Hi hope this thread is in the right place. I arrive in Zurich airport tomorrow at 13.45. I'm going straight to Basel so will be getting the train from the airport and want to get a direct one at 14.04 rather than a later one and changing in Zurich, in which there's every possibility I'll get on the wrong train.

If my flight arrives on time at 13.45 what are the chances of getting through security, purchasing a ticket, and making the train at 14.04?

- Does it take long to get through security and to the trains?
- Is it possible to buy a train ticket in advance?

TIA

I'd say your chances are rather slim...but good luck anyways.

will you have checked in baggage?


if so forget it.

Nope just carry on. If I could buy a train ticket in advance that would help.

Checked baggage......... no way.
Carry on only........ do you know who Hussain Bolt is?

However, there is a train every 5-10mins to Zürich HB from the flughafen.

From there you can jag a train to Basel every half hour.

It should take about 10mins to Zurich HB, so you can do the maths on your options at the time.

travelling tomorrow... I dont think you'll be able to purchase on line... but perhaps someone else here can give you a better answer.

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

Ehmm, it's Usain not Hussain.

Relax, just take it easy. You'll never make it, not a hope in hell. A 14:30 train maybe, but not the 14:04.

What's your flight number? You can check which stand the flight arrives at today, it might be similar tomorrow. If you arrive at terminal 1 you'll be quicker than E which is Midfield or remote stands to the west which require shuttle buses that add at least 15 minutes of hassle.

If you have an iPhone, then download the SBB Mobile app and process your e-ticket over the net.

If you're really afraid of hopping the wrong train at Zurich HB then just wait another hour for the 15.04 direct train to Basel.

Seriously, though, it's not that complicated to change at Zurich HB.

I've actually never seen his name spelt.

..... and thought it could be a "French" pronounciation

You do realise that you can do this with any phone, not just an iPhone.

But then I wouldn't get my 0.0015% cut on the App like Steve Jobs promised me....

Chances are pretty slim, I reckon, but there's no harm in trying.

If against all odds you do make it through in time, run for the 14:04 train and don't worry about your ticket. You can buy one from the conductor on all long-distance trains, costs a little more but it's not a problem.

If you don't make it in time for the 14:04,
(1) Buy a ticket from "Zürich Flughafen" to "Basel SBB" via "Zürich HB". (You'll be catching a local train for the first leg of this, and you can't buy a ticket on local trains, must have it in your grubby paw before boarding.) There are ticket machines all around the airport, easiest to spot will be the ones just above the escalators down to the train platforms.

(2) Catch any train with "Zürich HB" on the signboard. Your ticket's for a route, not a specific train.

(3) When you get to Zürich HB, go all the way upstairs, into the main hall (or just walk to the head of the platform if you've come in on ground level) and look around. There's a massive signboard hanging from the ceiling. Look for the next train to Basel (will be in the left-hand column, the right-hand column are local trains) and check time and platform.

(4) That's it! Trains to Basel are about every half hour so you shouldn't have too long to wait for one.

Good luck!

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I made it from plane to train in 8 min flat - with passport control.

Used a trolley as a "vehicle", so barely broke a sweat and had 5 mins spare before train departure.

Ticket purchased on train (which is still possible), or maybe I had a return ticket, can't remember.

You need to be sitting in seats 1B or 1C to do that, be parked at the main terminal (if you arrive at Terminal 3, forget it) and hope there are no delays in getting off the plane and no queues.

all depends where your flight is from, which stand you go to etc - if you are non schengen then unless you are very very very lucky forget it.

i have been off plane and out in under 10 mins so it is possible

Who are you flying with? Last week my dads budget flight from Manchester was due in to Zurich at 1345, it grazed the runway at 2pm then continued on to Stuttgart to refuel before returning to Zurich and finally landing at around 4pm.

Is this a joke? Can't work out what you mean. I'm on that same flight later this week, so have a vested interest...

It's no joke. I went to pick them up and there was no info at all at Zurich, only when I received a text from my dad did I find out that they aborted the landing due to cross winds and did not have enough fuel to circle Zurich until they could get another landing slot so they went to Stuttgart. Bonkers. It didn't seem like a particularly windy day. You have to hope it's a one-off, but wonder how close to the bone these budget airlines take it with their fuel calculations.

Also, if you're late for a meeting in Basel, be sure to blame the %&%* airline, not the trains. No one will believe you if you blame it on the trains.