Will rockslides in Brienz impact my September-October 2024 trip?
A traveler is planning a trip to Wengen, Grindelwald, Brienz, and Interlaken from early September to late October 2024. They are seeking advice on how recent floods and landslides in Brienz might affect their itinerary, especially regarding transportation options. They appreciate insights from others on current travel disruptions and alternatives.
- Check for updates on the Brienz railway and available replacement bus services, as they might have limited capacity.
- Consider using the Swiss Travel Pass for more flexibility with travel options during disruptions.
- Ensure to arrive at stations early in case you need assistance or need to board replacement buses.
AI-generated summary-
Hi JMHilde
Going via Bern involves a switch of trains in Bern. Going via Meiringen involves a bus from Meiringen.
In my reply 17 I asked, ‘What sort of tickets will you be using on 31st August?’ Is your journey that day starting from Lucerne?’ Unfortunately you did not answer these questions.
If you have a ‘saver’ point-to-point ticket (not just a reservation) which is specifically confined to the 11 06 from Lucerne on 31 Aug, then you will need to get that ticket changed if you want to go via Bern. Get that done by the Lucerne booking office.
If you are travelling using a Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/), a Day Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/day-pass/), or a Saver Day Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/saver-day-pass/), you can use these ‘passes’ on any route you choose. No need to change anything either on line or at a booking office.
If you are using a Berner Oberland Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/ ) for the Lucerne to Interlaken leg of your journey. then you need to be careful. The BOP pass is not valid on the fast IR15 trains which leave Lucerne hourly at exactly on the hour heading for Geneva VIA BERN. Thankfully the BOP is valid on the Regional Express trains which leave Lucerne at 57 past each hour going to Bern via Langnau. This route is best described as ‘slow but with pleasant scenery.’ At Lucerne make sure you get in the correct part of the train. The trains leaving Lucerne at 57 past each hour are usually in two sections, only one of which goes to Bern.
Phew!
I hope this helps
Roger
Wow (and phew!) Thanks, Roger.
While I did say we have tickets from Lucerne to Interlaken on the Interlaken Express for 31 August, you’re right, I failed to say what kind of tickets we have. You guessed it, we have the Berner Oberland passes which we’d hoped to cover the trip from Lucerne to Interlaken. We also have already purchased seat reservations and first class upgrades for that route.
Thanks so much for telling me the BOP is valid on the Regional Express trains which leave Lucerne at 57 past each hour going to Bern via Langnau. (You said “This route is best described as ‘slow but with pleasant scenery.” Sounds perfect!) There’s no way I would’ve ever figured that out on my own.
With the BOP I assume we can just get onboard the train going to Bern via Langnau. And we will be careful about which car we get on in Lucerne. But what happens with our already paid-for seat reservations and upgrades for the Interlaken Express? And once in Bern, do we need to change trains to get to Interlaken?
As you say, phew! Fingers crossed that all the issues are fixed by the time we leave on 31 August!
Hi!
Early on the 31st check whether the trains are able to run through from Lucerne to Interlaken. Amending my previous advice, be at Lucerne station by 10 30. If the problems at Brienz have been fixed and the trains are back to normal and are running through Lucerne to Interlaken then you obviously stick to your original plan.
If, as I think is likely, the railway line at Brienz has not been repaired, you will go via Langnau. I would hope that you can get a refund on both your Lucerne-Interlaken first class upgrade and on your reservation. Go immediately to the Lucerne booking office and ask for those refunds.
If you catch the 10 57 Regional Express RE7 train from Lucerne to Bern via Langnau, the Bern carriages will almost certainly be at the front of the train. For the best views, sit on the LEFT. The train will terminate at Bern at 12 26. When coming into Bern look at the information screens inside the train. The next train to Interlaken Ost will be an IC61 Inter-City train departing at 12 34. The screen should tell you the number of the platform used by this train. (There may also be announcements in German and English.)
This IC61 train will go out in the same direction as you have just arrived from. You will be retracing your steps for about the first five miles! Sit on the LEFT for the best views. DO NOT GET OFF AT INTERLAKEN WEST. Travel through to Interlaken OST. The train arrives there at 13 28 (1 28 pm).
The next train for Lauterbrunnen will be at 13 34. You change again at Lauterbrunnen for Wengen.
Kind regards
Roger
Hi jmhilde,
Correct. I would check both the Swiss timetable (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/)for updates to your route and also follow Roger’s advice and arrive a little earlier at Lucerne rail station, that way you can speak with a train representative who can also guide you accordingly.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thank you all for your kind and helpful advice! 🙂
Another thought: if we do end up having to make changes to our route, it would be nice to not haul our luggage all over the place. Can we send our luggage to Wengen from Lucerne?
ACK! Stop the presses! I am incorrect, our plan is to use the TELL PASS to get from Lucerne to Interlaken. Apologies, my brain is mush! 🙁
Any advice in regard to using the Tell Pass under these circumstances would be invaluable! Thanks!
I checked the SBB site for travel from Luzern to Interlaken with Aug 30th and Sep 1st as the dates and it only shows bus service from Meiringen to Interlaken. From Sep 2 it seems the train service will resume from Meiringen.
