Combining tickets & passes in Switzerland

[newmilton]

Hallo. I shall be visiting Geneva in April, where I have friends. I plan to buy a five-day Leman-Alps pass, which gives me two days free travel and three days half-price travel in the region.

Question: if I travel outside the region (specifically to Bern) what are the regulations governing combining the pass with a point-to-point ticket? Must the ticket be from the last place the train stops in the pass area (typically Lausanne, which won't save much) or simply from the last stop in the covered area, whether the train stops or not?

Just curious as to whether it's worthwhile. Thanks.

 

[Greenback]

I don't know the answer, sorry, but from experience Swiss guards and conductors are strict on any irregularities and will issue a fine regardless of whether you are a visitor or not. All the ones I encountered were very professional, but I saw several other passengers who were charged either a flat rate fine or made to buy a new ticket because they had no ticket at all or the wrong ticket.

The biggest problem, from what I could hear, were locals who were not buying a ticket for short journeys and visitors who were travelling off route or over the border from where their pass was valid. So I'd be careful!

 

[Gordon]

.

I personally have a Swiss half fare card so I don't buy regional passes or Swiss Pass these days, but I am au fait with the various Swiss fare options.

From the standard Swiss station ticket machines, you can buy a ticket from 'B to C' in advance. As with French machines (but not usually UK ones) you can ask for a start point that is not where you are at that moment in time.

There is a shows you how guide here:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/station-servic...t-machine/online-demo-billettautomat-sbb.html

So, in your case you will be able to buy a Lausanne - Bern ticket before you leave Geneve (the Leman pass technically expires at Puidoux Chexbres but I doubt that will be any practical help)

A small word of warning:

The Leman regional pass is only free on a limited number of lines

Please make sure you are buying the best ticket for what you plan to do.

Dont ignore Supersaver tickets:
http://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-an...witzerland/supersaver-tickets/supersaver.html

and

Don't forget there are local tariff area tickets - many of which have common zones at their borders with other tariff areas

http://www.sbb.ch/en/travelcards-an...d.html?WT.ac=textimageteaser-verkehrsverbunde

The situation is quite complicated but it can work out cheaper in some instances to buy all zones day passes for these tariff areas. In particular Mobilis Vaud covers much of the Lac Leman shore routes.

http://www.mobilis-vaud.ch/
file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Gordon/My%20Documents/Downloads/mobilis.pdf


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[Oscar]

Question: if I travel outside the region (specifically to Bern) what are the regulations governing combining the pass with a point-to-point ticket? Must the ticket be from the last place the train stops in the pass area (typically Lausanne, which won't save much) or simply from the last stop in the covered area, whether the train stops or not?

Just curious as to whether it's worthwhile. Thanks.

Unless there is a specific exception, you have to buy a ticket from the place the train stops. Some tariff regions make clear the need to buy a ticket from the last stop rather than the last top in the covered area (e.g. Flextax - http://flextax.ch/tickets/weitere-billette/anschlussbillette).

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

Yes, I wouldn't push your luck: I would get a ticket from Lausanne. Check with the ticket office before you travel: they are normally very helpful.