Hello Everyone,
I will be arriving in Switzerland in a week to begin my year of study in Lausanne! I am anxious and nervous at the same time. I think I am going to dread all of the administrative processes involved the first few weeks I am there but I need to stay happy and in a good mood! This is a once in a lifetime experience and the biggest thing that I have ever done!

I know that I am arriving at the Geneva airport at 11h25 but I am having some difficulties figuring out information on taking the train from the airport to Lausanne. In some of the information I received, it said that I could find train information here: www.sbb.ch/fr

I am estimating (please tell me if I'm wrong!) that it will take 2 hours to find my bags and get through customs and everything. This means I will be able to leave the airport around 13h30.

I have searched that website and think I am on the right track and have gotten to this point where it shows possible trains that I can take http://fahrplan.sbb.ch/bin/query.exe/en?
I think connection 4 might be the best bet, assuming that 2 hours is a good estimate of how long it will take.

Now I am wondering, should I buy a ticket now, assuming it will take 2 hours, or wait until I arrive to buy a ticket? I am wondering because I am supposed to be meeting someone at the station in Lausanne and I also need to set up a time to meet with the housing manager to pick up my room key.

I hope this post isn't too confusing! Thanks!

the time you need for customs depends on the day and the amount of people, etc. but normally i would give yourself an hour or hour and a half. there are trains to lausanne from geneva airport every few minutes so don't stress too much about finding a train or if one will be available. just let yourself get through the customs and baggage and wait for the next train. the most you may wait is 20 minutes.

i would advise you just to buy your ticket when you are in the station. you aren't sure what time you'll get the train, so you are better off just buying at the machine, there are lots of people who speak english if you don't speak french and people tend to be very helpful if you ask. if you have a cell, tell the housing manager what train you are on when you are waiting- let them know you aren't sure how long it'll take. it should be fine. if you don't have a cell, i would say you can be (safely saying) in lausanne by 3pm. the train to lausanne is about 45 minutes, give yourself one hour tops...

anyway you'll be fine- enjoy your trip and best of luck in lausanne- it's a great place and if you need anything, feel free to pm me with any questions!

__________________
'there isn't enough of anything as long as we live.
but at intervals a sweetness appears and, given a chance prevails'

It will probably take you no longer than 30 minutes to get through baggage and customs, assuming you're not Paris Hilton,

Plenty of trains to Lausanne from the airport, come out of customs and turn left you get to the station, buy a ticket either at the counter or from the machine with your credit card.

My guess is about 3-4 trains per hour, so if you miss one, go for a coffee and come back. Be careful, all go to Geneva town, not all go to Lausanne and in Morges the line divides for the trains going up to Yverdon & Neuchatel !

Hi, welcome.
Simply put you can take 1 direct train usually from Geneva Airport to Lausanne and they run rather often. The easiest bet for you is to go to the Ticket counter at the Airport Train station(When you get out of baggage claim make a left and follow that to the end.)

Tell them you want to go to Lausanne and which one to take...only 4 tracks there I believe and it's rather simple. The train ride usually takes about 45 minutes to get to Lausanne station and isn't difficult.
Just make sure to have Swiss Francs or a Card to buy your ticket

Thank you everyone for the information and the speedy replies!! It sounds so much easier than I was expecting!

It really is a snap, as the others have said. Enjoy your flight and look forward to an easy arrival in Lausanne.

By the way, a one-way fare from the airport to Lausanne costs CHF25 in 2nd class and CHF42 in 1st class, in case you want to treat yourself!

If you're up for it, you can purchase a "half-fare" pass at the Airport train station. There is a tourist information centre right next to the ticket windows. It will cost you CHF150 for a year (maybe less if you are under 26 years old) and with it all your train fares in Switzerland will cost you half-price during that year.

Welcome to beautiful Lausanne!