Train connections in Spiez and Arth Goldau
 

We are travelling Milan to Interlaken with a connection in Spiez. The fastest train schedule provides merely 6 minutes to change trains in Spiez. Is this doable or are we doomed to wait in Spiez for over an hour to wait for the next train to Interlaken?

Similarly, we are coming back from Luzern to Milan with a connection in Arth-Goldau. I had booked the tickets from Arth Goldau to Milan and am trying to decide what time to leave from Luzern. There is one schedule that allows for less than 10minutes connection in Arth Goldau? Is this doable or should I be leaving Luzern earlier to make that booked train to Milan?

Yes, doable, these intervals are timed to allow you to make it. Trust the Swiss to have this down. Ten minutes in Arth Goldau are seven more than you really need - it is timed for slow walkers and families with the very shortlegged ones.

Hi zizz,

The Swiss rail schedules are engineered like, you know, a Swiss watch! All of the connecting times are engineered so that 99.9% of the passengers can make it without pain or stress.

If you can move with all your bags in one move, yes, you'll find this easy. I'm betting that you'll make the move in about two minutes and you'll have four minutes to sit waiting!

I think you'll find both changes very easy.

s

Sorry; did not intend to repeat DalaiLlama's good information. It must have posted while I was still and slowly . . typing!

s

Don't be sorry, there is nothing wrong with hearing it in stereo...

Usually yes, but not always. I've taken dozens of trains from Milan through Switzerland. More than a handful of them ran late due to delays on the Italian side - they usually managed to catch up to Swiss scheduling at some point, but sometimes they were still running a few minutes behind when we reached Spiez.

If you do have to wait, the view is beautiful and there is a cafe at the train station. However, be advised that they're digging up the road that runs right in front of the station - it's a bit noisy and dusty there at the moment.