By Plane - Trains to all region leave the airport train station of Zurich and Geneva hourly, if not more frequently.
By Train - The latest generation of high speed trains connect all major European cities to Switzerland. Domestically , too, its intense network ensures a speedy and comfortable journey.
SWISS PASS AND SWISS FLEXI PASS
Switzerland is ideal country to explore by rail, lake steamer, postal bus and city transit system. The Swiss Pass and Swiss Flexi Pass both provide unlimited, economical access to all these, including the special scenic routes, and offer many bonuses, such as discounts on cable cars, mountaintop excursions, high-speed and overnight trains to France, Spain and Germany, and admission to many museum. Swiss Passes are good for unlimited usage for a period of 4 days to a month. The Swiss Flexi Pass is available for any three to eight days within a month. If two or more person travel togather, each one receives a 15 per cent discount. An eight-day Swiss Pass is available for only USD 204. - per adult. Youths upto 26 years of age can obtain the Swiss Youth Pass with further price reduction. All passes are available in either first or second class.
SWISS TRANSFER TICKET AND SWISS CARD
The Swiss Transfer Ticket includes one free round trip from any Swiss airport or border to anywhere in Switzerland. Price: USD 85.- in second class and USD 122.- in first class.
The Swiss Card gives, in addition to the round trip, a discount of 50 per cent on all further train, bus or boat travel. This also applies to many mountain top excursion.
FAMILY CARD
Families can ask for a free Swiss Travel System Family Card. It will entitle all children upto 16 years of age to travel free, as long as minimally one parent is accompanying them.
SCENIC ROUTES THROUGH SPECTACULAR SCENERY
A highlight of any Swiss trip is a ride on one or several scenic routes. Scenic routes connect the most popular tourist destinations and offer a panoramic ride by trai, bus or boat through spectacular scenery.
The most important scenic routes are: The Glacier Express, William Tell Express (boat ride on Lake Lucerne plus Alpine crossing on the legendary Gotthard route), Bernina Express (cross Switzerland north to south and see the highest mountains in Graubuenden), Golden Pass Line (from Lake Luzern via Interlaken to Lake Geneva), Palm Express (postal bus ride between the world-known resorts of St Moritz and Lugano) and the Swiss Chocolate rain (with visits to cheese and chocolate makers). The Mont-Blanc Express is the shortest link between Switzerland and the popular French resort Chamonix. All Swiss Travel System passes and tickets are vaild for free travel to and from Chamonix.
Most of these trains have panoramic cars to optimise Alpine viewing. Travellers with a Swiss Pass or Swiss Flexipass pay only a small reservation fee on these routes, although many routes require no reservation fee.
RAIL AND DINE OPTION
In addition to the special Swiss Chocolate Train, passengers on Swiss Trains have a variety of dining options. Enjoy the elegance of classic dining cars with white tablecloths on many of the intercity lines. The new tilting ICN trains feature modern dining cars or provide the option of having a meal served at your seat. Double-decker IC - 2000 trains have a bistro car. Local specialities are frehly prepared and served on the Glacier Express and the network of the Rhaetian Railways. Seat reservations for dining cars may be made upto 24 Hours in advance. Freshly prepared snacks and beverages are always avaiable from the minibar on most intercity trains.
FREQUENT SERVICES ON THE SWISS TRAIN NETWORK
Swiss intercity trains connect the major Swiss Cities in a rhythm of every half hour between roughlly 6 am and 10 pm. Larger cities have connections until midnight and even longer on weekends. This synchronised timetable, where trains always leave at the same time every hour, allows for a rapid transition between trains at hub train stations and enables passengers to get to more places faster. Less frequented lines still have an hourly train connection. Suburban trains, easily recognised because they are marked as S-Bahn, travel every 15 minutes during rush hour. Apart from the few scenic trains, seat reservations are not required in Swiss Trains. There are always seats available in first and second class. Up-to-date schedule information for Swiss trains, buses and boats is easily available at www.rail.ch/timetable
FLY RAIL BAGGAGE COUPONS
Fly Rail Baggage Coupons (USD 15.- per piece of luggage) allow travellers to check bags at any airport worldwide and pick them up at many Swiss railways stations. For any easy departure from Switzerland, passengers can check in their bags and even collect theboarding pass at many Swiss Rail Stations.
DO IT YOURSELF TRAVEL
Swiss Travel System now offers easy packages that passengers can do on their own. These are a combination of rail and hotel packages, which offer the convenience of a package holiday but the freedom of DIY holiday at your time and convenience.
