Reservations for Trains
 

WE will be traveling by train from Zurich to Zermatt, Zermatt to Geneva and Geneva back to Zurich.
We have family pass in a first class.
How critical (booked) is to reserve the seats in the train in March?
I understand it is not heavily traversed month in Switerland.
Thanks

Hi ErikJW,

You can't reserve trains in Switzerland except scenic ones.

Besides, you don't need to in 1st class -- it will be pretty empty.

s

That's a good news.

Thanks

Just for the record,

> You can't reserve trains in Switzerland except scenic ones.

It used be but things have been changing. Many IC trains can be reserved if you wish. Check www.sbb. for timetable and you will see. When there is R sign, reservation is possible (not compulsory).

Besides, you don't need to in 1st class -- it will be pretty empty.

That's correct even though even 1st class can be closer to full at some busy hours.

i've just returned from my 2 weeks of intensive backpacking around europe, travelling by train all the time. On Switzerland, we discovered that on certain hours (early morning and in the evening), trains are really full! Not by travellers by by local commuters getting to their jobs/school, etc. So if you don't mind squeezing a little, then it should be ok.

The weather was surprisingly lovely in February! I don't know wether you have finalized your plans or not but i think luzerne deserves a visit! Among all the 13 cities we travelled to (in Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany), me and my friends considered Luzerne our favourite.

Welcome back Aleckii! Hope we'll hear about your adventures.

Depending on the time you travel, you might find the Geneva - Zürich train quite full. Even first class during rush hour.

What to do? Walk the aisles till you find a spot. Just like the rest of us.

If worse comes to worse, you wait near the doors in the train until you come to a stop where a lot of people get off. Then you grab their seats.

But, this is really only during rush hour during the weekdays.

At certain hours, weekend trais can be full (2nd cls) also due to Swiss soldiers coming back home or the other way around.

> What to do? Walk the aisles till you find a spot. Just like the rest of us.

Yup, that what people do although I understand the concerns of the foreign travellers like OP. It's not easy doing it when you have huge luggage to carry.

Otherwise you are SUPPOSED to be able to find free seats for yourself on any Swiss domestic train without reservation, that's why traditionally reservation was not needed/not even possible at all.