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London to Zürich / Zurich by train
How to take a thrilling high speed rail journey from London to Zurich
There are two journey options for a taking a train from London to Zurich:
1: The usual most obvious route to take if you will be booking tickets is to travel via Paris on a combination of Eurostar and Lyria trains.
Though the end-to-end journey times are compromised by the temporary reduction in the number of Eurostar services, which has extended the time interval between the arrival of the Eurostar and the departure of the Lyria services.
- The other option involves making connections in Brussels and Frankfurt (Main).
This route avoid the needs to make a transfer between railway stations across Paris, but SMTJ doesn't recommend it, as it involves making a connection at Midi/Zuid station in Brussels of only 20 mins.
Though if you will be travelling with a Eurail or InterRail pass it is worth taking the chance, as it will save money because rail pass users don't have to make reservations on the combination of ICE trains between Brussels and Zurich, but the rail pass reservation fees are some of the most expensive charged to pass users
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Routes
From London St Pancras International to Zürich HB / Zurich main station
Journey Summary
7hr 25min - 9hr 5min (approx)
Daily
Travel Information
The Eurostar will arrive in Paris at the Gare Du Nord, but the Lyria train on to Zurich will depart from the Gare De Lyon.
This guide explains how to make the transfer between the two stations by RER train.
The London to Zurich tickets do not include the transfer across Paris.
Due to the current reductions in the number of Eurostar departures, the options with an end-to-end journey time of more than 8hr 45mins allow around 2hr 35mins to cross Paris, time enough for a lunch in the fabulous Le Train Bleu restaurant within the Gare De Lyon, or in brasserie by the station.
Current timetable
Mon - Sat = 3 x connections per day
Sunday = 2 x connections
Usual timetable (pre-pandemic)
Mon - Fri = 4 x connections per day
Saturday = 3 x connections
Sunday = 2 x connections
Changing trains in: Paris
Tickets
Book Early And Save: Yes
Online bookings open: 4 months ahead
Trainline will also sell journeys with alternative combinations of trains - so take care when booking.
You're looking for the journeys with '1.correspon' that involve taking the Eurostar to Paris and the TGV Lyria train between Paris and Zurich - the alternative options don't tend to be any cheaper.
The very cheapest tickets tend to sell out particularly quickly on this route - they're more likely to be available if you can travel on a Tuesday - Thursday, or are happy to set off from London early in the morning.
The price below is for a one way fare - if you're booking a return ticket, it's likely you will be offered a cheaper price in each direction.
Eurostar does not sell tickets for this journey.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Trainline | from €79 approx |
Train 1
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
As a consequence of the Covid-19 crisis Eurostar will be operating a particularly limited timetable for the time being - further information is available on Eurostar.com
Note that London is in a different time zone to mainland Europe, it is one hour behind - so when looking at a timetable the journey will look as though it's an hour longer.
When the usual timetable is operating;
The majority of trains have a journey time of 2hr 16mins and these trains are non-stop between London and Paris.
All departures from London after 14:30 are non-stop to Paris.
Depart from London before 14:30 some trains will call at either Ebbsfleet or Ashford International stations.
However as the trains only call at these stations to pick up passengers - these station calls are not included on the departure boards at St Pancras International or usually announced on the train.
At St Pancras International:
Eurostar requests that holders of Standard Class And Standard Premier tickets check-in a minimum of 30mins BEFORE departure, though this increased to 45mins on weekends and holidays.
If you have a Business Premier ticket, Eurostar recommends that you only have to check-in 10 mins before departure.
Our guide to taking a Eurostar from London is here.
It's not a scenic journey, but it is a journey with SIX distinct phases and highlights:
1: For most of the first 8 mins of the journey the trains use tunnels to exit London (Stratford International station is located between the tunnels).
2: Then from the right of the train, there are views of the River Thames marshes and of the Queen Elizabeth II road bridge.
3: The third tunnel that the train will pass through is the tunnel under the River Thames.
4: Shortly after Ebbsfleet International station (can only be seen from the right of the train) is the scenic highlight of the journey - the crossing of the River Medway.
5: The train will slow down as it approaches The Channel Tunnel.
Announcements are no longer made that the train is about to enter the tunnel.
The journey through the tunnel will take around 22 mins.
6: There is little of note to be seen from the high speed lines in France.
Train 2
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
Note that these trains depart from the Gare De Lyon in Paris.
Final Destination: Zurich,
All trains also call at: Mulhouse-Ville and Basel SBB
Depart London at 10:24 and the connection on to Zurich is due to arrive there at 20:26.
At 20:40 the overnight train will depart which conveys coaches to Graz and Zagreb, so this connection is not guaranteed.
Though the night train which conveys coaches to Budapest, Praha/Prague and Wien/Vienna is usually due to depart Zurich at 21:40, so this should enable a straightforward onward connection.
Connections are also available in Zurich on to Chur via Landquart and to St Gallen via Winterthur.
This is a journey of four distinct parts.
1: Initially the train will travel on the high speed line south from Paris.
2. The train switches to conventional tracks north of Dijon - the most scenic part of the journey
3. Between Dijon and Mulhouse there is another high speed line.
4. The final part of the journey from Mulhouse to Zurich is on conventional tracks.
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