8889 posts
Hello Deborah and Welcome to MySwissAlps
That is indeed correct. No Gotthard Panorama Express (http://www.myswissalps.com/go tthardpanoramaexpress) on Mondays.
But fear not, you can still replicate the route by catching the paddle steamer from Luzern to Flüelen and then taking a regular regional train from Flüelen to Lugano via Göschenen.
Use the SBB Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) to plan your travel. If you are not familiar with using the timetable it will pay to first read the instructions on that page.
72625 posts
Don’t worry – the Gotthard Panorama Express isn’t really anything special. The same itinerary has been available for the past 100 years using lake steamer and regular trains!
The options on the Gotthard route are:
- Use the old mountain route on ordinary regional trains – for this you take a train from Zurich or Luzern to Erstfeld, or a boat from Luzern to Fluelen then a train Fluelen – Erstfeld, then the regional train Erstfeld – Göschenen – old tunnel – Airolo – Bellinzona – Lugano – Milano
- Use the new base tunnel (the longest tunnel in the world), the Intercity trains run Arth Goldau – Bellinzona non stop
72625 posts
Dear Deborah
As stated by rockoyster and 1960man the Gotthard Panorama Express does NOT run on a Monday, but you have the mentioned alternative, also being very scenic, although not labelled as such.
There are other scenic train trips available in Switzerland, covering different regions, so it depends on where you have your priorities, on the trip itsself or the destination.
Find an overview here: http://www.myswissalps.com/ac tivities/scenictrips
Get back to us for further input anytime.
Best,
Steph
72625 posts
Thank you all so much for your quick replies. That’s good news about the other options available. I am usually a good travel planner, but this trip has me doing a lot more research. This is a wonderful site and seems to have all the information anyone planning a trip to Switzerland needs.
Deborah