Klosters to Ortisei train/bus help please

A snowHead

I have the opportunity to do a week in Ortisei straight after one in Klosters next season. It looks like a combination of trains and connecting buses, taking 5-6 hours. Train from Klosters to Zernez, then bus to Mals, then train to Waidbruck/Ponte Gardena with a change at Merano and via Bolzano and finally a bus to Ortisei.
Was wondering whether anyone knew Zernez or Waidbruck/Ponte Gardena and could tell me how easy it is to spot where the bus stop is when arriving by train. I will probably only have 5 minutes or so for the transfer at each stop and don't want to miss the connection.

EDIT:
I can see that there is an alternative just using trains via Landquart and Innsbruch which goes as far as Chiusa before you need to get a bus. Two questions about this option:
Can you get through-tickets on Swiss rail cross border or do I need to get individual tickets for each leg of the journey? Would it be easy to get a taxi in Chiusa for the last leg (looks like the buses are infrequent)
Thanks

A snowHead

@DCG, generally, you should think of your tickets as “transport” tickets rather than “train” or “bus” tickets, though that it complicated by your border crossings. Yes, you can book through on the trains with one operator, just check carefully that you are definitely getting the full journey, because some sections can be excluded on certain routes. It is worth comparing the journey on Swiss rail (SBB) and also Austrian rail (OEBB), as the prices can vary. Sometimes the bus can be included on the same ticket, so it’s worth adding that too, otherwise pay on the day for buses.

I would go via Innsbruck. Once you reach the Inn valley, that is a main line with regular services, same for the Brenner line. They would only be affected by weather if it is especially snowy.

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@DCG, at Zernez it’s really straightforward and obvious when you get there. 5 minutes will be plenty for that transfer. Not a big station/ bus station.

While I take @Scarlet’s point about routing via Innsbruck, I’d be tempted to go with the Engadine route - v scenic and much more interesting than via Inn.

In CH at least there’s no way the bus wouldn’t wait for the train were it delayed (which is pretty unlikely). I’d expect the buses would also wait in sudtirol too.

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@Inboard, while I’m sure Engadine is very beautiful, I would hardly say the Inntal was lacking in scenery!

And yes, Swiss public transport is very good.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Hire a car? It's only a 3.5hr drive.

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@Scarlet, indeed and I’m very fond of it. But the route via Zernez would be much more fun and off the beaten track (while still being sensibly doable)

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@Scarlet, @Inboard, Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. I am tempted by the Engadine route. Presumably the bus routes remain open in winter - it looks like it is mostly in valleys.

@Mollerski, That's not a bad idea. could return the hire car to Klosters at the end of the week and then get a train to Zurich. But where to hire a car from in Klosters? Not sure that's possible.

After all it is free

@DCG, there is car hire in Davos if you can get there

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I have been to Zernez and am pretty sure the buses go from just outside the station - as they do from most stations in Switzerland (though Chur caught us out, you have to go up a level). I don't know whether the bus over the pass to Mals will be a coordinated service.

I am pretty sure the Rhaetische Bahn continues along the valley to Scuol, and it seems likely there would be buses onward from there in the direction of Innsbruck. And thence the train over the Brenner pass.

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I believe the Zernez-Mals bus runs every two hours in winter, but you can check on the SBB app/ website.

You know it makes sense.

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@j b, Thanks. I'll investigate further

A snowHead

My parents use that bus in the winter as they snowshoe in the Val Mustair (which is the other side of the Ofenpass from Zernez and on the route of the Mals bus). I’m sure that in bad weather with heavy snowfall, there is a risk of the Ofenpass being closed. But i’m not aware of how frequently that happens (i don’t recall them getting stuck). Can ask my father.

The postbus stop is right next to the station platforms at Zernez and i would expect the postbus to wait if the train is running late (i was in the Engadin last week and a different post bus even waited 20 minutes to connect with a late running train that i was on).

A snowHead

The Inn valley train route is a long journey, Klosters to Landquart, Landquart to Buchs, Buchs to Innsbruck (only once every two hours), Innsbruck to Brenner, Brenner to Waidbruck (there is the occasional direct one from Innsbruck). Given that there are Klosters to Zernez trains that seems easier (though both trips are long) as at least when you get to Mals you are in Südtirol and there are likely to be options to get at least as far as Bözen.

I would assume there will be 7 day car hire places in Chur if not Landquart though Davos would be easier. St Moritz might be an option too.

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@JaneHelen, @munich_irish, Thanks both for the helpful input.

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*Ofenpass is open in winter. But dependent on weather of course
*a 5 minute transfer time: way too optimistic to depend on that. Especially in the mountains, in winter
*if its snowing, buses and possibly trains will most likely have delays, even in valleys

Help!!

Klosters to Ortisei train/bus help please

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