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Best website to buy Swiss-French train tickets?

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settlelad

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18 Jan 2026
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Settle
I would like to buy a train train ticket Geneva (airport) to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Savoie; Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) for August. What do readers recommend for the best website to do this. I'm fine (would prefer) etickets From experience (having does this a couple of times before), https://www.sbb.ch/ will just about do it, but it can be a bit clunky (e.g. I can book a return, but trying to two single independent journeys/tickets in one transaction, which would be nice, wouldn't seem possible), and I have had problems with the French sncf site booking cross border tickets (i.e. the last/first few miles over the border into Switzerland), but Swiss railways will do it. Just asking in case there's a slick operation akin to the forum's ticketing site for French/Swiss train tickets. Not looking for equivalent to split ticketing particularly, just looking for a good booking experience. Many thanks.
 
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RailUK Forums

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Porty

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settlelad said:
I would like to buy a train train ticket Geneva (airport) to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (Savoie; Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) for August. What do readers recommend for the best website to do this. I'm fine (would prefer) etickets From experience (having does this a couple of times before), https://www.sbb.ch/ will just about do it, but it can be a bit clunky (e.g. I can book a return, but trying to two single independent journeys/tickets in one transaction, which would be nice, wouldn't seem possible), and I have had problems with the French sncf site booking cross border tickets (i.e. the last/first few miles over the border into Switzerland), but Swiss railways will do it. Just asking in case there's a slick operation akin to the forum's ticketing site for French/Swiss train tickets. Not looking for equivalent to split ticketing particularly, just looking for a good booking experience. Many thanks.
Click to expand...
Maybe the easiest booking experience will be doing it at the station on arrival? If there's a problem you can ask someone. Why bother to do it in advance just in case something crops up and you do not travel that day.
 
LNW-GW Joint

LNW-GW Joint

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22 Feb 2011
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21,897
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Mold, Clwyd
Have you tried the TER site for Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes?

That covers the route via Aix-les-Bains.
Slow and expensive is my interpretation of the offer (test query for tomorrow), but there may be better offers.
Geneva Airport-Cornevin is free if you pick up a ticket in arrivals.

You could also go via Annecy to Chambery (Leman Express Geneva to Annecy).
www.lemanexpress.com

Home

Léman Express : vivons plus grand.
www.lemanexpress.com www.lemanexpress.com
 
B

bkhtele

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28 Nov 2009
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545
Location
Swindon
Seat 61 recommends :
Buy tickets from Switzerland to any French city at www.raileurope.com or www.thetrainline.com (both easy to use, in €, CHF, £ or $, international credit cards no problem, small booking fee). About Raileurope, about Thetrainline.

You can also book at the French Railways website www.sncf-connect.com (in €, no booking fee).

Booking opens up to 4 months ahead. You print your own ticket or can show it on your phone.

Personally I would use SNCF, or Rail Europe who are good I have used them several times
 
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peteb

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30 Mar 2011
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SNCF app is really good. I just looked up Geneva Airport to Bourg St Maurice for a random day in August and it gave a list of possible journeys and ticket prices. Once purchased it just gives you a big square code to show ticket staff. I've used it several times from Geneva Airport with no issues travelling into France. If you're eligible for a Railcard in France you can buy this on the app, then buy the reduced price tickets also on the app. For travelling round France I find this better than inter-rail generally, as tickets include any necessary seat reservations.
 
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rvdborgt

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24 Feb 2022
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Location
Leuven
peteb said:
SNCF app is really good.
Click to expand...
For the journeys it can find and sell, it's OK. However, it also hides journeys (compare wil SBB or DB) and won't sell everything. SNCF's planner is in fact a crippled Hacon planner (the same software DB use).
 
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