Hi everybody!

I have never posted on the forum before, although I've been reading it with interest over the last few weeks, as I'm planning on relocating to Switzerland from the UK.

I have been invited for a second interview with a company about an hour away from Zuerich and need some help with trains from Zuerich airport:

- My flight lands at 11.35am and ideally I need to catch a train at 12.10pm. Would this be possible (I won't have any hand luggage)? I'm not familiar with the airport so don't know how quickly I can get from arrivals to the train station.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Welcome. The station is part of the airport so easy to get to when you land. Here you go for timetables http://www.zvv.ch/en/

I guess you mean you will have hand luggage only.

If this is the case then it's do-able probably 4 times out of 10. From immigration to the station is a 5 minute walk. You'll need another 5 minutes to buy a ticket.

The problem is that the taxi to the gate, disembarkation and immigration are unpredictable and involve a good amount of walking (and that's not even considering that the flight could be delayed.)

If you really need to be on the 12:10 train then I would look for an earlier flight.

Good luck

Jekyll

The train station's right in the airport; assuming your flight is on time and no checked baggage you'll be just fine.

There are trains to Zürich HB every 5-10 minutes though, so don't panic if you miss it!

I think he has already checked that out

OP:
It can take as much as 10-15 mins after touchdown before you are out of the plane, a lot more if there is congestion at the airport gate, that is just like any other airport in the world. Frequently planes land 10-15 mins earlier than scheduled, but you can't bank on that.

After you step out of the plane, one can easily reach the main Flughafen train station in about 10-15 mins (walking, plus the short train ride to baggage collection/exit area).

Add 10-20 mins for baggage collection if you have checked-in luggage.

5-10 mins for buying the train ticket.

The passport check is the only place I would worry (EUs would have it faster though); if you manage to step out of the aircraft fast and rush ahead of others, and if no other plane has landed just before yours, you will be through in less than 10 mins, else it can take even 30 mins or more.

As you can see there are several sources of variation. It is highly unlikely that you will be unlucky at all places. But you can't be quite sure of making it to the 12:10 train either.

If I were you (I like running, and travel light ), I would go for it.

You are going to need a bit of luck here.

The Swiss even have a word for this sort of changeover though - Turnschuhverbindungen - gym shoe connections.

Only possible for the young travelling alone, who are experts at slalom sprints even when carrying baggage. I hesitate to mention it, but it may on occasion be useful to have elbows!

We'll be waiting for an update. Good luck!

if possible get a seat in the front of the plane, it should buy you a few extra minutes and get you to the front of the passport control line.

Thanks for all the help and replies!

Yes Jekyll is right - I meant I will only have hand luggage!

I'm a runner anyway and will only have a handbag with me so I think I'll take some flat shoes and make a dash for it!

I need to change trains at Zurich and it's the second leg where the trains aren't very frequent. If I make the 12.10 train, I will have 2 hours for my interview before I need to leave and head back to the airport. If I miss it, I will only have 1 hour 20 min.

The firm I'm going to has insisted that I will have enough time for the interview either way, although I'm not convinced!

One plus point for you. Arriving in Switzerland, the chances of timeable delays are extremely small.

Have you checked the platform details for your connecting train? They are on the SBB timetables. This may make the trip a little easier.

SBB

Good luck with the job interview.

Thanks Rod.

Yes, I'd spotted that SBB even has the platform numbers on it - I still can't quite believe how efficient the Swiss are!

I've seen I can buy my ticket online and just print it off too so that should save a few minutes.

Just for interest, I downloaded Google Maps to my mobile. It has a Satnav element and timetables for most travel systems in the world. I have found it invaluable in Zurich. Just treat the start point as 'current position' and it will give you options to any destination from the current time onwards (By Car, Walking anf Public transport). It is so easy and flexible to use and has really helped me find my way arond the city without all the inefficieny that normally comes with arriving in a new place for the first time. Hope this helps!

Tickets can be bought from the conductor on the inter-city trains (not on suburban trains) for a small surcharge.

My guess is that you can only catch the targeted train if all these criteria are satisfied.
1. Plane lands on time.
2. You are fleet of foot.
3. You are traveling within Schengen (no passport checks).
4. You know your way through Zurich airport.

Did you make your train, chloe_chloe? Inquiring minds want to know!

Schengen or not you need to get in a queue show you have a passport, and Manchester is perhaps not in a Schengen country?

She has not really come back since that.

I feel used

Perhaps she didn't get the job and is sulking

Yes, coming from the almighty cluster fu ck that is UK railways, this efficiecncy can be equally confusing!
I remember a friend who came over for a meeting outside of Zurich & couldn't repeat to write down the name of a station that his Swiss collegue was saying, & after several atempts the Swiss guy gave up & said "look, just get of the train at 8.37 & you'll be in the right place" & my firend was just "you what!?"

I take this flight often from Manchester, if it lands on time and you dont have any checked in luggage then you can comfortably take 12.10 train. Look at booking your train ticket online.

On more than one occasion in the last few months this flight was late