Bicycle reservation for Luzern–Interlaken Express

Simon Thread

Hi there.

I need to get from Olten to Meiringen in the beginning of August - 2 people, 2 bicycles.

The last “leg” of possible connections is the Luzern–Interlaken Express (from Luzern or from Interlaken - both directions are possible), where it is written that “Bicycle transport not guaranteed due to high demand.”

At the same time, it is impossible to buy a reservation for a bicycle place in Luzern–Interlaken Express.

And it is also impossible to buy a day pass for this connection - only “point-to-point”.

Is the situation with bicycles really so bad there? What if I buy a ticket for chosen time and there will be no place for our bicycles?

What should I do in this situation?

Thank you!

Szy.

Limeuhu12

Hi Simon Thread

You are lucky that you have two options for travelling from Olten to Meiringen:

vie Lucerne - Brünig, “ Bicycle transport not guaranteed due to high demand” or via IC 61 Bern to Interlaken. Interlaken - Meiringen you have Bicycle transport not guaranteed due to high demand" , but you have more spaces for bicycle in next train from Interlaken Ost to Meiringen. I sugest to decide at evenening before for your trvel date. On a rainy day probably you will find enough spaces for bicycles Lucerne - Meiringen.

Day Bike Pass, Fr 15.00 is available in ticketshop SBB.CH.

Kind regards

Christoph

Simon Thread

I am not sure if it is the good option - will there be the same prices and tickets offer on the day before departure?

By the way:

I can’t see the biycle reservation option in the SBB Mobile, but I can read, that:

“Important: from 21 March to 31 October, you will need a bike space reservation for your bike on InterCity (IC) trains. Please note the relevant information.”

https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/day-passes/bike-day-pass.html

How can I buy it?

Szy.

Limeuhu12

Simon Thread

https://www.sbb.ch/en/help-and-contact/products-services/tickets/switzerland/bikes.html

From 21 March to 31 October, you will need a bike space reservation for your bike on InterCity (IC) trains. In the timetable, trains requiring reservation are marked with the bike reservation symbol.
Every day for the IC2/21 lines through the Gotthard Base Tunnel (Basel/Zurich–Ticino).
Every day for the IC5/51 lines at the southern foot of the Jura (Basel–Biel/Bienne, Rorschach/Zurich–Biel/Bienne–Lausanne/Geneva).
From Friday to Sunday as well as Easter Monday, Ascension Day, Whit Monday and 1 August for all other InterCity lines.

Please check on SBB.CH if you need a reservation for IC 61 Olten to Interlaken Ost. Price for bike-day pass is 15 Fr.

Kind regards
Christoph

Simon Thread

One more thing on my mind:

what happens if I have “point-to-point” ticket Luzern-Interlaken for a specific time for us, but there is no room in the train for our bicycles?

What happens with our ticket - is it useless? Or can we use it on the next train?

Thanks

Szy.

RolandP

Hello Simon Thread

The bicycle transport is never guaranteed on public transit services; they are transported if space is available for safe transportation. A point-to-point ticket is valid for the next train, a Supersaver ticket would not.

I would travel as suggested by @Limeuhu12, via Interlaken. There are definitively fewer people travelling from Interlaken Ost than from Lucerne. Or alternatively, you could take the boat to Brienz and cycle from there to Meiringen.

Kind regards,
Roland

Simon Thread

Guys, thank you very much!

Szy.

Krist

what happens if I have “point-to-point” ticket Luzern-Interlaken for a specific time for us, but there is no room in the train for our bicycles?

A point to point ticket is not for a specific time. Tickets are for a route (and as such you would have an Olten - Meiringen ticket, not a ticket for the Luzern-Interlaken express.

If a train is to full you take the next one. That is why going via Interlaken is the better option. On Interlaken - Meiringen trains run every half hour, on Luzern - Meiringen only every hour. Also the R services on Interlaken Meiringen are not that popular with tourists.