Basel to Lucerne train

Trains from Basel to Lucerne

Travellers planning a Swiss rail trip can take frequent daily direct trains from Basel to Lucerne. Journey times for the route south-east from Basel take just over one hour. Trains operate roughly three times an hour from early morning to late evening. Some additional indirect services to Lucerne from Basel require a brief change at Olten. 

Basel to Lucerne train time: daily departures

Daily schedules provide regular direct trains from Basel to Lucerne seven days a week. There are roughly three trains an hour to the central station in Lucerne. Some additional indirect daily services involve a change at Olten.  Sunday timetables provide slightly fewer direct connections.

How long is the journey by train from Basel to Lucerne?

The fastest train from Basel completes the 67-mile trip south-east to Lucerne in one hour and two minutes. Other direct connections can take between five and 11 minutes longer to reach Lucerne. Indirect connections take around one hour and 27 minutes, with a wait of about 11 minutes between connections at Olten.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Basel to Lucerne?

Departure station: Basel station is located south-east of the city centre, taking around 20 minutes to reach on foot, with most local tram routes and S-Bahn trains offering links to the station in around 10 minutes. The station concourse has a food supermarket, fast food outlets, coffee bars, cash points and luggage storage lockers. 

Arrival station: Lucerne Central Station is located in the centre of the city, close to the lake, and is a short walk from the old quarter. Facilities at the terminus include a shopping mall with luxury fashion stores, a food court, coffee shops, cash points, luggage storage lockers, car rental desks and a taxi stand.   

Which train companies travel from Basel to Lucerne?

Swiss Federal Railways, known as SBB, CFF and FFS in German, French, and Italian, provides all the direct and indirect trains from Basel to Lucerne. The SBB trains operating on this route are either InterCity express trains or InterRegional local services, with most trains offering double-decker seating levels.

Swiss Federal Railways: Basel to Lucerne

Swiss Federal Railways schedules for trains from Basel to Lucerne offer travellers a choice of InterRegional and InterCity services. There is a frequent direct service to Lucerne from early morning to late at night, with around three departures an hour throughout the day and evening, and some indirect connections via Olten. Timings for the direct journey range from one hour and two minutes to one hour and 13 minutes. 

Basel to Lucerne trains: services on board

The SBB InterCity and InterRegional trains on this route from Basel to Lucerne offer a choice of first or second-class seating. InterCity trains include a cafe-bistro, a family zone and quiet carriage. All SBB trains provide low-floor access for wheelchair users and dedicated wheelchair areas on board. Dogs travel with their owners for half the price of a second-class ticket, while small pets in carriers travel for free. Cyclists can take their bike on the train with a purchase of a bike ticket. Travellers with a large amount of luggage can purchase a door-to-door or station-to-station check-in service.

How to find cheap train tickets from Basel to Lucerne

The frequency of direct trains between Basel and Lucerne ensures that it is usually fairly straightforward to find the best fares for the journey. If timing is important, it is sensible to book well in advance, especially for peak time travel. Tickets for InterRegional services are usually, but not always, the cheaper option for trips to Lucerne.