Have a great trip. Always great to suggest stuff to someone who appreciates it!

Thanks OL. You were awesome with your suggestions. Hopefully, I’ll be able to chip in with some suggestions for others once I’m back.

Just a last minute question (well…not a question, more like a confirmation).

Our trip from Paris to Rome (a day train) includes a transfer in Zurich. However, we only have 9 minutes to transfer between the trains. I’m hoping this is enough time to make the transfer??? Since we’ve already bought the passes and reservations, I’m guessing we’ll just have to make a run for it either way. But just wanted to know if people have had any experience in transferring between trains in such a short time. Is there anything we can do to make sure we don’t miss the next train?

Thanks.

I’ve never had a connection that tight. I trust you’re traveling fairly light?

Yes, each one of us carrying a single backpack (around 20 pounds) so in terms of carrying stuff, I guess we are fairly OK. The thing I’m concerned is whether I’d be able to find the platforms and make transfer quickly. I’m hoping there will be others from the first train who are transferring as well.

The trains are probably directly across the platform from each other, so you should not have a problem. You are connecting between major cities. Assuming these are major trains I would guess that this is one of the connections where they will hold one train in the unlikely event the other arrives late for some reason. Does The Swiss rail company web side or Bahn.de give the platform numbers?

Show your tickets and point out the connection to the conductor when he/she first checks your tickets and ask which platform you need to go to for your connection. Be standing and ready to exit when the train stops in Zurich.

EDIT: I see on bahn.de that you arrive on platform 8 and leave on platform 4. That could be a little tricky, but you should be able to accomplish if you can easily carry (don’t count on wheeling anything or finding a luggage cart) all your gear. Again, check with the conductor because they may (very rarely) change platforms. The Zurich station is well signed and I don’t think you’ll have any stairs to negotiate.

Thanks OL, as always

I checked the Bahn.de website. The Paris-Zurich train arrives in platform 10 and the train to Milan leaves from platform 5 . So, seems like we’ll have to run across 5 platforms in 9 minutes. (It’s the train that arrives in Zurich at 11.00am and leaves at 11.09am)

And yes, each of us are carrying only a single back (around 20 lbs each). So, running around should not be a problem.

Have a great trip!

I found your routing yesterday, but didn’t find it today, so I’m working from memory. As I recall, you had a connection in Milan, too. The Milan station is huge — major underground shopping mall and hotel included. You won’t have trouble getting from platform to platform, but wandering off to find a pack of gum could easily result in getting lost. If I recall correctly your connection was about 25 minutes — plenty of time for the connection but not enough time to factor in getting lost in Milano Centrale.

Desilva,

Thank you for your feedback. We almost never get feedback. Many times, people ask questions, we answer, and we never hear from that poster again…which is why I often wonder if many newbies even bother to check back and read our responses. Good to know that some actually do read our responses and take our advice.

Happy travels.

Thanks.

Well, you should appreciate all the help you got. And I certainly did get a lot of help from this forum.

Had an awesome three days in Paris and the best time driving around the Loire Valley Will check back later.

Have a great trip and yes this is one of the best traveling forum sites. Suggestion provided by the members are awesome.