Anyone know where there is a good set of instructions or descriptions of how to conduct business on the Swiss Rail website? Also do they have discounts (other than the passes) like the French and Italians? It seems like the Swiss web site is the most difficult to get a price estimate to compare the various options.

Sorry I can't be of more help - but I have not used the site. They must have an English version - don't they? We spent a month in Switzerland once and bought a discount card that is good for a year and gives you 50% off most trains - it was worth it for us for the month. But look carefully at any discount conditions - some do not discount the mountain rides very much.

Have a look at the Rail Europe site too - just for comparison.

Here are some links to check out:

www.raileurope.com

www.sbb.ch: SSB Online - The Swiss Rail system, in English, German, Italian. I was able to download the schedule from the Swiss Rail website to my Palm Pilot.

www.rail-info.ch: Rail Information Switzerland, information about Swiss narrow gauge railways.

www.budgettravel.com/swisrail.htm: Swiss Rail pass information.

www.regiopass-berneroberland.ch: Rail pass for the Berner Oberland region.

We bought 50% discount passes for one month this past summer. (For a just a small amount, our 12-year old daughter got a pass to ride free.) I had looked at the info on the internet and felt kind of overwhelmed about making a decision about the type of pass that would be best for our family.

The Swiss Rail system has an office at the Zurich airport. I decided just to wait to buy our passes when we got there. The man at the counter was extremely helpful. He took the time to understand what our plans were and recommended the 50% pass as the right alternative for us. We recouped about half the cost of our passes with the savings on the boat/train/cable car ride from Luzern to the top of Mt. Rigi.

Here's another site with good info on the different passes. But maybe you could also wait to buy your passes at one of the major rail offices...

Kathy

I emailed the Swiss Rail folks for prices on some itineraries and the regular fares were quite pricey (between Zurich and Como or Lugano). There are some discounted point-to-point tickets on Swiss Rail. The fares are called Click&Rail and they are last-minute (within 10 days or so) specials and are non-refundable. Well at least those are the terms for the Click&Rail Italy tickets - I haven't looked into the details for the "domestic" Click&Rail specials within Switzerland. I don't think the specials are offered for all cities so you'll have to check on your itinerary and hope it's one that Swiss Rail usually has on offer.

Here's the link:
http://mct.sbb.ch/mct/en/reisemarkt/billette/clickrail.htm

edited to add this link which may be helpful:
http://europeforvisitors.com/switzaustria/planner/blp_transport_rail.htm