 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Snowheads!
This is my first post and I am looking for a bit of advice.
I'm considering training to Zermatt in February but unfortunately the snowtrains only go to France so it would involve Eurostar to Paris, then sleeper train to Basel then train up to Zermatt via Brig.
Has anyone attempted this epic journey and if so, was it worth the effort?
Many thanks for any advice! 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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MelEllis, are you sure? I know that the TGV service goes as far Geneva, although Geneva to Zurich is a fair distance, never done it by train only ever driven.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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MelEllis, Welcome to  , I've only ever used the Swiss train service for business use but on the few occasions I have ( including Zurich - Paris) it is brilliant.
This link may help you look at options:
http://www.sbb.ch/fr/index.htm
When DGOrf is around you will get chapter and verse on your desired routeing.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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MelEllis - try http://www.sbb.en/index.htm (Swiss Railways) and go from Paris to Visp (or even Zermatt). The train from Paris to Visp takes about 6 hours, changing at Geneva. I've only taken the train from Geneva to Visp - it's very scenic, runs to time and very relaxing compared with the drive.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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MelEllis, if you are in London you can get an early train to Paris (05.34) and go via Geneva getting to Zermatt as early as 18.24, or by going on the 08.12 and going via Lausanne you could be in Zermatt by 20.42, the alternative is as you say to get the sleeper from Paris Est to Basle getting into Basle at 04.50 and yes I've done it and no it isn't any fun although it's better in first class and a sleeper rather than a couchette, it would get you to Zermatt at 10.42 the next morning, the journey through Switzerland is very pretty with lots of mountain scenery though. Unfortunately the rail timetables change in early December and some don't update their websites until then
By the way, welcome to snowHeads
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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On www.eurostar.co.uk they advertise that service that gets into Basel at 4.50 am and that is the one I was thinking of. Why is it not fun D G Orf? Is it because of having to sleep on the train or is it all the changes? Because going to France I much prefer taking the snowtrain to flying (extra day of skiing!), but what puts me off training to Switzerland is all the changes with skis in tow.
Oh how do I make www.eurostar.co.uk a link?
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Clever, it did it automatically!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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MelEllis - welcome - An alternative - Take a flight to Geneva (usually sub £100) Go down an escalator and you end up in the train station - Take just the Swiss train to Visp - Zermatt. Think the train is about 80 euro's return. I've done this several times - It works very easily & the view's on the way are spectacular.
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MelEllis, I've done London-Zermatt twice by train, daytime travel, along the lines DGO suggests: early Eurostar, RER train from Gare du Nord to Gare de Lyon, then you can either connect via Geneva (which tends to have the cheaper fares) or Lausanne. These are both TGV services.
Make sure of your evening connection from Brig or Visp to Zermatt. The last service is a bus rather than a train, in the low season. There are more connecting trains in high season.
Whether you go to Switzerland by train or plane, buy the flat-rate Swiss Transfer ticket from the airport or border to Zermatt and back. You have to buy this in the UK, I think, and it's cheaper than a normal return.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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MelEllis, doing the changes can be a pain especially in Paris where you either need to use the metro, which at that time of night isn't too bad or try to get a taxi and they don't have to take skis, otherwise the walk at Basle is quite long, you have to go from the French side of Basle station on foot through pastport control and then past customs (usually closed early in the morning and late at night), I didn't see any baggage trollies at Paris Est station and they don't post what platform the train is leaving from until about 15mins before departure, the night train is also fairly old (at least 35 years old I'd say) and not as quiet or smooth as more modern trains which is a shame as I like travelling by train, once you are in Switzerland the journey is easy the staff are all polite and many speak some English if you have any problems, I've even known them call ahead and have people waiting to help with baggage transfers onto connecting trains when time has been tight, by the way get Swiss Transfer Tickets through the Swiss Tourist office before you travel, these give you a return rail journey from your point of entry into Switzerland to your destination and back, to Zermatt that option will be much cheaper than a regular return ticket from the rail company.
I live in hope that they will one day replace the night train from Brussels to Switzerland which used to be a much better option, preferably with one of the new sleeper trains used on the city night line runs in Holland and Germany which are infinately superior to those used on the French route
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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MelEllis & Supersport6, welcome to snowHeads
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Quite a journey by train.
Im working in Bern right now. It is 3.5hrs(min) to Zermatt from here ! Cant falt swiss trains , i use them all the time. Perfectly on schedule.
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You know it makes sense.
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They have the 'TGV des neiges' during winter that goes direct from Paris gare de lyon all the way to visp and brig. Not too expensive if you book around now either 
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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I will definately look into the TGV des neiges thing, otherwise flying to Geneva might well be the easiest option. Thanks guys!
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Poster: A snowHead
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Welcome
I've TGV'd from Paris to Basle but would think this would involve too many changes for Zermatt. If the TGV goes to Visp then that is perfect,
But I found Eurostar via Paris to the Bernese Oberland the best best way to travel and that is despite sleeping -twice- overnight on Basel station, the thats another story. If you can get to Visp from the UK for anywhere in the region of £150 bite their hand off. Its the best way to travel IMV. I did Meringen via Eurostar/TGV and local for about £130 a couple of years ago, started at Ashford at 0930 GMT, got into the resort about 2000 CET IIRC.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| Quote: |
It is 3.5hrs(min) to Zermatt from here [Bern]
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That's the thing that got me about that journey.
I'd really like to go to Zermatt and love to travel by train overnight but the pre 5AM change in Bern followed by over 3 hrs travel before breakfast time rather put me off.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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admin, go to the Bernese Oberland by train, changing at 5am in Basle means getting to Wengen arround 9.15 which is still in time for breakfast
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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D G Orf, the Bernese Oberland? Tell us more!
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Can you see Mr Orf's Wengen Winter Warmer in the offing one year?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Ian Hopkinson, not a bad idea that
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best option might be to fly to geneva (bmi baby, easyjet, etc sly in winter for low cost) and get train from geneva airport... you have to get train to visp, change onto another train to zermatt .. cost was about 120chfs I think and takes 3-4 hours. www.cff.ch is good to book train tickets get timetabels etc - you can also sometims get cheaper rail fares on this site under 'click and rail' which offers lower cost tickets but on specified trains.
Alternative option would be to go to Cervinia in Italy (fly to Geneva or Milan) and then you can get cable car up over into Zermatt... (i.e. stay in Cervinia)
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jct, welcome to snowHeads!
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