I'm planning to arrive to Basel by train (to the SBB station) and hop right on to the bus number 50 that will take me to the airport. I do have a bit of safety time figured in, but ideally, I'd really like to do the switch-over as fast as possible.
I can't really figure out where exactly this bus station is. I'm sure it would take just a few minutes to find out once there, but I'll be dragging a huge bag with me and I'd rather spend those few minutes sitting smugly on the bus.
So, if you know the place, can you please tell me in simple terms how to optimally move from the main exit of the train station to number 50's stop? Or just show me a pinpoint on Google Maps' satellite view?
(Yes, I know Google Maps has an icon for it. I don't believe the icon is at the right spot, and that looks like a very busy intersection.)
(I've been at the train station before, so I've seen the internal layout. It's the outside bus stop that I don't know.)
Bus number 50 is about 1.5 minutes walk from Basel SBB train station - max! It is literally at the main entrance of the Basel SBB station - bus colour is Orange ( used to be green as well ) and clearly numbered.
Arrive on whichever train platform -- take escalator up to main concourse to get off the platform. Head toward the main entrance to the station (i.e. away from MediaMarkt), and go down the escalator to the ground floor. Proceed straight ahead to the large open entrance to the station (keep Migros to your left). As soon as you get outside, turn left and walk about 20 metres, and voilà, Bus 50 to the airport awaits!
It really is a 90 second transfer between train and bus.
And if that is not concise enough for you, just follow the signs with a little plane on them. And don't forget to buy your train ticket with the bus to the airport at the same time.
Sorry, but to be really precise, the bus stop isn't exactly at the door of the station (per your marker in the first map) -- it's about 40 metres or so (I stand corrected by Google's scale) to the left as you come out of the station, just past the row of taxis you can see in the satellite photo.
The marker on the second map is in the middle of the tram stops ...
I see your Google satellite photo and raise you 1. The bus stops right outside the Bahnhof Buffet, marked on this map . And I can't guarantee that the bus will be yellowy/orange, it depends on how much an advertiser may be prepared to pay -- or it may not be painted at all. Here's an old photo of the bus parked at the Basel SBB stop.
The bus stop moved a while ago and is now nearer the main entrance than it used to be.
And it's usually (always?) in Easyjet-sponsored orange now instead of the typical green. However, you don't need to ask any more questions. It's a big bus. There are signs to it. It's right outside the station. It's number 50.
I'm in south-east Basel at the moment (aka Zürich). adrianlondon, I demand that you proceed forthwith to Basel SBB and pace out the distance from the right-hand-side of the right-hand station entrance (viewed from the tram stops) to the Bus 50 stop. And no giant strides!
If it's less than 20 paces, you and jrspet win. If it's more, you owe me a beer.
I live on the bus 50 route at the moment and I am sure there are still green buses in action. My better half could confirm though seeing as he takes this bus every day.....
I take that bus several times per week and I have never noticed it being orange. I suggest that you just look for the number "50", rather than a bus of a certain colour.
The bus stop is exactly above where HTTP is written in this image, where that taxi is.
There are one or two "orange" buses - these are the Easyjet-sponsored/branded ones. There's occasionally a postbus there (yellow), but more usually, it is indeed in the standard BVB green livery, as per the photo above (usually without flags...).
The one thing in common is the #50.
HTH.
Nope. Taxis are now on the other side of the front of the station (i.e. COOP/McDs/Sutter side). Have been for a couple of months now.
Bus stop now directly by the entrance, about the third car in the row of taxis in your Google pic. Will pace this evening to confirm Tantrum's findings.
