Bernina Express or local train, price and views
A traveler is planning to ride the Bernina Express but is considering local trains instead to save money and avoid seat reservations. They have a Swiss Travel Pass and are curious if the views will be similar on local trains. Additionally, they're planning a day trip from Zermatt to Chur and then to Bernina Express, wondering if that’s feasible.
- Using local trains can be cheaper than the Bernina Express, especially if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, which covers the journey without the mandatory seat reservation.
- The views on local trains can be similar, but you will need to change trains twice, while the Bernina Express is direct.
- Check the train timetables carefully, as the Bernina Express route may not be practical for a day trip from Zermatt, Basel, or Lucerne.
AI-generated summary-
Hi, I am planning to take Bernina Express but I read somewhere here that its better to take local train as it offers the same view along the route. i have swiss travel pass but i really want to save some money without purchasing the seat reservation. and if can take local train, is the experience would be the same with taking bernina express? I would appreciate if can advise which one is better. And also if i’m from zermatt and planning to take glacier express to chur and then from chur take bernina express is that possible? and i am planning to take only day trip back to either basel, lucern or zermatt. kindly advise if this is possible. thank you so much.
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Hi zalzali,
I am planning to follow the Bernina Express route, but on regular trains, in September. The one departure a day from Chur of the Bernina Express does not fit my schedule very well so I decided to use regular trains.
I found this thread – http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/checking-train-timetables – very useful in working out my itinerary. If you check the timetables I think you will find that the Bernina Express route (Chur to Tirano) is not really a sensible day trip from any of the places you listed.
Maybe next time?
Hi victoria, thank you for your reply. are you saying that if take local train would be cheaper than bernina express? and is the view same with taking bernina express?
Hello Zal,
As I remember you stating in your other thread that you will hold a Swiss Travel Pass the only surcharge for the Bernina Express compared to regular trains is the mandatory seat reservation, which you don’t need on regular trains. The journey itself is covered by your pass, on any train.
– http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/validityThe other difference is, that only the Bernina Express does the route WITHOUT you having to change, on regular trains you have to change twice, normally. If you use the timetable I provided in the other thread you will see one train labelled with PE, THAT’S the only Bernina Express train, all the others are regulars, indicating where you would have to change.
And here’s the thread I’m referring to.
– http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/4-day-trips-from-basel-including-bernina-expressBest,
Steph
No, what I am saying is that I don’t think the Bernina Express is a practical option given your other plans. If you check the train timetables you will be able to see how difficult it is to do as a day trip from any of the places you mention.
Hi zalzali! In addition to the helpful information already provided, I suggest that you read ‘Regular trains versus Bernina Express’ at http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress.
Thank you for the reply Annika 🙂 i think i’m going to take regular trains instead. My main concern is can i still take photograph outside the window? And can the window be open? I saw on facebook of this video that she boarded the bernina train and i would like to know if the regular train window can be open? You may refer to facebook link http://www.facebook.com/409685972400374/posts/2695465773822371/
See http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/bernina-express-still-operating-with-coronavirus.
If I was you I would stick to your original plan to go to Gimmelwald rather than to Tirano.
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