Swiss trains/Basel to Zurich
 

Hi, I am trying to make sense of the train schedule between Basel and Zurich for next Summer. I got a response that I think says that they run every hour (my German is a bit rusty). What I can't figure out if it is a direct train or if there are transfers, and I would like a direct as we will be hauling luggage. Help! Sue

You can get an easy answer by googling "train basel to zurich." If there is a transfer, it tells you.

For more complete schedule, use http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html. It is in English.

Since you did not mention where you looked, I don't know the source of your "every hour" info. If you looked at the SBB site, you see trains not requiring changes running more often than once/hour between Basel SBB - Zurich Flughafen. They are listed as "0" in the chg. column.

Agree -- check the sbb website for definite info.

You probably start from "Basel SBB" which is Basel's main station and you departure at "Zürich HB" which is Zürich's main station (Zürich airport would be "Zürich Flughhafen").

Actually, the trains are running every few minutes. It is probably Switzerland's busiest connection.

Some trains are IC - Intercity - trains, other are IR - Interregio. IC trains are faster and a bit more comfortable.

All connections are direct.

Next summer's schedules aren't out yet but they rarely change much from the present schedule. Use sbb.ch and choose EN for English language.

Sue:

Actually next year's timetables are on line.

There will be 5 trains per hour between Basel SBB and Zürich HB, leaving Basel at 7, 13, 33, 37 and 47 minutes past the hour.

The ones leaving 7 and 33 minutes past are non-stop trains.

Hope this helps; enjoy your trip.

OK this helps a lot, I couldn't figure out which ones were non stop. Now I know I want Basel SBB, but am going to the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich, so do I want the Zurich HB (main station) would that be the closest to the hotel? Sue thanks a million folks.

Three main options:
1) walk from the station to the hotel (the terrain is flat but sidewalks are somewhat crowded, so this is probably the least attractive option)
2) take a taxi from the station to the hotel
3) get a "city ticket" for Zurich, which allows you to ride the tram to the stop closest to the hotel. The Börsenstrasse stop is close. So is Bürkliplatz (the hotel is almost between the two stops; Börsenstrasse comes first). The "city ticket" gives you access to the local transport network in Zurich for the whole day, so if you arrive early, you can head out and do some city exploring.

OK thanks. Any idea what a taxi from the main train station/Bahnhof in Zurich would cost to the Baur au Lac Hotel on lake Zurich might run? Just curious. We will have too much too tote I believe. Thanks again. This is a big help. Sue (silly to be concerned with the cost of a taxi with the cost of the hotel I think)

Not much, it is in walking distance, maybe 10 Franken or 12.