Good morning, all. I'm having trouble understanding why I get different results when typing in basically the same route information on the Swiss rail website with the only difference being adding on an extension of the trip.

For example, I can type in Venezia S. Lucia to Samedan on 12.03.05 and the best option it gives me includes a bus connection. But when I type in Venezia S. Lucia to Pontresina, I get a route with only 2 changes (in Milan and Tirano), no buses, and I can then easily add on the 6-minute connection from Pontresina to Samedan via a Regio train.

I just don't understand why I can't get the direct route from Venice to Samedan without the bus.

Thanks for any insight on this.

Topping for the afternoon crowd.

The reason is simple. The website always comes up with the quickest route.

It is funny, but in this case it really takes a few minutes less to Samedan with the many changes and the bus part (Bellinzona-Thusis) than via Pontresina and the fewer changes.

I am sure you'll choose the route via Tirano. It is more scenic too.

Thank you, Ingo. I was getting concerned that maybe some trains were filling up and I had waited too long, or something like that.

I use that site a lot. I always check out the routing before selecting. Like this year, there has been a change in the schedule from Munich to Interlaken Ost.
In years past I changed in Zürich.
This year, the schedule says change in Winterthur.

I looked at the exact routings and saw that the change in Winterthur was to my advantage. I had a smaller station and a little more time. I will get there with the same trains, but the changing is different.

For the trip from Interlaken Ost to the open air museum near Brienz, I looked at several options. The one with a bus from Brienz to the west gate of the museum area was the best choice because the buses were timed to run in concert with the trains with the least amount of waiting time.

Sometimes you can get a faster schedule by taking several changes and using the bus for a connection.

My advice is to check them out in detail by drilling down to the actual stops and the waiting time between trains and buses. Then you can make a very informed decision.

Believe me, they are not trying to trick you!! The system is trying to give you the quickest routing. Sometimes I take a slower routing because I don't want to make 3 or 4 changes. Usually the time factor is only a few minutes, and with my bum leg, sitting in the same seat is much easier!!

Thanks for your advice, Bob. I am essentially looking for the most convenient route, as in less train changes.