So while checking for tomorrows trains to Thun this unique connection appeared. Its just called "IC", doesnt stop in Olten or Bern and takes only 53 (!) minutes to get there. Also the random 10 minutes stop in Lenzburg. The app says schedule change due to construction but will there actually be a train tomorrow?

by Impossible_Basil1040

4 comments

  1. IC is inter city and they usually stop less. Also if it shows a connection, the connection is usually valid.

  3. Yes it’s a real train. The 1304 IC is a seasonal train introduced only a year ago or so. Mostly running on Saturdays and it skips Bern so it’s faster in the Swiss Alps. SBB even plans to extend it to Domodossola next year.

  4. Yes, that’s an actual train you can take. They introduced this service with the last time table change back in December.
    It only runs once per week on Saturday morning, and I believe only seasonally, but I might be wrong.

    The timetable change is because it departs earlier in Zürich and then waits that time off in Lenzburg due to construction work. Generally if the app says that there is a timetable change this change is already applied onto that connection. If it wouldn’t drive, it wouldn’t even show up in the app or show up as canceled.

    And as you noticed, this service skips the time costly stop in Bern which makes this service much faster. I don’t know why it doesn’t stop in Olten though. It would only cost like 2-3min but would greatly increase the ridership.

    Fun fact: this train is the only (scheduled) passenger service that takes the connection line before Bern Wankdorf. That’s why this train is so fast. Usually this line is only used by freight trains and all other passenger trains drive into the main station of Bern and reverse back out.

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