StuDudley

I am trying to help a friend purchase tickets online for Geneva to Annecy. I travel by train frequently - mainly in France. I have tried DB Bahn, Trainline, Rail Europe - and there are many no-train-change departures - but I can't book them!!! Only the 1 train change schedule is bookable. I can't figure out SNCF.

Are the direct trains bookable ahead of time???? Or do you just hop on the train and pay when you get there.

I am stumped!!!

Stu Dudley

swandav2000

Hi Stu!

When will your friend travel? Sometimes trains are only bookable 90 days in advance, and sometimes if the train operates after a new schedule, it won't be bookable until the new schedule opens (for example, schedules change typically in Oct for travel from Oct - May or thereabouts).

Also look at the Swiss rail site at

www.sbb.ch

Also, there is a regular bus schedule for this route, as it's very popular. The SBB will probably also show you that.

Good luck with the tickets!

s

Michael

According to Rome2Rio, the bus is more efficient:

https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Geneva-Ai...RoCCqIQAvD_BwE

swandav2000

Hi again,

I was able to get to the "purchase ticket" part with SBB for August but not for Oct. As it's a TER train, there isn't really an advantage to very early purchase.

Good luck!

s

StuDudley

They travel in Mid September.

Is this route possibly a "commuter" train like BART here in the SF Bay Area or the Metro in Paris?? Just purchase a ticket at the station & get on the train??

StuDudley

swandav2000

Hi again,

You can purchase those tickets on SBB for mid-Sep now.

It's a TER train, a local/regional train with many stops in the small communities along the route. It'll take about 1h30 for the trip. No, it's not a metro or anything, just a local train. But, yes, there is no advantage for advance purchase. It's not a long-distance or fast train (TGV, ICE, etc) where you can get better fares for advance purchase.

s

joannyc

I took the bus from Geneva airport to Annecy.

StuDudley

SBB seemed to work.

However, on Sept 14, are were 2 direct trains in the morning. Starting Sept 18, there are no direct trains until 15:17. And all the departures before 15:17 are buses - not trains??

Any reason why???

What site do I go to to find out about buses??

Stu Dudley

swandav2000

Hi again,

Try
gare-routiere.ch

https://www.gare-routiere.ch/

Go to "Destinations," then Regional Lines.

s

StuDudley

swandav

Any thoughts on the switch from trains to buses after Sept 18??? Track/tunnel repairs, can only book 30 days in advance???

Stu Dudley

swandav2000

Sorry, no, I have no idea. I looked at both SBB and DB (which usually makes a note for replacement busses), but there was no note or comments.

Looks like the bus no longer goes to downtown Geneva, but I bet it'd be quite easy to get to the Lancy-Bachet Gare, which is just a suburb of Geneva.

s

joannyc

Bus info: https://getbybus.com/en-us/geneva-airport-annecy

swandav2000

joannyc,

I'm surprised that link shows only 2 private companies instead of Gare Routiere, the Geneva-based transport service. Well, I haven't ever used them, and you have. Were there any Gare Routiere personnel around? Or was it a totally private enterprise?

s

joannyc

Sorry, I don’t really remember. I made the trip about 7 years ago so things may well have changed.

neckervd

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1196...Wel0Jg959/view