72625 posts
Hi Lucas, is the chocolate train anything special? Also, we’ll have a Swiss Travel Pass so the entry to the factories will be free. Can’t we just reserve seats on the chocolate train?
Also, is there an alternate to the chocolate train?
72625 posts
>> is the chocolate train anything special?
Like everything else, opinions will vary. Follow the link Lucas gave you and decide whether it’s right for you.
>> Also, we’ll have a Swiss Travel Pass so the entry to the factories will be free.
The Chocolate Train provides a discount of CHF 30 to people with a 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass, which I imagine takes this into account.
>> Can’t we just reserve seats on the chocolate train?
No, it is sold as a package, as it includes more than a train ride: first class train travel, transfers by bus from Gruyères station to the village and then on to the chocolate factory in Broc after a break of 2.5 hours. Coffee and a chocolate croissant is also provided.
>> Also, is there an alternate to the chocolate train?
Yes, you can take normal trains along the same route, except for the bus transfer between Gruyères and Broc, for which you would use the train instead. The stop for the cheese factory (if you want to go there) is Gruyères gare and the stop for the chocolate factory is Broc-Fabrique. They are both on the same train line. If you don’t want to go to the cheese factory, just stay on the train until Broc-Fabrique.
Use the Swiss timetable to plan your trip:
http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable
Alpenrose
72625 posts
>> No, it is sold as a package, as it includes more than a train ride: first class train travel, transfers by bus from Gruyères station to the village and then on to the chocolate factory in Broc after a break of 2.5 hours. Coffee and a chocolate croissant is also provided.
So this isn’t like the other panoramic trains where we can reserve seats? Just confirming once.
>> Also, I want to visit the cheese factory as well as the chocolate factory and if time permits, the Gruyère Castle.
Considering I don’t book the passage, I should just get on the normal train to Gruyères Gare, explore and then take a train from there to Broc-Fabrique? My starting point would be Lausanne.
Thank you 🙂
72625 posts
>> So this isn’t like the other panoramic trains where we can reserve seats?
No, it’s not. It’s a round-trip excursion, not a point-to-point service.
>> Also, I want to visit the cheese factory as well as the chocolate factory and if time permits, the Gruyère Castle… I should just get on the normal train to Gruyères Gare, explore and then take a train from there to Broc-Fabrique? My starting point would be Lausanne.
Yes. Use the timetable I linked to above to plan your journey.
There is a bus from “Gruyères, gare” (station) to “Gruyères, ville” (village) that might save you a 15-minute walk each way. It runs from the station to the village at -06 and -51 minutes past the hour, and from the village to the station at -09 and -54 minutes past the hour.
Alpenrose