Hi – I would like to travel from Zurich to Bern for a class each Friday evening for 7 months but can’t justify the expense because of train ticket costs and gas prices.

Does anyone know any tricks which would make this journey more affordable?

Thanks for any info,

Marie

1/2 Tax card will pay for itself in no time.

ask Tash..... she know's lots of tricks to get stuff for free. (i mean, she has a GA and can advise you on these things....)

23 francs return with the 1/2 price card. Don't think you can expect to make the journey for less!

You can pay for a GA card monthly, that will allow you to use the train to Bern and public transport in zurich and Bern...and everywhere else in Switzerland, its a bargain if you are going to using the train alot.

What Planthead said.

I knew you could help

Errr that would be one way, CHF46- for a return journey with 1/2 price card. Zurich to Bern direction always seems far more expensive than trains travelling south or east from Zurich.

Cheaper option, hide in the toilet for the duration.

hi Marie, have you considered carpooling options? You might be able to find someone to share the commute on a site like ronorp.ch

Even if it's just sharing a ride to Bern and paying to take the train back, it would still cut your trainfare in half, not counting carpool money.

All jokes aside....

that's 1395.- over 7 months (each having 4.33 weeks)

a GA costs 285.-/mth. the Bern trip would add up to 200.- / mth.

if you consider normal travel around Zurich (ZVV pass etc) the odd trip to the airport, and one ski/outing day per month than you will easily find that a GA is a good deal.

you can pay for it monthly, and it can be cancelled after 4 months without issue.

they are totally worth it.

There are a lot of communities offering a so-called, Tageskarte-Gemeinde (Gemeinde-GA), which can be purchased for one day for around CHF 35. You have to check availability and reserve them beforehand. With that ticket you can travel for one day in the whole of Switzerland.

http://www.tageskarte-gemeinde.ch/

I endorse GA's 100%

Two thumbs up.

I think it cost me 7 EUR to go to St Anton.

and 17 francs one way to Milan........ can't argue with that.

Click and rail?

From SBB website...
https://www.sbb.ch/mct/wi/shop/b2c/cnr.do?v=49

You can get Zurich HB-Bern 14 CHF one way with half fare card (I just checked and they do have tickets available on Friday evening, not sure if times are suitable though). The trick is to book a few days before needed.

i didn't know you could do this for internal tickets (thought it was only for tickets to Italy, Germany etc) . thx

If you are under 25 years old, with the "Gleis 7" (Track 7) card, you can travel by trains for free after 7pm (scroll to the bottom):

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...satzkarten.htm

Yep, can be used on internal trips. We always check whether click&rail tickets are available before we go anywhere. Naturally, they're not always available, but it is worth checking.

I've only used them on the outward journey as they are for a set train time. But you cant complain about Zurich to Locarno for CHF14- (with 1/2 tax card)

If you're going away for a weekend you can often buy both legs of the journey using Click & Rail for the cheaper price.

At 14CHF to Locarno one-way there's no reason not to go!

I tried to get a monthly paying GA at the weekend from the HB in Zurich and was told that as I had not lived here for over 6months I couldnt do the monthly option, Has anyone else experienced this. I am going to email the main GA address and see if they can help.