Point-to-point ticket: does direction/transfers on itinerary matter?

RoyMo1111

I understand point-to-point tickets are valid for a given day (until 5 AM the next day) from point A to point B. However, I have a couple of questions about how the specific route and required transfers on the itinerary might affect ticket validity.

Situation A:

For trains from Lucerne to Basel, I see there is a direct train from Lucerne to Basel via Olten.

There is also a route from Lucerne to Basel that includes a transfer at Olten. And so the first leg is Lucerne to Olten (direction Olten) and then Olten to Basel (direction Basel).

In this scenario, both the direct train from Lucerne and the train that requires a transfer at Olten are via Olten and it appears they take the exact same route (and cost the same price). So if I have a ticket for one of these itineraries, could I also take the other option? Are these considered the same “route” for purposes of the point-to-point ticket?

Situation B:

Zurich HB to Interlaken Ost shows trains departing Zurich in the direction of Geneva Airport, Brig, or Interlaken Ost.

If, for example, I book a ticket from Zurich (direction towards Brig) would I also be able to take a train from Zurich that has a direction/ final stop of Geneva or Interlaken Ost? It seems all 3 of these options the path from Zurich to Interlaken is the exact same (via Olten, Bahn-2000, etc). The only difference is the final stop of the first train from Zurich.

So would these tickets be interchangeable? Or, when I buy my ticket in Zurich, do I need to make sure that not only is my train going to Interlaken, but also that it is heading in the same direction (Geneva, Brig, Interlaken) as what is listed on my ticket?

Thank you for your help!

RolandP

Hello RoyMo1111

In Switzerland, point-to-point tickets are for a route, not for a train (except for Supersaver tickets).

For Lucerne to Basel, it makes no difference whether you take one of the direct trains such as IR27, IC2, IR26 trains, or the RE24 that requires a transfer at Olten for S3, for example.

As long as you travel via Olten, your ticket is valid for any train.

It would make a difference if you had the ticket via Olten yet would travel via Zurich HB. In this case, the ticket has to be amended.

Same with your Zurich to Interlaken Ost example: you can take any train serving the direct route via Bern. If you were about to travel via Lucerne, however, you were supposed to change the ticket.

Furthermore, a point-to-point ticket would even allow intermediate stops along the route, and this as many as you like, provided you travel in the same direction (no back-tracking).

Does that make sense?

Kind regards,
Roland

RoyMo1111

Thank you for that very helpful response Roland. That makes sense to me.

And just to further clarify, to determine whether 2 routes are the same, do the stops along the route need to match exactly?

For instance, if I have a ticket for Zurich- Bern-Thun-Spiez-Interlaken, could I also use that ticket for a train that skips some of those stops- such as Zurich-Bern-Interlaken? And vice versa?
Thanks again!

Krist

It doesn’t matter if there are intermediate stops or not. Anyway. Zurich - Bern - Interlaken direct trains also stop in Thun and Spiez anyway. There are no non-stop Bern - Interlaken trains…

You pay for a route. Route refers to the railway line, not the trains that are on it. So a ticket Zurich - Interlaken is good for travel on any train that travels the tracks from Zurich to Interlaken.

RoyMo1111

That was just a hypothetical example. But how can I determine for sure my ticket is the same “route” as a particular train? For example it seems like you are saying there is only 1 set of train tracks and thus only 1 possible route from Zurich to Interlaken.

But what if I have a ticket from A to B via C and D, but then there is a train that goes from A to B via C and E? And in this example D and E are not on the same set of tracks.

In other words what is the easiest way for determining the route on my ticket matches the route of the train I am about to board? It does not seem like the “direction” or final stop of the train is relevant.

Do I just need to make sure the train is not going to any stop that is not included on my ticket?

RolandP

Hello RoyMo1111

My suggestion: do not overthink the topic.

Should it happen that you are on an IC or IR train for which your ticket is not entirely correct, we, the train staff, can always amend your ticket, to make it valid for the respective route. In some circumstances you have to pay a little extra since you are taking a detour and since tickets are calculated by kilometers, the ticket is a bit more costly than the direct route.

However, when you stick to the information as given on your ticket, you can’t be on the wrong train. If you are unsure, simply ask a train employee which you can find in any station; the majority of us does speak English and we are happy to help.

Kind regards,
Roland

RoyMo1111

Sounds good- thank you Roland! I appreciate your help.