Are timetables available for SNCF and SBB

[mike57]

A trip is in the early stages of planning. There are certain 'fixed points', but there are parts which are going to depend on whats possible from these fixed points and when we go (Object/highlight of the trip is the Bernina Bahn). Now I can put the start and end points into a journey planner, and get an itinerary. But as well as the Bernina Bahn we want to see some other sites as well.. So back in the days of timetables you could look at them and see where you could get easily from your trip fixed points, to take in some other places.

So what if anything is available?

 

[RT4038]

A trip is in the early stages of planning. There are certain 'fixed points', but there are parts which are going to depend on whats possible from these fixed points and when we go (Object/highlight of the trip is the Bernina Bahn). Now I can put the start and end points into a journey planner, and get an itinerary. But as well as the Bernina Bahn we want to see some other sites as well.. So back in the days of timetables you could look at them and see where you could get easily from your trip fixed points, to take in some other places.

So what if anything is available?

European Rail Timetable europeanrailtimetable.eu ?

 

[Gloster]

Try the European Rail Timetable, .europeanrailtimetable.eu .

 

[johncrossley]

The Swiss official timetable is

Informationshub für Kundeninformation und Fahrplandaten | öv-info.ch

www.oev-info.ch

 

[mike57]

@RT4038 @Gloster Thanks for the link. It looks everything is 'paid for', I might look at paying for them once we are close to travel date, in case we want to change plans because of weather or similar, but not at this stage.

@johncrossley Thanks for the link, that will need some exploring...

Mrs Mike57 loves the snow so maybe a late winter trip, she has seen a couple of YouTube videos of the Bernina Bahn, and has now added it to her bucket list, its been on mine for a while, and I have been instructed to start planning a possible trip and give her a cost estimate, as she is the 'finance manager'. It will be a 'treat' trip, so expense will not be first thought, just as well looking at the exchange rate CHF - GBP. She has a milestone birthday coming up, and I have higher number one in a couple of years so at this stage its still quite sketchy, but I am pretty certain it will happen, just not sure when or the details yet.

 

[biko]

In France, I don’t know about a national timetable but regional trains can be found on the ter.sncf.fr regional websites. Unfortunately, you first need to know which region and then you can go to the timetable page. On that page, you can choose the route from a dropdown menu and then you’ll get a pdf timetable

 

[dutchflyer]

Or one more time again-for the usual routes that the tipical (1st time) tourists take: seat61.com
For regional SNCF: most regions also provide a map of their part of the big national system online-but DO check timings, as some lines may be very, very infrequent indeed
For exploring what you describe, an older (still when printed) Th Cook EUR timeable may be just as helpful-lines do not change that much, frequencies are as a rough rule generally a little better as then. Perhaps one can get those older guides as 2nd hand/used for cheap somewhere in GB

 

[Alfonso]

The European timetable shop usually sells last summer/winter timetable for a fiver or so which is great for this sort of thing and armchair travel, and personally I'd get a new one for an actual trip.

 

[Gordon]

A trip is in the early stages of planning. There are certain 'fixed points', but there are parts which are going to depend on whats possible from these fixed points and when we go (Object/highlight of the trip is the Bernina Bahn). Now I can put the start and end points into a journey planner, and get an itinerary. But as well as the Bernina Bahn we want to see some other sites as well..

Can't help a great deal without knowing your fuller itinerary as that will indicate what level of detail you need for the timetables. And for costing, you need to tell me what you have planned in Switzerland as it makes a big difference as to which type of ticket or day pass you get.

You may not know this but Switzerland is rather unique in having - for its perfectly integrated public transport (PT) network - an 'all line annual subscription' for residents who travel frequently (and given that Switzerland is one of the few countries where you can reach almost every square km of the whole country by some sort of pt it isn't surprising) . There is a one day version of this which is a 'day rover' ticket for the whole country (an enthusiasts dream in other words!). If you are in CH for a short time this is usually the best ticket to get.


.

 

[mike57]

Can't help a great deal without knowing your fuller itinerary

Thanks for the answer. Apart from the Bernina Bahn, and some time in the Alps, its still a work in progress. Outward and return journey will be Eurostar to Paris, and SNCF onwards into Switzerland. Thats isnt going to change as Mrs Mike57 hates flying. With an early start from home it looks to be possible to get into Switzerland in the day, and options seem to be Zurich or Geneva. then possibly 5-6 nights/4-5 days, with one major activity each day, Bernina Bahn occupying 1 day, with that journey possibly on the last Swiss day returning via Milan, and a possible overnight stop in Paris. In terms of when, early spring looks favorite, while there is still a good chance of some decent snow.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Thanks for the answer. Apart from the Bernina Bahn, and some time in the Alps, its still a work in progress. Outward and return journey will be Eurostar to Paris, and SNCF onwards into Switzerland. Thats isnt going to change as Mrs Mike57 hates flying. With an early start from home it looks to be possible to get into Switzerland in the day, and options seem to be Zurich or Geneva. then possibly 5-6 nights/4-5 days, with one major activity each day, Bernina Bahn occupying 1 day, with that journey possibly on the last Swiss day returning via Milan, and a possible overnight stop in Paris. In terms of when, early spring looks favorite, while there is still a good chance of some decent snow.

