Do I need to buy a new ticket?

Xieguyoi20

Hi there, would appreciate any help at all with this. I purchased a ticket from Paris to Como S Giovanni that has one stop in Zurich. I received an email to check the timetable and it looks like the train does not exist any more. There is a new train from Paris to Como S Giovanni with a stop in Basel. Does this mean I have to buy a new ticket? Or will my old ticket work with the new train? Am I reserved for the new route? The date of travel is 28.05. Thank you!

Danhiel

Hi Xieguyoi20

We need more information to help you. Could you indicate the original departure times in Paris and Zurich? And what trains do you want to take now (departure times in Paris and Basel)?

Kind regards
Danhiel

Xieguyoi20

Original train left from Paris Gare de Lyon to Zurich on 28.05.2025. Departure time 07:21, Arrival 11:26. Next was a departure from Zurich at 11:33 and arrival in Como S. Giovanni at 14:08 on 28.05.2025. My tickets are still in my order for my account, but I am not seeing the train in the timetable anymore. The train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Basel and from Basel to Como S. Giovanni departs at 07:21 and arrives in Basel at 10:26, then leaves Basel at 11:02 and arrives in Como S. Giovanni at 15:08. I guess I am wondering if my original train was cancelled? If so, do I have to get new tickets? Do my old tickets not apply?

Danhiel

Xieguyoi20

No problem between Paris and Basel, this is the same train and your ticket is still valid.

In such situation tickets are also valid for the next connections. You don’t need to buy any other tickets. The problem is that you no longer have seat reservations from Basel or Zurich to Como.

I see two solutions:

If you bought the tickets through SBB, you could call the SBB Contact Center with this number to make an exchange (free of charge):

+41 51 225 78 56 (24/7, waiting times may occur).

Or you could ask the Swiss train staff in the TGV between Paris and Basel to ensure that your ticket will be valid to Como in another train, but it would no longer be possible to get new seat reservations.

You can later also obtain a compensation if you arrive in Como one hour late.

Krist

What happened is that your train, which was originally going all the way to Zurich is now going to be limited to Basel.
When you look up alternative routes the planner assumes that you want the quickest route and sends you from Basel to Lugano and Como via a more direct route.

What you should do is board the EC to Milano in Basel (dep 11:02) and just explain your situation to the conductor. You will certainly not have any issues in Switzerland, as within Switzerland reservations are not compulsory, and conductors are well aware that in case of changes to the schedule you are entitled to take an alternative route.

You should never have to buy a new ticket because of something the railway did.