When you arrange a car for a relative arriving by rail, you may not be travelling with them. The useful preparation is therefore a shared set of instructions that works for the passenger, the person booking and dispatch. Establish who will communicate with the driver, which train the relative is using and where the onward journey should finish before anyone leaves home.
Confirm the station in the itinerary
Read the arrival station from the actual rail journey. Davos Platz and Davos Dorf are distinct stations, so an instruction that says only Davos is incomplete. RhB publishes station information and live departure details that can help the traveller check the journey. Send the complete station name to dispatch along with the date and expected arrival. If the railway changes the connection, update the car arrangement using the revised information rather than relying on the original plan.
Make the passenger contact usable
Give dispatch a mobile number that the arriving relative will actually answer. If they prefer you to coordinate, explain that and agree how the driver will recognise the passenger at the meeting point. Save the booking details on the traveller's phone or print them if that is easier. Avoid using a contact number belonging to someone who will be unavailable when the train arrives, even if that person paid for the journey.
Agree where assistance starts
Ask the relative what practical help they need between the train and the car. Railway assistance, collecting someone from a platform and carrying luggage are not interchangeable services. Contact the railway about its own support and ask the transport team what it can provide at the agreed handover. Describe any difficulty with steps or walking in plain terms. Do not assume that a standard passenger vehicle or driver can provide specialised assistance simply because the ride is local.
Allow the train party to become ready
An arrival time is not necessarily the moment the passenger reaches the pickup point. They may need to leave the platform, collect their belongings or find a toilet first. The person coordinating should wait for an update before reporting that the passenger is ready. If there is a delay, keep everyone informed through the agreed contact. Avoid moving the relative between station exits while the driver is trying to find the original meeting place.
Prepare the receiving end as well
Tell the person waiting at the destination how the relative will arrive and where to meet them. Include the correct building, doorbell name and any entrance instructions in the booking. Ask the passenger to keep essential items with them and check the vehicle before leaving. For an unaccompanied relative, a simple arrival message can complete the handover. Agree this with the people involved rather than assuming dispatch will report to every member of the family.
Questions about this journey
Can I book for a relative who is travelling alone?
Yes, give the passenger details and agree who will communicate with dispatch and the driver.
Will the driver meet them on the platform?
Only if this has been specifically arranged. Confirm the meeting point and any assistance separately.
What if their train arrives at Davos Dorf instead?
Notify dispatch and obtain a revised confirmation for the correct station.