How wide is the train entrance for strollers?

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
I've scrolled through old posts on strollers/prams/buggies and many have mentioned that some are not easy to get through the entrance of a train when you are boarding....as the wheelbase of the stroller is too wide.

How can I find out the width of the train entrance so I know the largest wheel base I should go with? (I understand some trains may be differet but for the most part, what the dimension is)

Anyone want to take a tape measure with them on their next train ride and measure for me?

2
We have pretty much the widest single child buggy that I have seen and have never encountered issues with the width of train doors.

It's pretty non-sensical asking someone to measure since there is a huge variety of rolling stock on Swiss rails.

Far more important is to consider the weight of the buggy. It's quite a climb to get into the older IC carriages. If we were to buy again, I'd definitely look for something lighter and not get caught in the trap of thiniking that bigger and more expensive is better!

3
Just buy a smaller pram My big pram hasn't been used since my baby was 6 months old. It was too heavy, too wide and too long.

Even if you get your big pram through the train doors you'll be stuck in the entry area if it won't fit in the luggage rack or the between the seats storage area.

I just got a Chicco Lite Way for my new baby that is due this year. < 7kgs, fully reclining to flat and can fit a soft baby bassinet. The front of the seat folds back to fit the bassinet snugly.

4
Smaller is definitely better! Once you're in the train or tram you'll regret having something too big, anyway. Also, depending on where you live, you will find that some trams have narrower doors, which is a nightmare. When we first arrived I had visions of the tram doors closing with my daughter (2 at the time) still on the tram while I was struggling to get the pushchair off. While she was still small enough I carried her in a sling or carrier most of the time as it was so much easier when it came to negotiating public transport.

Having said that, when I did use a pushchair, I just about always had someone offer to help me, but you wouldn't want to depend on this.

Kate

5
I don't have kids and don't really know the ins and outs of prams here - but I will suggest not to get one of those flimsy collapsable strollers you see in the malls in the US. They're perfect for car to mall to car use, but over here they'll just fall apart quickly.

6
So, would a jogging-type stroller that has a 24 inch width fit comfortably in the train and thru the aisles?

7
depends on the train. Fundamentally, it'll go in and out no problem. Depending on the train, it may or may not be practical to wheel it up and down the carriage.

8
It will get on the train, but not through the isles. I got stuck once with my wide pram when the opposite train door wouldn't open due to a fault. I couldn't get through the isle and had to get off at the next station. On busses, there are generally 2 pram areas, but if you can't get through the isle, you can't get to the other one when it is full. Zürich trams have a wider pram entrance at the back. You'll need to go through a special pram/disabled check out queue in many supermarkets too.

Some trains have a family wagon where you can bring the prams inside and sit on a fold up, sideways facing seat too.

9
I really think you need to have a few options available. We used a jogging style stroller for when we went for big walks, long distances etc, but a smaller stroller that could be folded up for short trips in the city and on and off public transport.

If you're going to be living in Zurich, you'll probably find yourself walking a lot of the time, just because things will be close by, in which case the jogging stroller will be great, especially for carrying shopping home. But if you know you're going to get on and off trams, it would end up being a pain in the neck, as you can't guarantee which type of train/tram you will get, how full it will be, and so on. And when your child gets a bit older and doesn't want to sit in it all the time, you'll often find yourself with a child under one arm (or holding his/her hand) and the stroller in the other, plus whatever else you've got with you!

Kate

10
We have an Easywalker, which is 25.6 in wide. It can get into all of the Zürich trams and busses, and trains, but not through the aisles (not even through the aisles of the new cobra trams!)

I agree with previous posts that it's a pain in the butt to get them in and out of the old trams, but I've also never NOT been helped! Sometimes people don't even ask, they'll just grab one end and start loading it in or out. And, often times it's those same sullen teenagers with ipods blasting and an energy drink in one hand! So, I wouldn't worry too much.

I'd also keep in mind that the jogging strollers are ideal even for downtown Swiss cities, which tend to be full of cobblestone, brick, etc. A friend of mine visited with her 8 month old baby and a lighter travel stroller which we ended up carrying through the Niederdorf after dinner because she didn't want to wake up her daughter!

11
I am just scanning through these posts since I am in a rush so I might post something that has been said, but this baby looks little too wide. It is always the three wheeler that are wider, as it has to keep balance way more than the 4wheeling beasts. So if you want small and light, don't go for the fancy (heavy) three wheeling jogging types. It must be a little hard trying to pull it up to the train I can see some wobbling, standing on one foot have that in my arms and try to pull up. 3wheels look fabulous but are less balanced.

We had a Chicco Ponee XS, absolutely fantastic, 5kgs, easy to pull up to ICN and zip into even unfolded train seat place. We used it since our daughter was 1,5 and are still using it sometimes.

I am not sure if Ponee still produced, but Chicco Lite Way is probably a (better, sturdier) follower in the Chicco family. I second Chiccos, we have 4.

12
I've been lugging my son + pram onto trams, buses and trains in Zurich for about a year - I'd definitely second the vote to have at least one light-weight type stroller, plus your more expensive model if you like...

the most expensive prams are not necessarily 'better' - my 'do anything' pram cost me under $200 and it's an umbrella style folding one with high handles and it folds right back almost flat, has a really decent sized carry basket underneath, and a fairly useful sized hood - it also has a 'racing cover' (foot 'muff') which we find really helpful for extra rain/wind protection.

For the winter, we also managed to get a baby sleeping bag, which you see all around Zurich. Coming from Australia, it's something we'd never really seen before..it was really excellent...

I also agree with everyone else, that the problem is not so much the width as the lift up into the trains - and I can't fault the 'locals' - even the 13-14 year old local boys had an argument one day on the bus over which one of them was going to help me off the tram (and it wasn't 'who's not going to do it, they were arguing over who *was*)...

For the convenience of being able to push the pram down the aisle, I'd definitely go for a narrow 4 wheeler. Also, they tend to be more compact and lighter anyway. However, on the big local zurich trains (suburban ones) there is this really mean gap and then very tall steps to the central part of the train, and another 4-5 large steps up or down to the seats, so you're not likely to get further than the 'standing' or 'bike storage/wheelchair' zone...

My bottom line is weight - my stroller officially weighs 7.5kg... add 10kg of toddler plus another 5-10. kilos of shopping and that's a pretty serious load...

13
On the main SBB trains you should be OK if you find the family carriages.

For the other lines with older trains the problem will be negotiating the steps to get in first.

Getting down the aisles can be a problem at busy times in all trains. A lot of people are not very careful at making sure their baggage does not obstruct the aisles. I have seen the refreshment attendant struggling to get through on several occasions.

It would be a lot easier with some form of papoose carrier for babies or reins for toddlers. If you need the buggy it could be kept folded up.

14

Ask somebody at CFF.....

15
What is CFF???

16
The abbreviation for 'Swiss Railways' for the French speaking part of Switzerland.

Swiss Rail = SBB in the German speaking part. FFS in the Italian speaking part.

17
And FFS in the Italian part

18
Anyone know how wide the wheel base is for the Chicco Trio 4 me Stroller? They don't sell it in the US but that seems to be a strong recommendation in other threads...

19
We have the 3 combination (I think the 4 combo is a handle adjustable both ways, so the same width as the 3) and it is definitely slim enough for trains, we have taken it so many times. It is cheap, not very sturdy, but light and fits trains and easily transportable on trams. I would not load it with 20kgs of shoping and the baby but would definitely recomend. The little wobbliness is actually very handy when trying to wobble the little one to sleep.

20
This is what we have, but a year older model than the one on the pic. I was very happy with it.