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Platform change in Switzerland

  • June 22, 2026
  • 12 replies
  • 39 views

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Hello! We're traveling from Lucerne to Füssen, Germany. There's 2 interchange of only 7 minutes. 

Lucerne to Zurich is IR 2571 arriving at Platform 10

Zurich to Buchloe is leaving from Platform 34.

 

Do we have enough to get from Platform 10 to 34? 

Thank you so much.

 

12 replies

ralderton
Railmaster
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  • Railmaster
  • June 22, 2026

Yes.

The general rule is that the planners won’t give you a connection unless it’s possible. That’s never a guarantee though You can always take the earlier train from Lucerne at 0809 if you wan extra time,

It’s worth knowing that platform 10 is at ground level, and 34 is below ground.

 


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  • Engin-ius
  • June 22, 2026

As a general rule, short Swiss connections are normally perfectly fine so you shouldn’t have a problem.

Check out this map of Zurich station - https://plans.trafimage.ch/zuerich-hb?lang=en&layer=zurich_innenplan&x=683159.61&y=248087.52&z=17.

As per ralderton above platform 34 is below ground, and we can see from the map (click “-1” to see the underground level) that it’s to the right hand side of the station as your train arrives in from Lucerne on platform 10.

Just get off the train, don’t get distracted by shops, coffee places, shiny things, etc . . . and head downstairs and you’ll be fine.


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  • Author
  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • June 22, 2026

Yes.

The general rule is that the planners won’t give you a connection unless it’s possible. That’s never a guarantee though You can always take the earlier train from Lucerne at 0809 if you wan extra time,

It’s worth knowing that platform 10 is at ground level, and 34 is below ground.

 

Thank you ralderton. That's what got me worried.  I read seat61 and he said that Platform 10 is ground level while 34 is below ground. 

Follow up question: If we miss our connection, we can just board the next train out, add that to our journey and we should be good, right? We have a Global Eurail Pass. 

Thank you so much.


Andreas1099
Full steam ahead
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  • Full steam ahead
  • June 22, 2026

If you are worried about the connection time in Zürich HB (I would not, this is Switzerland!) take the Interreigio departing at 8.09 in Luzern. Then you have 41 minutes connection time in Zürich. Buchloe should be no problem. And if EC99 should be delayed, the next train to Füssen departs at 13:30. 


Marvin Heer
Engin-ius
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  • Engin-ius
  • June 22, 2026

 

Follow up question: If we miss our connection, we can just board the next train out, add that to our journey and we should be good, right? We have a Global Eurail Pass. 

Thank you so much.

@RowenaCM As none of those trains have mandatory reservations, getting on the next train is no problem in case you miss one of the connections.


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  • Author
  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • June 22, 2026

Yes.

The general rule is that the planners won’t give you a connection unless it’s possible. That’s never a guarantee though You can always take the earlier train from Lucerne at 0809 if you wan extra time,

It’s worth knowing that platform 10 is at ground level, and 34 is below ground.

 

Thank you ralderton. That's what got me worried.  I read seat61 and he said that Platform 10 is ground level while 34 is below ground. 

Follow up question: If we miss our connection, we can just board the next train out, add that to our journey and we should be good, right? We have a Global Eurail Pass. 

Thank you so much.

Follow up question 2: The earlier departure I can find is 6:35. Can you share with me the site you saw it from? Thank you again. 


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  • Full steam ahead
  • June 22, 2026

@RowenaCM 

Please note that platform numbers are indicative. I suggest to install the SBB Mobile app to be informed about last minute changes. If you are lucky, the EC will also depart from ground level. 

You can board the next train, but, in this case, you have to wait for two hours. I would leave Lucerne earlier. I always do it this way when I take this train. I you don’t have seat reservations, you can board earlier and find free seats before passengers arriving with connecting trains.

You have to search separately Lucerne - Zurich and Zurich - Füssen if you don’t want the standard connection time.


Forum|alt.badge.img
  • Author
  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • June 22, 2026

As a general rule, short Swiss connections are normally perfectly fine so you shouldn’t have a problem.

Check out this map of Zurich station - https://plans.trafimage.ch/zuerich-hb?lang=en&layer=zurich_innenplan&x=683159.61&y=248087.52&z=17.

As per ralderton above platform 34 is below ground, and we can see from the map (click “-1” to see the underground level) that it’s to the right hand side of the station as your train arrives in from Lucerne on platform 10.

Just get off the train, don’t get distracted by shops, coffee places, shiny things, etc . . . and head downstairs and you’ll be fine.

Thank you zagmund. And especially for the "don't get distracted by shiny things" advice 😅. I would have been distracted by those. 


Forum|alt.badge.img
  • Author
  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • June 22, 2026

@RowenaCM 

Please note that platform numbers are indicative. I suggest to install the SBB Mobile app to be informed about last minute changes. If you are lucky, the EC will also depart from ground level. 

You can board the next train, but, in this case, you have to wait for two hours. I would leave Lucerne earlier. I always do it this way when I take this train. I you don’t have seat reservations, you can board earlier and find free seats before passengers arriving with connecting trains.

You have to search separately Lucerne - Zurich and Zurich - Füssen if you don’t want the standard connection time.

Thank you Danhiel. Fingers crossed 🤞 we'll be lucky.


Andreas1099
Full steam ahead
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  • Full steam ahead
  • June 22, 2026

Luzern - Zürich HB from sbb.ch. Schedule for tomorrow, but train should run daily. 

 


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  • Author
  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • June 22, 2026

Hello! We're traveling from Lucerne to Füssen, Germany. There's 2 interchange of only 7 minutes. 

Lucerne to Zurich is IR 2571 arriving at Platform 10

Zurich to Buchloe is leaving from Platform 34.

 

Do we have enough to get from Platform 10 to 34? 

Thank you so much.

 

Update: Thank you all for your help. I followed Danhiel's suggestion to break up the search, Lucerne to Zurich then Zurich to Fussen. I found train leaving at 8:09 as suggested by ralderton. 

Thank you all for the help.


Forum|alt.badge.img
  • Author
  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • June 22, 2026

Hello! We're traveling from Lucerne to Füssen, Germany. There's 2 interchange of only 7 minutes. 

Lucerne to Zurich is IR 2571 arriving at Platform 10

Zurich to Buchloe is leaving from Platform 34.

 

Do we have enough to get from Platform 10 to 34? 

Thank you so much.

 

Update: Thank you all for your help. I followed Danhiel's suggestion to break up the search, Lucerne to Zurich then Zurich to Fussen. I found train leaving at 8:09 as suggested by ralderton. 

Thank you all for the help.

If you are worried about the connection time in Zürich HB (I would not, this is Switzerland!) take the Interreigio departing at 8.09 in Luzern. Then you have 41 minutes connection time in Zürich. Buchloe should be no problem. And if EC99 should be delayed, the next train to Füssen departs at 13:30. 

Thank you Andreas. I did not see that time departure at first but when I broke up the search Lucerne to Zurich and Zurich to Füssen, (as suggested by Dahniel) it gave me that option.