Must change train in Geneve and Sion....
 

As some of you may recall, My family and I are travelling from Paris, through Switzerland then onto Italy. Because we're going in December we found the winter train schedules to have done away with some of the direct trains. That being the case, on the trip from Paris to Montreux we have to change train in Geneve and from Montreux to Venice we have to change trains in Sion.

Since I've never been to either of these train stations is there anything I need know about them? Are they easy to tell where you need to go? Good signage? etc..

We leave in 5 weeks and since we're travelling with my parents I'm trying to be well prepared.

I don't have specific advice, but want to offer general assurance that trains in Switzerland are extremely organized and easy to use. I've done Geneva airport to Montreux many times. Also once the Sion transfer on a day train coming back from Venice. Sion is a small station, I believe I simply walked across the platform. I don't know the downtown Geneve station, as I always come in from the airport.

I did use the Geneva train station on my last trip to Switzerland and it's very easy to navigate. In fact, I found all of the trains in Switzerland to be most efficient and always on time. I think you'll be OK.

I do not understand why you would have to change trains in Sion traveling from Montreux to Venice.

Are you taking the Cisalpino service? This normally stops in Montreux and runs through to Brig/Milano/Venice without the necessity of change.

Sion is barely more than two platforms in terms of station size so if you are changing there you should have NO trouble at all finding your ongoing train.

I would advise you to check the schedules again or supply dates and one of us can check for you.

I spent a long time on the phone with an agent of All Rail Europe and she indicated that that I needed to take the regional train from Montreux to Sion then the Cisalpino line from Sion to Venice. We are travelling that leg on Dec.23rd.

OK...am not at a place where I can easily access an on-line timetable or even my Cook's but i will be later and will respond....someone else may be able to check for you as well.

One thing...at least you are headed in the right direction. It MAY very well be that on the day you are traveling the Cisalpino service does not stop in Montreux (very possible) and it would make sense that you would travel there on a regional service and then change.

It will be an EASY change as the station is small.

Geneve is larger (more platforms) but well-marked..assume you are coming in on a TGV?..you won't get lost.

Cisalpino #37 leaves Montreux at 0956 and runs direct to Venice on 2 December '04

You can check schedules by going to www.sbb.ch
There is an English version ifyou click on the right hand side (it says Swiss Federal Railways)

Hi sandi_travelnut,

Well the Swiss rail site is showing more details for the winter schedule now. They show the Paris-Montreux route changing in Lausanne, not Geneva. There is a train at 07.44-11.37 to Lausanne, then 11.46-12.04 to Montreux. The next train leaves Paris 13.04, arriving Lausanne at 16.52, leaving Lausanne at 16.56 and arriving Montreux 17.16. I forgot if you're travelling on 21 or 22 Dec, but I checked it for both days, and it's the same. Interestingly, if you travel on 23 Dec, there is a direct train leaving Paris at 16.44, arriving Montreux at 21.11.

The Montreux-Venice leg also differs from what Raileurope is telling you. According to the Swiss rail site, you'll be changing in Brig & Milan, not Sion. There is that direct night train, though, that leaves as 23.40 and arrives Venice 07.23.

Anyway, as we get closer to your travel dates, more and more details should appear on the winter schedule -- details like track numbers so you'll know how far you'll travel in each transfer.

If I were you, I'd go ahead and buy the tickets from Raileurope for peace of mind, but verify the schedules once you're in country.

Best of luck!

s

We had the option of taking the Paris-Montreux via Laussane but chose the train that leaves an hour later in Paris and goes thru Geneva. I don't know what to say about the other one thru Sion...

I did buy the tickets and the railpass and get them yesterday.

Hi sandi_travelnut,

I did find your train on the tgv site -- strange it doesn't appear on the sbb site.

In any case, you can take a train at 12.10 from Geneva to Montreux, but you'll change in Lausanne. Probably your best bet will be one at 12.36 (track 4), arriving Montreux 13.39, 0 changes.

Maybe the Sion connection will become more clear as we get closer to the day. Just keep checking the rail sites for updated info.

s

This was the summer schedule, but several trains go every hour between Geneva and Montreux. But only one did not require a change at Lausanne (it left the airport train station at :09 past each hour).

Hmm. As usual no one really checked it for you! If you check the Swiss Federal Railway schedule in the next few days be aware that the winter schedule is coming on line and there is a highlighted red text area that you need to click in order to see the schedule you need.

You will see the words Timetable 2005 and some dates, all in red.

You indeed need to change at Sion if I read that schedule correctly.

One reason the routing is through Geneve to Montreux is because the Paris - Lausanne route puts you on a regional train that makes numerous stops, or else you wait a while.

Are you going to Montreux because you want to?

It is a long darn trip from Paris to Venice, that is for sure.
Have you considered flying?
It is $241 according to Expedia.
The mystery is that a one way flight is much, much more. I presume you can not use the return portion.

brookwood, thanks for the suggestions but if you click on my name you'll see that we hashed thru all of those a year ago when I first started planning.

Thanks