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Season: all year
Recommended season: early January to late February and early April to late October
Max. altitude: 933 m (3061 ft)What is the Voralpen-Express? 
The Voralpen-Express is a unique 2h15-train journey from Lucerne to St. Gallen or the other way around. It's a direct, very scenic connection between Central and Eastern Switzerland, that bypasses the busy station of Zurich.
You won't have the impressive mountain views of some other famous Swiss rail journeys, like the Glacier Express or Bernina Express. Instead, the Voralpen-Express shows the rolling green hills and charming villages of Central- and East-Switzerland, with the Alps (including Rigi and Säntis) as your backdrop. You’ll also pass a couple of impressive viaducts.
➤ Prices, tickets and reservations
Voralpen-Express ticket prices
A single journey Lucerne-St. Gallen with the Voralpen-Express costs CHF 51 in 2nd class. The journey is discounted or even free with several rail passes.
Where to buy tickets
If you don't have a rail pass that grants free traveling, you'll need tickets for the Voralpen-Express ride. They're for sale online and at Swiss rail stations.
Reservations
Reservations are optional. They cost CHF 5 per person. I don't recommend booking seats, except if you're traveling in a larger group during high-season tourism months such as July and August.
➤ Voralpen-Express discounts with your rail pass
The rail passes below allow free or discounted traveling on the Voralpen-Express.
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Day Pass | Free:
|
| Eurail Global Pass | Free:
|
| Interrail Switzerland Pass | Free:
|
| Lucerne Travel Pass | Free:
Pfäffikon to St. Gallen: no discount. |
| Saver Day Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Half Fare Card | Discount 50%:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass | Free:
|
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | Free:
|
| Tell-Pass Winter | Free:
Pfäffikon to St. Gallen: no discount. |
The Voralpen-Express route in detail, with map
The 2h15-train journey can be made in both directions. From Lucerne to St. Gallen, it can be divided into 3 sections.
Section 1: Lucerne to Arth-Goldau
You’ll travel alongside Lake Lucerne, with the Pilatus in the background, and you’ll pass the beautiful hiking area of Rigi. The train bends east along the southern shores of Lake Zug before arriving at Arth-Goldau.
Section 2: Arth-Goldau to Rapperswil
The beautiful peaks of the Schwyzer Mythen and other Central Alps can be seen near Arth-Goldau. The train winds its way though gentle green hills and the moorland plateau of Rothenthurm, while it gradually climbs to Biberbrugg.
From there, you'll descend to Pfäffikon on Lake Zurich. You'll cross Lake Zurich and arrive in the charming town of Rapperswil on the northern shore of the lake.
Section 3: Rapperswil to St. Gallen
From Rapperswil, the journey continues east toward the town of Uznach. The eastern tip of Lake Zurich is at your right. Up next is a tunnel stretch from Uznach to Wattwil.
Between Wattwil and St. Gallen, you’ll cross the hills of Toggenburg and pass the Weissenbach and the Sitter viaducts. The latter is Switzerland’s highest rail viaduct with 99 meters. You'll hardly see the viaduct itself from the train, but the views down to the river Sitter are tremendous. The mountain Säntis can be seen in the distance.
Which section of the Voralpen-Express is best?
I think the section between Lucerne and Arth-Goldau is prettiest if you’re looking for lakes and mountain scenery.
If you want a change of scenery compared to the Swiss mountain regions, I can warmly recommend the lowlands around Rapperswil and Lake Zurich, plus the viaducts close to St. Gallen.
Which side of the train is best?
Although views are good from both sides of the train, I advise sitting:
- on the right side between Lucerne and Wattwil. That's where you'll best see Lake Lucerne and Lake Zurich.
- on the left side between Wattwil and St. Gallen. Although the hilly landscape can perfectly be seen from both sides, you'll have a more spectacular view from the Sitter viaduct if you're seated at the left.
The Voralpen-Express versus trains via Zurich
The mountain ranges between Central and Eastern Switzerland make direct travel challenging. That's why most trains between these areas bypass the mountains and travel via the lowlands surrounding Zurich and Winterthur in the north instead.
The options Lucerne-St. Gallen via Zurich and Winterthur are:
- quick connections of just under 2 hours with a switch at the busy train station of Zurich;
- slower direct connections without a change at Zurich. This train ride is only a few minutes shorter than the Voralpen-Express.
If you're not in a rush, I recommend the Voralpen-Express, because it offers you a unique and varied view of the charming rural scenery in Central and Eastern Switzerland. Of course, you can take the Voralpen-Express one way and trains via Zurich and Winterthur the other way.
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
Voralpen-Express operation dates
The trains operate on all days of the year.
