggage area.

Don't worry. If you have trouble, someone will help you.

I have gotten help when I needed it!!

I find that riding trains in Switzerland to be fun. They are good trains.
I really enjoy it. Sit there and watch the landscape roll by.

We will be coming in from Basel to Interlaken Ost.

There, you can walk down a ramp and head for the tracks to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald.

Most of the tracks (gleis) have Sektor letters, like A, B, C, D.

It is easy to find where you need to go.

Believe me it ain't that big of a deal.
No security checkpoints and no bag searches to bug you.

Go with confidence. The details fall into place.

I go to Switzerland because I usually enjoy it.

susan001

You are very helpful, Bob. And you have just boosted my confidence.

bob_brown

Any time. I wish I still dared print my email address.

I did, and got spammed to death.
So I don't give it these days.

However, I get so much junk that I don't see how I could get more.