Zurich to St Anton to Vienna questions

I have some basic Europe train travel questions. Though I have
travelled by train in the US, Japan and China, the only experience I
have with European trains is the Eurostar from London-Paris (and
back). We only had carry on bags then.

My wife and I are going to be taking a trip (early March), fly into
Zurich and then take the train to St Anton and Vienna. We will ski in
St Anton for the first 4 days, then take a train to Vienna and spend
the last 4 days in Vienna, then fly back from Vienna.

We will arrive in Zurich around 10am. We will be travelling with ski
equipment and bags. We would like to be in St Anton before the evening
for check-in and grab some dinner, that way we will be ready to ski the
next day.

I have a few questions:

1. Do I need to make train reservations before I leave for either leg
of the trip (zurich-st anton or st anton-vienna), or should I just do
it from the train station after we arrive? Was concerned if the plane
was delayed or something like that.

2. We were considering spending a few hours in Zurich, is the train
station in a convinient location for a couple of hours of sightseeing
or lunch?

3. If its possible to spend a few hours in zurich, what about our
bags? Can you check them at the station for the day, or can you check
the bags at the station early, and not see them again until we arrive
at our destination?

Thanks for any answers. We are looking forward to seeing more of
Europe and want to make the most of it. Most books we have on Europe
are just very general travel books, with hotel, restraunt and museum
info. Not as good for specifics.

Cheers,
-frankllynn

schrieb im Newsbeitrag
oups.com
I have some basic Europe train travel questions. Though
I have travelled by train in the US, Japan and China, the
only experience I have with European trains is the
Eurostar from London-Paris (and back). We only had
carry on bags then.

My wife and I are going to be taking a trip (early
March), fly into Zurich and then take the train to St
Anton and Vienna. We will ski in St Anton for the first
4 days, then take a train to Vienna and spend the last 4
days in Vienna, then fly back from Vienna.

We will arrive in Zurich around 10am.

Trains Zurich - St. Anton:
9:40 - 12:11 (to Vienna/Wien)
13:40 - 16:10 (to Vienna/Wien)
17:40 - 20:10 (to Salzburg)


1. Do I need to make train reservations before I leave
for either leg of the trip (zurich-st anton or st
anton-vienna), or should I just do it from the train
station after we arrive? Was concerned if the plane was
delayed or something like that.

I'd buy tickets after arrival in Zurich. Buy a ticket from Zurich
airport to St. Anton. This should cost about EUR 35 per person.

For the St. Anton - Wien section it's cheaper to buy the ticket in
St. Anton. Ask for the 1-Plus-ticket, which offers a discount for
2 ore more people travelling together domestic Austrian trips.
Full fare (2nd class) St. Anton - Wien is 53,9 EUR per person,
with the 1-Plus-Ticket you'll only pay 41,45 EUR.


If you want you can also reserve seats Zurich HB - St. Anton, the
seat reservation doesn't cost much but guarantees a free seat. It
should be no problem to make a reservation at Zurich airport just
some hours before departure.

2. We were considering spending a few hours in Zurich,
is the train station in a convinient location for a
couple of hours of sightseeing or lunch?

Yes, it is. The station is adjacent to the famous
"Bahnhofsstrasse".


3. If its possible to spend a few hours in zurich, what
about our bags? Can you check them at the station for
the day, or can you check the bags at the station early,
and not see them again until we arrive at our destination?

There are lockers at the station where you can leave your bags.

But it's not possible to check the bags to St. Anton - checking
baggage is now nearly impossible at most European railways.




--
Helmut Uttenthaler,
Graz

schrieb im Newsbeitrag
oups.com
I have some basic Europe train travel questions. Though
I have travelled by train in the US, Japan and China, the
only experience I have with European trains is the
Eurostar from London-Paris (and back). We only had
carry on bags then.

My wife and I are going to be taking a trip (early
March), fly into Zurich and then take the train to St
Anton and Vienna. We will ski in St Anton for the first
4 days, then take a train to Vienna and spend the last 4
days in Vienna, then fly back from Vienna.

We will arrive in Zurich around 10am.

Trains Zurich - St. Anton:
9:40 - 12:11 (to Vienna/Wien)
13:40 - 16:10 (to Vienna/Wien)
17:40 - 20:10 (to Salzburg)


1. Do I need to make train reservations before I leave
for either leg of the trip (zurich-st anton or st
anton-vienna), or should I just do it from the train
station after we arrive? Was concerned if the plane was
delayed or something like that.

I'd buy tickets after arrival in Zurich. Buy a ticket from Zurich
airport to St. Anton. This should cost about EUR 35 per person.

For the St. Anton - Wien section it's cheaper to buy the ticket in
St. Anton. Ask for the 1-Plus-ticket, which offers a discount for
2 ore more people travelling together domestic Austrian trips.
Full fare (2nd class) St. Anton - Wien is 53,9 EUR per person,
with the 1-Plus-Ticket you'll only pay 41,45 EUR.


If you want you can also reserve seats Zurich HB - St. Anton, the
seat reservation doesn't cost much but guarantees a free seat. It
should be no problem to make a reservation at Zurich airport just
some hours before departure.

2. We were considering spending a few hours in Zurich,
is the train station in a convinient location for a
couple of hours of sightseeing or lunch?

Yes, it is. The station is adjacent to the famous
"Bahnhofsstrasse".


3. If its possible to spend a few hours in zurich, what
about our bags? Can you check them at the station for
the day, or can you check the bags at the station early,
and not see them again until we arrive at our destination?

