Zurich to Lucerne by train

Two direct SBB InterRegio trains an hour link Zürich HB and Luzern, taking 41 or 50 minutes. You never need a seat reservation.

Every train is direct

Trains leave Zürich HB every half hour, alternating between two InterRegio lines. Both run straight through to Luzern.

Take the next train rather than waiting for the fast one. The 41-minute train is often the busier of the two in 2nd class, so the 50-minute one is a good pick with luggage. Direct trains keep running every half hour into the late evening, and the last one leaves around midnight.

From 13 December 2026 the half-hourly pattern between Zürich HB and Luzern is planned to stay the same, though the timetable is not final yet.

From Zurich Airport

Both lines currently start further east and call at Zürich Flughafen before Zürich HB. From 13 December 2026 only the faster train is planned to run through from the airport on weekdays; on the train via Rotkreuz you will usually change at Zürich HB on weekdays, while weekend trains still run through. From the airport you can ride through to Luzern in about 1 hour 10 minutes. Some trains wait several minutes at Zürich HB. Stay on board.

Tickets and saver fares

Supersaver tickets are the cheapest way to travel. SBB sells them on sbb.ch and in the SBB Mobile app up to six months ahead, in limited numbers, and each one is valid only on the train you choose. With a Half Fare card they can start from around CHF 9 to CHF 10 for this trip. If your plans might change, a Supersaver Flex ticket gives you 75% back if you cancel before departure.

Supersaver fares exist in 1st class too, and 1st class is often far quieter on these trains.

Planning a day of excursions around Lake Lucerne? A Saver Day Pass covers trains, buses and boats across the GA Travelcard network for the whole day. In 2nd class it starts from CHF 52 without a Half Fare card, but only when bought in advance.

Swiss Travel Pass and Interrail

The Swiss Travel Pass covers this journey with no extra ticket. It is sold only to people who live outside Switzerland and Liechtenstein, and you must carry your original passport or ID card. Interrail passes are valid as well.

Staying a while but not travelling every day? The Swiss Half Fare Card costs CHF 150 for one month. It halves most fares, Supersaver tickets included.

Luggage on board

Put large cases between or under the seats, where you can keep an eye on them. Double-deck trains also have a luggage rack at the top of the stairs to the upper deck. The 50-minute train usually has a quiet zone and a family compartment.

Works on 7 and 8 November 2026

SBB is lifting the last renovated section of the Reuss bridge at Fluhmühle back into place, with work from 22:00 on Friday 6 November to 06:00 on Monday 9 November 2026. Trains still run direct on Friday evening. From the early hours of Saturday 7 November until the last trains on Sunday night, trains from Zürich HB terminate at Ebikon, where a replacement bus continues to Luzern station. Allow about an hour in total, and check your connection in the SBB timetable before you travel that weekend.