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-
Thanks, all. We used the luggage lockers at Lucerne station today which was easy and allowed us to visit Fortress Furigan without hauling all our bags along. But I cannot find information anywhere about same day express luggage transfer.
Go in the inquiry office at any major Swiss station and ask about luggage transfer services. I expect them to say ‘There is no SAME DAY express transfer service. The station-to-station transfer takes two days.’
Yesterday, I posted a reply supporting the idea of your using station-to-station luggage transfer. In support of this suggestion I quoted a trip report of 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.
Buy ‘quick transaction’ Kayen obviously means that the process of handing in the luggage, getting it weighed, and paying 24 CHF took only a few minutes. I think that Kayen collected their ‘BIG LUGGAGE’ from Wengen station the day after they had ‘travelled light’ from Zurich to Wengen. I suggest you do the same from Lucerne to Wengen.
Kind regards
Roger
Hi jmhilde,
Here is the direct link for information about SBB Express Luggage Transfer service: http://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/reservation-luggage/luggage-registration/door-to-door/locations-express.html
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Anna
The express service (meaning same day delivery) only seems to be available for door-to-door service, it doesn’t look like it is available for station-to-station (unless I completely reads it wrong).
Which means you’d have to wait 2 days for your luggage to arrive at the your station, so be sure to carry enough clothes with you to tide you over until the luggage arrives.
I know express service is available from 3rd parties (I’ve done it), but is express available for station-to-station as well? I’m guessing that would be a more limited number of stations on the express available list.
Hi Turgon,
I think the station-to-station luggage transfer does not have the express option.
Regards,
Anna
Hi all and thanks SO much for all your good input on this topic! The conclusion of my story is my travelling companions did not wish to have their luggage travel separately (although I now know how to do just about any kind of luggage transfer if I ever need one in the future!) so we will be travelling from Luzern to Interlaken via Bern (with a transfer in Olten.) Because we had planned to use our Tell Passes for the trip from Luzern to Interlaken, which don’t cover the alternate route through Bern, we had to pay extra for those tickets. Oh well.
SBB did refund our first class upgrades we’d purchased for the Luzern – Interlaken Express BUT they would not or could not refund the cost of the seat reservations we’d made through the Luzern regional train company. I’ve written to that company asking to cancel and for a refund but I don’t have high hopes. I do find it puzzling that our only option for seat reservations was from the regional rail company yet SBB, whose track problems made those reservations unusable, has no responsibility for the loss of use of those reservations. But then my entire experience with the Swiss rail system has been disappointingly convoluted from the get-go.
Anyway, we finally have a solution that will work for us, without the stress of the unknowns of substitute buses to Interlaken. Which, BTW, the SBB agent tried to convince me was not a worry at all until I told her SBB’s own website was encouraging passengers to travel via Bern.
Hi JMHilde
Thanks for this very comprehensive feedback. But I must make one slight correction on the reservations point. The Zentralbahn company, not the SBB, owns the badly damaged track at Brienz.
But this leads on to a more general point. I have been visiting Switzerland for over fifty years. Yes, occasionally there are problems, but I find that Swiss public transport operators work cooperatively to put things right. The reports about the emergency bus replacement services for the line to ZERMATT have been uniformly favourable. I contrast public transport in Switzerland with that in outside-of-London Britain, where I live.
KInd regards
Roger
Hi jmhilde,
Sorry to hear you have not had a favourable experience with the SBB. It’s indeed unfortunate given the recent occurances.
Seat reservations are generally non-refundable, do keep us posted of your outcome. It would be interesting to hear.
I hope your trip is going well otherwise.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thank you for the information regarding track damage from Lucern to Interlaken via Brienz. I will likely opt for the alternative train route through Bern to avoid the bus situation. I plan on getting a Berner Oberland (BO) pass and I understand the route through Bern is not (fully?) included.
My question: Is the train route from Bern to Interlaken included with the BO pass? If it is, I would only buy tickets from Lucern to Bern. It looks like it is included from the map on the BO pass site, but sometimes the details matter… Thanks in advance.
There are two train services between Lucerne and Bern, the fast IR15 trains, and the slower RE7 trains.
The BOP is not valid on the IR15. These trains leave Luzern on the hour and travel to Bern via Zofingen. (The train then goes on to Geneva.) These trains take exactly an hour, but this route is not scenic. Indeed after Zofingen much of the line is in tunnel.
The BOP is valid on the RE7 trains. This line takes a quite scenic route to Bern (its final destination.) via Langnau. Sit on the left for occasional distant views of the Alps. Also admire some very attractive farm buildings. Trains leave Lucerne at 57 minutes past each hour.and take 89 minutes. Note that the train on leaving Lucerne is in two sections. Passengers for Bern must join the front part of the train. Check the information screens both outside and inside the train.
Bop Valid on All Trains between Bern, Thun, Spiez and Interlaken Ost . Sit on the left for super views over Lake Thun.
KInd regards
Roger
Hi OU812,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
That’s great you are considering the Berner Oberland Pass for your trip. In the link below, you can read all about the pass, summaries of the main attractions included and there are also some convenient purchase options for the pass too.
Do download the validity map where you can see all the routes included, including the one that Roger explains in his reply.
Use the Swiss timetable so you plan the Lucerne – Bern route.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Yesterday I travelled from Luzern to Wengen via Interlaken Ost. I took the 7:06 PE train from Luzern. In Meiringen we switched to a bus. They had several buses standby. Since it was Saturday and early morning they just used 1 bus but very crowded with all the luggage. Bus journey was smooth and no issue. The strategy is you sit in the train at the very front so when you get off you will be able to secure seats in the bus. In my case we sat at the very end of the train and were the last few passengers got in the bus so we were standing in the bus.
Hello Nikolaus
Many, many thanks for this information. Might I ask what time did the bus reach Interlaken Ost? Were you able to catch the 09 04 train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen?
In the light of what you say I would adopt the following strategy. If possible sit at the front of the train leaving Luzern, If the bus you are directed to at Meringen is very crowded, wait for the next one. Given the frequency at which Swiss public transport (including rail replacement buses) operates, the delay is unlikely to be more than 60 minutes (at most). And we are on vacation, not rushing to get to work!
Best wishes for your stay in Wengen!
Roger
Hi Roger
The bus reached Interlaken at around 8:40 ahead of schedule and yes smooth sailing to catch the 9:04 train to Lauterbrunnen.
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