Swiss rail tickets

[AJP62]

In early January I will be flying to Geneva then travelling on by train to Leysin in a group of 8 people including 4 children.

Looking on the Swiss Rail site there doesn't seem to be anything to purchase apart from individual single tickets. Some friends who did a similar journey last year think they were told that booking ahead would have saved them money.

Our group will return 4 days later.

Anyone familiar with Swiss rail ticketing and alternatives for such a group?

We have looked at road transport but that costs even more than the train which is currently looking to cost more than our flights from Liverpool!

 

[Oscar]

Swiss fares are generally very expensive. Living costs and wages in Switzerland are considerably higher than in most other European countries, partly because of the strong Swiss franc. There are some slightly discounted Sparpreise which are generally available on certain trains on Sundays and in the evenings. If you intend to several trips in the same canton, there may be a cantonal pass available. If you intend to do several long trips, a Swiss Travel System or an Interrail One Country Pass may be appropriate. If travelling with parents / grandparents, children under 16 can travel for free with a 30 CHF Junior-Karte.

 

[eastwestdivide]

There's a Swiss transfer ticket which might work better depending on your normal ticket prices. Options here: http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/transport-travel/tickets.html

 

[AJP62]

Thanks for those replies - I'll check them out when I'm at home.

 

[radamfi]

Swiss fares are generally very expensive. Living costs and wages in Switzerland are considerably higher than in most other European countries, partly because of the strong Swiss franc. There are some slightly discounted Sparpreise which are generally available on certain trains on Sundays and in the evenings. If you intend to several trips in the same canton, there may be a cantonal pass available. If you intend to do several long trips, a Swiss Travel System or an Interrail One Country Pass may be appropriate. If travelling with parents / grandparents, children under 16 can travel for free with a 30 CHF Junior-Karte.

That's all good advice. However, if the OP would excuse me for going onto a tangent, it might be interesting to compare Swiss and British fares.

Swiss Railways sell a Half Fare Card which gives 50% off fares for a year, which anyone who travels a few times a year would have. A single from Zurich to Geneva is 41 Swiss Francs with a Half Fare Card, £27 for a similar distance as Macclesfield to London. This applies at all times and requires no advance booking. There is no outrageously high peak fare.

For comparison, an Off Peak Return from Macclesfield to London is £72.20 and an Anytime Return is £290. Comparable off-peak fares on the East Coast Mainline are considerably higher, with a Super Off Peak Return from Leeds to London being £94.10.

 

[Oscar]

The OP's trip from Genève-Aéroport to Veysin is around 100 km and a full price single is 45.20 CHF (around £30), half fare being 22.60 CHF (around £15). For a single these compares favourable with Britain as does a half fare return. However, a full fare return in Switzerland is likely to be more expensive than an return off-peak ticket in Britain. Day return tickets are also likely to be better value in Britain. London - Peterborough has an Off-Peak Return FCC Only for £36.50 and Off-Peak Day Return for £25. York-Manchester has an Off-Peak Return at £25.40.

There is a Swiss Half Fare Card available to foreign visitors valid for one month for 99 CHF which is a Swiss Travel System product. The Half Fare Travelcard ("Halbtax"/"Demi-tarif"/"Metà-prezzo") is 160 CHF for one year / 300 CHF for two years / 400 CHF for three years and is targeted at Swiss residents. About half of the population of Switzerland has such a card.

Similarly there is a Swiss Pass valid for up to one month (for foreigners only, Swiss Travel System product, free travel available for children/grandchildren) and a General-Abonnement/Abonnement-Générale/Abbonamento-Generale for one year for Swiss residents, allowing unlimited travel on most of the network. There are several hundred thousand holders of the latter product.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Don't be fooled by the SBB web site, which automatically defaults to the price with the half-fare card when you look up fares.

 

[Oscar]

Don't be fooled by the SBB web site, which automatically defaults to the price with the half-fare card when you look up fares.

...as most Swiss rail travellers do not pay full price.