Help with Lucerne bahnhof-Luzerne

BerSwitz25

Hi All,
I have just booked point to point from Zurich airport (Zurich bahnhof hopefully correct option?) To Lucerne where I continue my journey with ticket to Interlaken via Lucerne Interlaken express.
My ticket shows ’Luzern’on both routes.
Should I have chosen ‘Lucerne Bahnhof’ as my first drop off and starting point for Interlaken express, or is all good with this stop & hopefully no issues on the day? Thanks in advance

Danhiel

Hello BerSwitz25

You probably bought the tickets by a reseller and not on the SBB site because the word “Bahnhof” never appears in Switzerland. The official names of the stations are:

Zürich Flughafen (airport)
Zürich HB (main station in the city)
Luzern

You need a ticket from “Zürich Flughafen” if you start your trip at the airport. If you have a ticket from Zürich HB, you can:

— Cancel it and buy a new one from Zürich Flughafen (if possible).
— Or buy a ticket from Zürich Flughafen to Zürich HB after your arrival at the airport. Such tickets have a limited period of validity, it is not recommended to buy them in advance because your flight could be late.

Kind regards
Danhiel

BerSwitz25

Thank you Daniel, yes I think all good and I purchased on official SBB site
Luzern is option I chose as end and start point for next leg so this option is ok?
I purchased in advance a point to point ticket as it allows me take any train time on that day until 5am following day. This allows flexibility if flight delayed, or even early🙂 with super saver I woukd have to take an exact train

Danhiel

BerSwitz25

On the ticket you have the start and the end station, for example A to B, and you may also have a via: A to B via C - D - E. You must not always change at these stations, it is only to indicate the route. If you want to be sure, indicate us what you see on your ticket(s).

It is correct to buy point-to-point tickets when you arrive at the aiport with a flight.

RedBaron

BerSwitz25
Actually, [city name], Bahnhof separated by a comma such as ‘Luzern, Bahnhof’ does exist at many stations. But this ‘Bahnhof’ additional entry always refers to some bus stop outside of the station.

However even if you select the ‘Bahnhof’ option by mistake with a train journey, not much will happen. The respective ticket will still say “Luzern”, just the connection info will add a few minutes walk at the end of the journey (= walk between the tracks and the bus station), which you will also see by clicking on ‘show map’ next to it.

BerSwitz25

First ticket says Zurich Flughafen to Luzern.
2nd ticket is Luzern to Interlaken express where we pass through Brienz.
Correct?
However, not allowing me book seat reservation

Krist

BerSwitz25 First ticket says Zurich Flughafen to Luzern.
2nd ticket is Luzern to Interlaken express where we pass through Brienz.

You did not need two tickets for this. A single ticket Zurich Flughafen - Interlaken via Luzern would have been sufficient. And you could as well have bought that ticket at the station in Zurich. Splitting the ticket results in a higher charge.

You also do not need to reserve seats. Just hop on the train and claim a free seat.

BerSwitz25

Ok thank you so much. When I go back in to Luzern Interlaken leg, it does not allow me book seat reservation which I woukd like to do.
Any suggestions?

Danhiel

BerSwitz25

Sorry, I forgot the possibility to add the name “Bahnhof” for the bus stations in my previous answers. I was focused on the train stations and the names on the tickets.

You can find more information about seat reservations here, it is not really necessary between Luzern and Interlaken:

https://community.sbb.ch/blog/23887-demystifying-seat-reservations-on-swiss-trains-a-comprehensive-guide

BerSwitz25

Danhiel Hey🙂 I am really hoping to get 18.06 Lucerne to Interlaken express tomorrow but my flight into Zurich is 16.15 so I may miss the 18.06 option. There is another next train approx 7pm but shows a change at Meiringen for Interlaken. Is that train still considered lucerne Interlaken express, or am I losing out on scenic parts? I can see it covers same stops, but could be mistaken? Thanks in advance😉
Also, if I take this later train, will it be dark on last leg of trip, I think I’m OK?

BerSwitz25

Thank you. Yes I tried option of getting one ticket for whole trip but this separate actually worked out cheaper.
I also just wanted to have ticket purchased before leaving as not familiar with ticket machines in that country and just easier go straight through to train🙂

Krist

If splitting the ticket resulted in a lower price have a good look at your tickets. That should not happen. But maybe you accidentally bought a Supersaver Ticket for the first or the second part.

Krist

These trains all follow the same route, so the views are the same. Note that normal tickets are good for any train, so you are flexible.

BerSwitz25

Thank you🙂

BerSwitz25

@Krist is the option that changes at Meiringen a panoramic? I imagine the same as the direct train that I may miss at 18.06??

Danhiel

BerSwitz25

You can find a description of the trains here, regional trains and panoramic trains are almost the same.

https://www.zentralbahn.ch/de/kennenlernen/bahnfreunde/rollmaterial