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TRAINS, BUSSES & CRUISE BOATS IN SWITZERLAND
InterCity and Regional
The
InterCity trains (IC) are for long-distance travelling, the Regional
(Regio) are for travel within distinct regions and make more stops. The
CN or CNL trains are special coaches which lean in the curves to make
the ride smoother and faster. There are some local trains as well, and
the Post Bus system oprerates in sync with the train schedules. Arrive
a station and walk out to the bus station to continue to smaller towns
or mountain villages not served by the rail tracks. Major population
centers and cities provide a network of S-Bahn (Strassen Bahn) suburban
trains. Even the steam and motor ships on the lakes are included in the
interconnected public transit system, as well as some of the cog wheel
mountain trains up to the high altitudes.
PostBus
The districtive yellow Postbus has long since replaced the Post stagecoach
which once carried passengers behind a brace of horses over steep mountain
roads – yet the modern coach‘s horn sound of days gone by still
remains. On some Postbus routes – especially over the Alpine passes – the
sound of the horn still evokes the romance of the stagecoach. With a valid
Swiss Pass or other rail pass, changing from train to bus and back again is
an easy process, simply show your pass to the driver and step on to find a
seat. If you’re unsure which stop to get off, simply ask, they all speak
English.
Boat
A variety of boats operate on Switzerland’s lakes against the
backdrop of snowy peaks. After getting off the InterCity train at Lucerne’s
main station, simply cross the square to step on a magnificent 19th century
paddle steamer. Enjoy a lunch on Lake Lucerne, the ride the cog train
to the top of Mt. Rigi. On Lake Geneva, make a side trip to the source
water town of Evian in France, or to the castle of the poets, Chateau
Chillon. At the northern end of Switzerland, the river cruise boats from
the Rheinfalls at Schaffhausen to Kreuzlingen on Lake Constance will
take you from Switzerland to Germany and back to the Swiss side on the
same pass. Cruise the three lakes of Bienne, Neuchâtel, and Morat
in the Jura region, or cruise Lake Thun past Mt Niesen to Interlaken
and connect to Lake Brienz. Most ship routes only sail from spring until
fall, except for Lake Lucerne and Lake Geneva, with reduced schedules.
Time & Distance
Getting around Switzerland on the train consist of relatively short trips.
It’s not a large country, though with the mountains, some journeys are
not exactly as the „crow flies“ It does take 2 hours 45 minutes
from the largest cities Geneva to Zurich on the InterCity trains. Zurich to
Bern, the capital, is just under an hour. Zurich to Zermatt, just over three
hours. The longest route in Switzerland is Geneva to St Moritz, about 10 hours,
but most routes to cities within in Switzerland are well under two hours. But
in the comfort of modern coaches, with magnificent scenery around every curve,
time passes in a flash. On longer journeys, dine in the restaurant car, enjoying
a glass of wine from the vineyars passing by the window, or snack from the
rolling carts, or seat service in first class. On most routes a train runs
every hour. Between the major cities of Basel, Berne, Zurich, Lausanne and
Geneva, once every half hour.
Scenic Trains Excursion Trains
First Class or Second Class
Rail Europe
More on Switzerland By Rail:
Scenic Trains
Glacier
Express
Bernina
Express
Golden
Pass Line
Wilhelm
Tell Express
Mont
Blanc - St Bernard
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
Lauvaux Wine Train
Palm
Express
Excursion Trains
Jungfraujoch
Chocolate
Train
Gornergrat
Matterhorn
Mt
Pilatus Railway
Mt
Rigi Railway
Roches
De Naye
Lake Cruises
Lake
Geneva
Lake Lucerne
Lake Constance
Lake Thun & Brienz
Three Lakes
Aerial Cableways
Schilthorn Piz Gloria
Klein Matterhorn
Glacier 3000
Gemmi Pass
Mt Titlis Rotair
Stanserhorn
Hotels: Switzerland
Scenic Switzerland By Train
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