You can also refer to this SBB site that provides updated information.
https://www.zentralbahn.ch/en/plan/operating-situation#Betriebslagekarte
Cheers and safe travel!
Nick
I sent an email to [email protected] asking about the bus service from Meiringen asking how many buses, the frequency, etc. Will update if they respond back to my email.
Nick
Thanks, Nick, I have written to customer service at Zentralbahn as well. Fingers crossed! 🙂
On your ticket problem your Tell Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/tell-pass-summer/) is only valid on the Zentralbahn route via Meiringen. It is of course not valid via Bern.
I am afraid I cannot help with your luggage question.
Roger
Thanks, Roger, that’s what I thought in regard to the Tell Pass. Oh well, we will try for the Meiringen route and hope for the best! 🙂
STC kindly wrote back and directed me to the SBB luggage transfer page. Very helpful!
It should be noted that the substituting buses call at Brienz. There are some buses, however, which go directly between Interlaken Ost and Meiringen – both ways. We used one last week and also noticed that extra buses were being hired in.
We’re now on our way home to the UK so my local reports will cease … until next time!
Andrew.
Hi jmhilde!
Yes, you can have your luggage transported from Lucerne to Wengen with the station-to-station service. You’ll have to hand it in before 19:00, and you can collect it 2 days later in Wengen from 09:00.
There’s also door-to-door service with an optional express delivery on the same day, but that one’s more expensive and you’ll have to make reservations in advance.
All options and links can be found here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/luggage/.
I’m afraid the Zentralbahn website http://www.zentralbahn.ch/en/plan/operating-situation is now saying, “The Zentralbahn was severely affected by the storm in Brienz on 12 August 2024. Clean-up work is progressing and the line between Meiringen and Interlaken Ost will remain closed until at least 29 September 2024. Replacement buses (EV) are running. Waiting times are to be expected.”
Andrew
Thanks Andrew for sharing. Hope you had a good time there despite the extreme weather and the damage.
I see from the site there is a replacement bus timeline. There are two columns from Luzern to Meiringen (eg. two 6:06 columns, two 7:06 columns). I attached the screenshot as well. And they have different bus schedules where for the first column there isn’t any bus schedule available for most of stops. Was wondering is someone know what the 1st column and 2nd column with the same time from Luzern mean?
I also received the email reply back from the Zentralbahn:
There are running as many buses as could be found. However, there may be waiting times and of course no seating guarantee.
It depends on how many passengers are on the train, which is very dependent on the time and weather and cannot be predicted.
Thanks,
Nick
Attachments:
Hi jmhilde,
According to the latest info from the Zentralbahn website, the train line between Meriringen and Interlaken Ost is closed until 29 Sept. So yes, your trip is unfortunately affected. Here is the excerpt:
====
Information on the Meiringen–Interlaken Ost Disruption
The Zentralbahn was severely affected by the storm in Brienz on 12 August 2024. Clean-up work is progressing and the line between Meiringen and Interlaken Ost will remain closed until at least 29 September 2024. Replacement buses (EV) are running. Waiting times are to be expected.
===
There are rail replacement buses running every half an hour. The buses are running on time but during busy times may not have enough capacity to transport all passengers.. Some passengers may have to wait to board the next bus. If you have a tight schedule, we recommend taking the alternative route via Bern. If you have purchased a point-to-point ticket from Lucerne to Interlaken Ost and wish to travel via the alternative route, you will need to exchange the ticket at the counter.
Regards,
Anna
Thanks, Anna! Our plan was/is to use our Tell Passes to get from Z Lucerne to Interlaken so the Bern route won’t work for us. Fortunately we don’t have a tight schedule so we’ll just see it goes with the replacement buses.
The bus schedules that Nick posted worry me a little since they only show early morning and late afternoon times. Our train from Lucerne is scheduled to get in to Meiringen at 12:16 pm which doesn’t appear in Nick’s schedule.
As for luggage transfer, we’d like to schedule a door to door transfer but I’m having no luck doing that.
Thanks all!
Hi jmhilde,
According to the timetable, from 11.18 am to 15.18 pm, the bus runs hourly. So within this period, the bus departs at 12:18, 13:18, and 14:18. Afterwards, it runs half hourly again.
You might want to consider using the station-to-station luggage transfer.
Regards,
Anna
Anna suggests ‘You might want to consider using the station-to-station luggage transfer.’ In support of this suggestion note that writing about a recent journey from Zurich to Wengen, Kayen says in their trip report. ‘We … dropped off our Big Luggage at the train station to send it to Wengen. It was a quick transaction and the weight for your luggage must be not more than 23 kg, we paid 24 CHF for both luggage. (It’s worth it!)’. You could, I think, do the same at Lucerne.
Kind regards
Roger
Hi jmhilde,
You can read all about luggage services on our guide below. Scroll to “Swiss luggage transport services”:
Kind regards,
Yolanda
- The thread ‘Will rockslides in Brienz impact my September-October 2024 trip?’ is closed to new replies.
