Hi all

I am coming to ETH, Zürich as an erasmus exchange student for 1 semester from Germany. I have found a 'cheap' accommodation but in Baden. about 500 CHF/month but the thing is that its house and not like a student dorm where it could get lonely and boring at times. What i wish to know is if daily commute from Baden to Zürich is advisable or not. I mean are they any special student discounts. I will be registered as a ETHZ student. Here in some parts of Germany, university students can travel the entire state, unlimited, for a very very small sum...

Thanks a lot

P.S Please have some mercy if there is a relevant earlier thread and direct me to it... in my search, I couldnt find it

http://www.sbb.ch/en/

36 mins on average

If you are young enough, you might also qualify for a Gleis 7 card

http://www.gleis7.ch/home/

http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/...e/gleis7.htm?=



and welcome to the forum.

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You would need a Z-Pass which is a combined ZVV and A-Welle (Aargau) abo.

http://www.z-pass.ch/a-welle.html

You would need zones 570, 572, 184 and 110. 110 (city centre Zürich) counts double so that's 5 zones which is 194 CHF/Month. Note that this would resrict you to the fast trains (15 mins) and the S12 (30ish mins), you won't be able to use the S6 without paying for an Anschlussbillet or 80 CHF fine.

If you wanted to be able to use the S6 as well you would need 117 and 111 which bumps the monthly fare up to 249 CHF/month.

There are reductions for children but I can't see one for students.

Unfortunately you can't use the Gleis 7 until 19:00 which makes it pretty useless for commuting, also I don't think it works on the trams and buses in Zürich or Baden.

Anyway welcome to Switzerland and enjoy yourself.

__________________
We fought them until Hell froze over. And then played hockey on the ice.

If you already have to pay CHF 194/Month, consider getting yourself a GA instead. I paid CHF285/Month, and I think it is 315 today. But CHF 121 gives Access to the entire Swiss public transport, so if you do many weekend trips, that may be a better option for you.

Doc.

Hi all

Thank you very much for your kind responses. Gleis 7, 99 CHF for a year with free travel after 19:00 seems to be a great offer. Since I will be in the city until that time anyway, it works out for me.

Actually, things have changed now. Since I am a non-EU citizen, I need a residence permit to live in Switzeland. This visa process is really tedious and expensive, and not to mention the exorbitant cost of living in Zurich. So instead, I am planning to live in Konstanz, Germany, and commute daily to Zurich. After 19:00, Gleis 7 will be used and I only need to take care of morning travel. and since I am a biker, I dont mind cycling any connecting distance.

So if you dont mind, could you please tell me something more about Konstanz-Zurich route?

Peace and regards from Aachen, Germany

Also could you please tell me if thread title could be edited?

Trying to do a PhD while travelling 3 hours daily is a bit crazy, when you can get a room in Zurich for 700 easily. SBB site provided earlier wil have travel times on it.

You are better off living in Waldshut, connecting through Zürich to Baden.

Actually, Gleis 7 is valid as of Dec 2010 on the RVBW buses but not on the postbus in Kt. Aargau. It is also valid as of Dec 2010 in other parts of Kt. Aargau, on the BDWM-Busse + S17, (Wohlen–Meisterschwanden) and the RBL (Regionalbus Lenzburg), for example.

I think there is a little misunderstanding over here.

1) I will no longer live in Baden because of the Swiss visa requirement. and I have cancelled my place already.
2) phdaspirant is just my username. I am a masters student on my way for an exchange program to ETH, Zurich for a semester and if possible might continue into 2 more sems of internship and master thesis. I might do a Phd after that.

@Mrs. Doolittle Waldshut seems to be a nice place to live...in the black forest area..could go for hikes over the weekend I will try searching for accomodation there. Its closer to Zurich as compared to Konstanz but I thought since Konstanz is a university town there could be more options for student housing and a better 'life'. I do not know but I want to stay in Germany and as close to Zurich as possible. Are there any other places I could look at?

Then look at www.db.de for special offers from Konstanz to the border.

You could buy a SBB Streckenabonnenment from the border to Zurich, you can travel all the time between the 2 listed stations for a weekly fee.