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Reserving seats

Dan Chuckles

First time in Switzerland. Taking train from Geneva to Zermatt for Ski Trip in February and train from Zermatt to Zurich afterwards. There are three of us. Should I reserve seats? If not, how soon should we arrive to board train in order to ensure we are able to sit together.

RolandP

Hello Dan Chuckles

May we refer to our SBB Community guide where this topic is treated in full?

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

After having read the guide you will notice that you cannot reserve tickets on the Geneva to Zernatt route. Just do it as the Swiss: wait on the platform and find yourself a seat on board the train once it got into the station.

Let us know if you need more help.

Kind regards,
Roland

Dan Chuckles

RolandP
Thanks for your quick reply. Another question: when booking our return reservation to Zurich from Zermatt following our Ski Trip, seat reservations were an option. I initially selected seats for all three of us to Zurich but then deleted that and rebooked it without seat reservations. Rather than receive tickets for the 10:37am departure time from Zermatt and 14:11pm arrival time in Zurich, I received “Saver Day Passes”. I understand these “Saver Day Passes” can be used on the same 10:37-14:11 trains or any SBB trains that day. If this is true, then the three of us are considering taking advantage of the “Saver Day Pass” and doing a Day Trip touring Switzerland via train. Rather than a 4-hour trip to Zurich from Zermatt, we would consider a 6–8-hour scenic trip from Zermatt to Zurich. My question is: what scenic route(s) would you suggest we consider taking.

RedBaron

Dan Chuckles when booking our return reservation to Zurich from Zermatt following our Ski Trip, seat reservations were an option

Apart from the few ‘panoramic’ tourist trains, seat reservations are only optionally available on IC or EC trains which do operate between Zurich and Visp. Between Visp and Zermatt (or generally most IR and all RE, R and S trains) the only existing reserved seat is located at the very front of the train for the driver. Same as e.g. in subways anywhere in the world.

Tafunge25

A nice way would be to pass via Göschenen and Andermatt. This features the somewhat-famous spiralling tunnels of the St. Gotthard north ramp (including the Church of Wassen), a rack-railway section between Göschenen and Andermatt (through the Schöllenen valley, but only limited view on that section as it is partially in tunnels) and then a journey through the Goms with a lot of small villages and a good view on the alps. The last part is the same route the famous Glacier-Express takes.
This takes 6h12′, with hourly connections. I recommend to take a connection starting with an IR46 as those have one interchange fewer. For the first section (IR46), it is recommended to sit on the right side when facing forwards. For the second(R44), the left side is overall better. For the third (R43), both sides are nice. For the last section (R41), the left side is better.
Be sure to search a connection with the following vias to ensure not to be routed onto the GlacierExpress (which is not fully included in the saver’s daypass): Göschenen - Andermatt - Fiesch - - St. Niklaus VS.