shewitt15
Traveller
5 comments
Posted 13 years ago
Hi,
I'm planning on going to Switzerland for a fortnight in August and as I want to visit a few cities I thought a one-country pass would be a good idea. I would be coming from London via the Eurostar to Paris, and then hoping to get the train from Paris to Geneva. At the end of the fortnight I would probably be coming back from Basel to Paris. Can you clarify how the supplement system works? If I buy the Interrail pass, can I use a supplement both Paris-Geneva and then another one from Basel-Paris?
Many thanks,
Sarah.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi Sarah.
If you want to use an InterRail One Country Pass Switzerland, you do not get any discount on your journey from London to the Swiss border.
The One-Country pass is only for the country you buy it for.
But InterRail isn't worth for the trip London to Paris and back. Buy special fare tickets for the Eurostar, it is the same price like the InterRail supplement for this train, sometimes even cheaper.
For Paris to Switzerland: if you book early in advance, you will get tickets to a nice price.
For Switzerland itself, have a look at the[b] Swiss Pass[/b] - there is more included than in the [b]One Country Pass Switzerland[/b].
Peter :)
shewitt15
Traveller
5 comments
Hi Peter,
Many thanks for this. I am a little confused though, as on this website it says you pay a €8 supplement to take TGV Lyria from Paris to Geneva if you hold an Interrail pass. Is that only if you have a multi-country pass?
Many thanks,
Sarah.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi Sarah!
There are two kinds of InterRail passes:
- One Country Pass: Valid only in on of the 30 InterRail countries.
- Global Pass: Valid in all 30 InterRail countries.
If you want to travel from Paris to Switzerland with InterRail, you should buy a Global Pass, I'd recommend the 5in10 pass. If you only want to buy a One Country Pass for Switzerland, you will need regular tickets for the trip from/to Paris.
Regarding supplements:
There are certain trains, mostly high speed and night trains that require an additional supplement/reservation. Read here for detailed information :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-train-reservation[/u]
The Paris to Genève and Basel to Paris direct trains are TGV Lyria services which require an 8€ compulsory reservation.
Within Switzerland virtually all trains can be used with the InterRail pass without further supplements/reservations. Only a few special sightseeing trains with panoramic coaches (such as Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Golden Pass Panoramic) require a reservation but there are always trains without reservation running on the same route.
If you have a 5in10 Global Pass you could for instance go Paris - Geneve, then make three trips within Switzerland and then return to Paris.
Flo 8)
EDIT: Peter, you have been faster than me twice today! :D
shewitt15
Traveller
5 comments
Hi Flo,
thanks for that, it's cleared up some questions!
I've been looking around the forum and have found that some of the trains in Switzerland might require supplements? for instance, we want to go from Lausanne to Zermatt, via Visp, and someone said there was a supplement from Visp? Also, we might want to go to Grindelwald from Interlaken, is that supplement free or not?
Thanks,
Sarah.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi Sarah!
Visp - Zermatt is operated by MGB which is not included in InterRail. If you have a Youth pass you will get a 50% discount though. Visp - Zermatt regular price is 34 CHF one way 2nd class.
The BOB services from Interlaken are not included as well, read here for details :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/jungfraujoch/f1841[/u]
What I can fully recommend if you want to travel through the Alps is for instance to go via the Gotthardbahn: Arth-Goldau - Göschenen, then with MGB through the Schöllenenschlucht to Andermatt and continue over the Oberalppass to Disentis (the MGB part costs in this case 22 CHF full fare). In Disentis you enter the RhB network which is included in InterRail, most spectacular are the routes of Glacier and Bernina Express :arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/glacier-express/f1750[/u]
[u]https://rail.cc/en/bernina-express/f1749[/u]
Another nice trip fully included in InterRail, although not over passes as elevated as the MGB or RhB routes is the Golden Pass Route Luzern - Interlaken - Montreux
If you need details just ask. :)
Flo 8)
shewitt15
Traveller
5 comments
Hi Flo,
thanks for that information.
If we wanted to take the Golden Pass, can we stop off along the way? Do we need to buy any supplements for that, or any reservations, or is it all fully included?
Thanks,
Sarah.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
The Golden Pass Route is divided into three sections (there are no through trains as Zweisimmen - Interlaken Ost is standard gauge whereas the other two parts are narrow gauge):
Montreux - Zweisimmen
Zweisimmen - Interlaken Ost
Interlaken Ost - Luzern
On all parts there is a regular service (hourly) of trains which do not require a reservation - just hop on as you like. On the Zweisimmen - Interlaken Ost section you might have to change in Spiez as there are only few through trains.
Some trains (those are branded Golden Pass Classic or Panoramic) carry special cars (vintage pullman or panorama) and a reservation is recommended, but not compulsory.
You can hop on/off along the route as you like with your Rail Pass.
Flo 8)
nltrainer
Traveller
1405 comments
[quote]
On all parts there is a regular service (hourly) of trains which do not require a reservation - just hop on as you like. On the Zweisimmen - Interlaken Ost section you might have to change in Spiez as there are only few through trains.
Some trains (those are branded Golden Pass Classic or Panoramic) carry special cars (vintage pullman or panorama) and a reservation is recommended, but not compulsory.
Flo 8) [/quote]
Even if you may not need that RES-you still have to pay the conductior the same amount when you sit in that special car. But as explained-it is easy to avoid.
Also: the SWISS pas was noted and this cost a little more as IR -but let you travel on many more lines as IR-f.e. that BVZ to Zermatt is then ''free''=included.
The French TGV that run as Lyria etc are also -with luck, patience and smartness, bookable as cheap single (like PREM0 for/from 25€ or more for the trips paris-Swiss.
You can also book (but english should know that better as me) direct tickets London-Swiss via €** and Lyria.
shewitt15
Traveller
5 comments
Hi,
we've been also considering getting a swiss pass instead of an interrail pass. could you tell me if the supplements from visp to zermatt are applicable on the swiss pass, or whether that journey is included?
Thanks,
Sarah.
nltrainer
Traveller
1405 comments
there is a price difference between Swiss Pass and the IR-1 country for Swiss-Swiss pass cost more-and hence a reason: it covers MUCH more, the whole of BVZ is included and also ALL local buses/trams in most Swiss cities.
You do the math and decide what would suit you best. Google for swiss pass-a find the map and it should all show on it-''free=included''; or 50 or 25% discount. passes can come as 3 or 4 in a row or 3 or 4 in a period-these cost a little more (but allow rest days in between)
You can get small discounts on Swiss PASS for couples and sometimes in off-season.
Swiss also has loads of local passes-for 3 in 10 or 1 day-too much to name here.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi Sarah,
Visp - Zermatt is included (as is the whole MGB network).
Flo 8)