Trains and Buses
Travelling through Switzerland by train is invariably comfortable, hassle-free and extremely scenic, with many mountain routes an attraction in their own right. The main network, run by SBB CFF FFS (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen, Chemins de Fer Federaux, Ferrovie Federali Svizzere), covers much of the country, but many routes, especially Alpine lines, are operated by the smaller companies which pioneered them a century or more ago. Main stations keep a public copy of the national timetable , which covers all rail, bus, boat and cable-car services. The national enquiry number is tel 0900/300 300, and www.rail.ch has complete information. InterRail (also EuroDomino) and Eurail pass-holders get free travel on SBB and most smaller lines, but only patchy discounts on boats, cable cars and mountain railways (specified in the text as IR for InterRail and ER for Eurail), and no discounts on buses or city trams. The Swiss Pass ( SP ), available from Swiss tourist offices at home or main stations in Switzerland, allows free travel on virtually all trains, buses and boats, as well as on most city tram and bus networks; discounts apply on cable cars, mountain railways and bike rental. A Swiss Pass for 4/8 consecutive days costs Sfr230/320, with discounts for two or more people travelling together. The Swiss Flexi-pass gives 3/4/5 days' travel in a month with the same benefits as the Swiss Pass for Sfr220/260/300. The Swiss Half-Fare Card (Sfr95) gets fifty percent off all trains, buses, boats and most city trams for a month. If you plan to concentrate on one region, check out the relevant tourist office's regional pass , typically giving five days' travel in fifteen with discounts for the other ten days. If you're under 25, you can pay Sfr249 for a Track 7 card which gives a year's travel nationwide after 7pm plus half-price travel before 7pm. Buses take over where train track runs out. These are generally yellow postbuses ( www.post.ch ), which invariably depart from train station forecourts. They're free to holders of all Swiss passes (although certain Alpine routes command a Sfr5-10 supplement, along with advance seat reservation), but full-price to Eurailers and InterRailers.
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