Planning your journey with the timetable
Voralpen-Express timetables can be found through the links here. The route can be planned in the Swiss timetable as well:
- Enter your departure and destination stations along the route.
- Enter "Biberbrugg" as your via-station. Otherwise, you'll see other routes via Zurich too.
- You can recognize the Voralpen-Express as a direct 2h16 IR ("InterRegio") connection without any transfers. The name "Voralpen-Express" is listed too.
Best seasons for the Voralpen-Express
To me, early January to late February and early April to late October are the best months for the Voralpen-Express ride.
From spring to fall, the gentle hills will be green or colored by autumn trees, and you'll see snow-capped mountains far south.
November to March can be less attractive. The Voralpen-Express is at relatively low altitude. So snow along the route isn't common, although you'll see snowy mountains in the distance. January and February offer the best chances for such sights.
On the other hand: both St. Gallen and Lucerne are great destinations in the December holiday season. St. Gallen is even known as the "city of stars" at this time of the year.
Weather tips and forecasts
You can ride the Voralpen-Express in any type of weather, but sunny and clear skies are best. The panoramic views on this journey reach far into the distance, and you'd miss out on them in fog or low clouds.
Seat reservations aren't necessary. This means you can check forecasts shortly before and then decide whether or not to make the ride.
The forecast below is for Wattwil, about halfway along the route.
What the Voralpen-Express trains are like
The Voralpen-Express is a regular interregional train that runs hourly in both directions. It’s used by commuters and tourists.
The modern copper-coloured train is called ‘Traverso’. It has 1st and 2nd class compartments, large windows and lots of comfort.
There’s a family compartment with room for pushchairs and prams, and large tables for toys. The trains also have two bistro zones where you’ll find vending machines for snacks and drinks. You can pay by debit or credit card, plus a limited number of payment apps. Airco, a digital information system, and power outlets add to your comfort.
The train windows can’t be opened, so there is inevitably some glare when filming or taking pictures.
Excursions to combine with the Voralpen-Express
Combinations with mountain trips and cultural excursions
The Voralpen-Express can be combined with lots of side trips:
- Include a trip up to Rigi near Lucerne. Other activities near Lucerne can be found here.
- Visit the nature park and zoo in Arth-Goldau.
- There’s an abbey in Einsiedeln, where monks have been living for over a thousand years. Einsiedeln can be reached by local trains from Biberbrugg, one of the rail stations along the Voralpen-Express route.
- Get out at the charming town of Rapperswil, also known as the “City of Roses”. In a 10-minute walk, you can reach the 12th-century Rapperswil Castle. Or make a boat trip on Lake Zurich.
- Get out in Wattwil and travel to the mountain of Säntis. This is one of the main viewing points in North-Eastern Switzerland.
- Visit the monastery of St. Gallen, with its beautiful cathedral and impressive library. It’s a 10-minute walk from the rail station of St. Gallen to the abbey precinct. This is an official UNESCO World Heritage site.
Combinations with other Swiss scenic trains
You can add sections of the GoldenPass and Gotthard Panorama Express to your Voralpen-Express ride as follows:
- GoldenPass: travel from St. Gallen to Lucerne by Voralpen-Express. Then board the GoldenPass to Interlaken, Zweisimmen and Montreux.
- Gotthard Panorama Express: travel from St. Gallen to Lucerne by Voralpen-Express. Then enjoy the Gotthard Panorama Express ride to Lugano.
How to make a Voralpen-Express train ride from Zurich
If you’re based in Zurich, consider these options for a 1-day round trip:
- A nice circular route is Zurich – St. Gallen – Voralpen-Express to Lucerne – Zurich. Alternatively, you can get off the Voralpen-Express in Arth-Goldau and then head back to Zurich. This saves about 45 minutes compared to traveling via Lucerne. The section St. Gallen-Arth Goldau still contains the two impressive viaducts of the Voralpen-Express route.
- An extended trip, including a mountain excursion, starts like this: Zurich – St. Gallen – Voralpen-Express to Arth-Goldau. In Arth-Goldau, you can switch to the cogwheel train to Rigi. Take a cogwheel train down to Vitznau, travel by boat to Lucerne and travel back to Zurich by train. The total traveling time is about 6 hours, not including time spent at Rigi.
➤ Reliable ticket and tour providers for the Voralpen-Express
Promotions
- unterweg.sob.ch: Voralpen-Express seat reservations
Schedules
- unterwegs.sob.ch: Voralpen-Express pdf timetables
Itineraries with the Voralpen-Express
Ultimate scenic trains
Free with the Swiss Travel Pass in Lucerne
GoldenPass
Gotthard Panorama Express
Boat Lake Lucerne
Boat Lake Zurich
Lucerne