Back in 2022 on a trip to Italy we did Leeds to Zurich in a day arriving in time for tea at a reasonable hour. Change in Paris across to Gare De Lyon. The TGV was very reasonably priced.

 

[Alfonso]

Thanks for the answer. Apart from the Bernina Bahn, and some time in the Alps, its still a work in progress. Outward and return journey will be Eurostar to Paris, and SNCF onwards into Switzerland. Thats isnt going to change as Mrs Mike57 hates flying. With an early start from home it looks to be possible to get into Switzerland in the day, and options seem to be Zurich or Geneva. then possibly 5-6 nights/4-5 days, with one major activity each day, Bernina Bahn occupying 1 day, with that journey possibly on the last Swiss day returning via Milan, and a possible overnight stop in Paris. In terms of when, early spring looks favorite, while there is still a good chance of some decent snow.

If you want to get off the trains, generally in the valleys, and up into the mountains then look at a couple of cable car etc timetables to see when they are operating as many will close between end of ski season and beginning of summer walking season. If you want to go walking in the mountains many highish routes will be closed until June or later. For example, the aletsch area ( a personal favourite) is closed from early April to early June. Link to operating season timetable for 2025,2026: https://www.aletscharena.ch/en/planning-booking/timetable-operating-hours

Also worth noting if you're going on the Bernina bahn that quite a lot of hotels around St Moritz, pontresina etc include travel on cable cars etc if staying . One example is at https://www.randolins.ch/en/room-rates-and-packages/mountain-railway-inclusive/?origin=serp_auto but the offer is available at most hotels in the area. Also of note on that webpage is that the st moritz area closed season is even longer.

While Switzerland transport is very integrated, it's official tourism offer is very fragmented and you'll find old school tourism offices, local and regional passes etc for surprisingly small areas.

 

[rvdborgt]

Thanks for the answer. Apart from the Bernina Bahn, and some time in the Alps, its still a work in progress. Outward and return journey will be Eurostar to Paris, and SNCF onwards into Switzerland. Thats isnt going to change as Mrs Mike57 hates flying. With an early start from home it looks to be possible to get into Switzerland in the day, and options seem to be Zurich or Geneva. then possibly 5-6 nights/4-5 days, with one major activity each day, Bernina Bahn occupying 1 day, with that journey possibly on the last Swiss day returning via Milan, and a possible overnight stop in Paris. In terms of when, early spring looks favorite, while there is still a good chance of some decent snow.

In March (exact date still unknown), the direct TGVs Milan-Paris should be restored.

 

[30907]

Back in 2022 on a trip to Italy we did Leeds to Zurich in a day arriving in time for tea at a reasonable hour. Change in Paris across to Gare De Lyon. The TGV was very reasonably priced.

My daughter has done this twice from Shipley, but via Paris Est-Strasbourg-Basel (the TGV supplement is cheaper, and it's just about as quick).

I'd consider the Luzern area as a base for travel in Switzerland, unless you are a particular fan of big cities.

 

[mike57]

Paris Est-Strasbourg-Basel

And Paris-Est is a reasonable walk from Gare du Nord, we've done it a couple of times, rather than having to get on the RER, tickets, escalators etc. to get to Gare de Lyon, so yes might consider that, thanks for the tip. Cost wont be the primary driver, but I can see it being easier to be honest.

 

[43096]

I'd consider the Luzern area as a base for travel in Switzerland, unless you are a particular fan of big cities.

I’d suggest Olten for similar reasons: you can get to almost all of Switzerland from there for a day trip. It’s also an interesting railway location in its own right: an evening there reveals an amazing volume and variety of trains, both freight and passenger.

 

[Alfonso]

Not that you asked, and I've no idea about your preferences for trains, scenery, chocolate, skiing, walking, or whatever, but I'd suggest staying somewhere you want to be rather than somewhere that means it's easy to travel to places. Interlaken is a favourite of Brits but I've always had a soft spot for Brig. Nice location and scenery, Brigerbad thermal baths 20 minutes away, the centovalli to the south, narrow gauge little red trains to Zermatt and through furka-oberalp shuttling in and out of the station forecourt. Big trains down the phone valley, up to the loetschburg summit tunnel and through the base tunnel, and enough places to eat and drink and a couple of in town attractions too. Mind you there are many places that tick most of these boxes or similar ones.