There are lockers at the station where you can leave your bags.

But it's not possible to check the bags to St. Anton - checking
baggage is now nearly impossible at most European railways.




--
Helmut Uttenthaler,
Graz

Don't forget the 10:12 (Ar 14:10). Out of curiosity - we will be going
to Graz in March (from Samedan or Scuol) to attend a concert, is the
routing via Villach more scenic than via Stainach-Irdning?
--
wf.

Helmut Uttenthaler wrote:


We will arrive in Zurich around 10am.

Trains Zurich - St. Anton:
9:40 - 12:11 (to Vienna/Wien)
13:40 - 16:10 (to Vienna/Wien)
17:40 - 20:10 (to Salzburg)

Don't forget the 10:12 (Ar 14:10). Out of curiosity - we will be going
to Graz in March (from Samedan or Scuol) to attend a concert, is the
routing via Villach more scenic than via Stainach-Irdning?
--
wf.

Helmut Uttenthaler wrote:


We will arrive in Zurich around 10am.

Trains Zurich - St. Anton:
9:40 - 12:11 (to Vienna/Wien)
13:40 - 16:10 (to Vienna/Wien)
17:40 - 20:10 (to Salzburg)

"randee" schrieb im Newsbeitrag

Don't forget the 10:12 (Ar 14:10).

You mean Zurich 7:40 - St. Anton 10:10?
OK, but this requires changing trains at Feldkirch.


Out of curiosity - we
will be going to Graz in March (from Samedan or Scuol) to
attend a concert, is the routing via Villach more scenic
than via Stainach-Irdning?

Do you want to travel via Zell am See - Badgastein - Villach -
Klagenfurt - Leoben instead via Zell am See - Stainach-Irdning -
Leoben?

The route via Villach is indeed more scenic (the Schwarzach-St.
Veit - Spittal section is nice), but it takes usually 2 hours more
and requires changing trains in Schwarzach-St. Veit and Bruck/Mur.



--
Helmut Uttenthaler,
Graz

Hi

1. Do I need to make train reservations before I leave for either leg
of the trip (zurich-st anton or st anton-vienna), or should I just do
it from the train station after we arrive? Was concerned if the plane
was delayed or something like that.

There are at least 2 St.Anton in Austria. Be sure to check the right
one: St.Anton (Vorarlberg) and St.Anton (Montafon).
Check the train time table he http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm

2. We were considering spending a few hours in Zurich, is the train
station in a convinient location for a couple of hours of sightseeing
or lunch?

The main station is just in the very center of Zurich. Neighburing the
old town (or the leftovers of it).

3. If its possible to spend a few hours in zurich, what about our
bags? Can you check them at the station for the day, or can you check
the bags at the station early, and not see them again until we arrive
at our destination?

Check the bags to St.Anton direct should be possible already at the
airport (Zurich-Kloten) which is another 11 minutes by train away from
Zurich.
You also can leave the bags/skis guarded at the main station.
At the counter (airport or main station) they'll speak english and give
you advice what0s the easiest. To my experience SBB staff is very
helpful and friendly.

Depending on the exact destination/train you might pass the train
station of the airport again, when traveling from Zurich main station to
St. Anton.
So you be sure to enter "zurich airport" in the time table form.

But if time permits a stop in Zurich is worthwile in my opinion.
I live here :-)

Aloha, Thomas

Hi

1. Do I need to make train reservations before I leave for either leg
of the trip (zurich-st anton or st anton-vienna), or should I just do
it from the train station after we arrive? Was concerned if the plane
was delayed or something like that.

There are at least 2 St.Anton in Austria. Be sure to check the right
one: St.Anton (Vorarlberg) and St.Anton (Montafon).
Check the train time table he http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm

2. We were considering spending a few hours in Zurich, is the train
station in a convinient location for a couple of hours of sightseeing
or lunch?

The main station is just in the very center of Zurich. Neighburing the
old town (or the leftovers of it).

3. If its possible to spend a few hours in zurich, what about our
bags? Can you check them at the station for the day, or can you check
the bags at the station early, and not see them again until we arrive
at our destination?

Check the bags to St.Anton direct should be possible already at the
airport (Zurich-Kloten) which is another 11 minutes by train away from
Zurich.
You also can leave the bags/skis guarded at the main station.
At the counter (airport or main station) they'll speak english and give
you advice what0s the easiest. To my experience SBB staff is very
helpful and friendly.

Depending on the exact destination/train you might pass the train
station of the airport again, when traveling from Zurich main station to
St. Anton.
So you be sure to enter "zurich airport" in the time table form.

But if time permits a stop in Zurich is worthwile in my opinion.
I live here :-)

Aloha, Thomas

Thomas Stalder wrote:

Check the bags to St.Anton direct should be possible already at the
airport (Zurich-Kloten) which is another 11 minutes by train away from
Zurich.

It is possible, but not practical, to let SBB send your luggage to your
destination. The bags will not arrive in St Anton until several days
after they are handed over at Kloten.

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reiselust/e...ernational.htm

Krist

Thomas Stalder wrote:

Check the bags to St.Anton direct should be possible already at the
airport (Zurich-Kloten) which is another 11 minutes by train away from
Zurich.

It is possible, but not practical, to let SBB send your luggage to your
destination. The bags will not arrive in St Anton until several days
after they are handed over at Kloten.

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reiselust/e...ernational.htm

Krist