Travel Advice Needed

For the first time this year I am taking the train from Geneva airport to the resort instead of hiring a car. Could anyone help me with advice on taking a train from Geneva airport to Sion? Is it advisable to book a ticket in advance or can I buy one on the day? My concern about booking in advance is what happens if my flight is delayed. Are pre-booked tickets only valid on a specific train as in England or are they transferable? How easy is it to get from the airport to the train station?

Thank you.

trevorwinch wrote:For the first time this year I am taking the train from Geneva airport to the resort instead of hiring a car. Could anyone help me with advice on taking a train from Geneva airport to Sion? Is it advisable to book a ticket in advance or can I buy one on the day? My concern about booking in advance is what happens if my flight is delayed. Are pre-booked tickets only valid on a specific train as in England or are they transferable? How easy is it to get from the airport to the train station?

Thank you.

It's a route that I use, so here is my 2p's worth :D

Use sbb.ch to check times and connections
Buy your ticket on the day from the machines in the rail station.
Keep your bag close to you.
Don't buy your ticket in advance, unless you are using a Swiss Transfer Ticket.
The train station is attached to the airport, access is just off the arrivals hall in GVA. As you exit the baggage hall and customs, turn left, walk the length of the concourse, past a couple of cafe's and go through the revolving door.
Buy a sandwich and drink for your journey in Migros at the far end of the station, it's close to where your Platform will be, most likely Platform 3.
Trains are around every half hour, look for Brig and Visp as end destinations on the board.
Don't consider getting on the train without a ticket, it's now a 90chf fine, and be aware that if the train is busy and you have put a bag on the seat beside you, there is a risk you will be charged a fare for the bag. Make sure your seat is in the right "class" or face a fine )

If you are changing to PostBus after Sion, it might be cheaper to get the Swiss Transfer Ticket. Bear in mind that the train ticket can include Postbus journeys, so set your ticket destination accordingly.

Which resort are you going to?

Can't get any better or more comprehensive than that

Wow! Thanks Bandit! I think that covers just about every eventuality. Just got to decide what I want in my sandwich now :)

I'm going to Nendaz. I've been there every year for the past four years. I normally have the family with me so we hire a car but for some strange reason the kids have decided they prefer Florida this year so I'm having a sneaky few days on my own.

Thanks again

It's a very straightforward and enjoyable journey between GVA and Sion. Keep a look out for the Chateau Chillon on the northern edge of Lac Leman. Last year there was also a 'snow train' between GVA and Sion when we went out, so keep an eye out for this as well. If you opt for a Swiss Transfer Ticket for convenience, you can order one from the Swiss Travel Centre in London.

You need to take a train that goes to Brig and get off at Sion. I think (but not sure) it leaves at about 27 and 47 min past every hour. You can check timetable at www.cff.ch. You can enter not just Sion but your actual destination and you will see the timetable for all the connections and travel times including walking that you will need to get there. They stopped selling tickets on the train which made it quite incovenient, so allow yourself some time for buying a ticket too. I think there are only ticket-selling machines at the airport.

This has all been very helpful. Thank you very much! I do have one further query though. Looking at the timetable, trains from Geneva to Sion run about 2 every hour. However, if I search for Geneva to Nendaz, There is one at 9:47 then not another one until 12:27. Is it possible that there is no bus from Sion to Nendaz between 12:10 and 14:30? My flight is due in at 9:15 so probably won't make the 9:47 train. Do I just jump on the first train and hope there's a bus or am I better off waiting in Geneva for the 12:27? I don't fancy a two hour wait at Sion train station (but I was hoping to squeeze in a couple of hours skiing in the afternoon :))

It's most likely to be the traditional lunch "hour", messing with the timetable. I've been stuffed like this numerous times. I tend to get as close as I can to my destination, in case of delays or breakdowns, then have a bite to eat in a cafe. :D

If you want to pin the cause down, use SBB.ch to plan a journey from Sion to Nendaz, and see what comes up )