[Anonymous]

24 January 2019 at 21:58:25 #819609

Hi

I am from Canada and am looking to make a trip to Europe in April, 2019. I want to go to Lucerne from Paris, however, I am very interested in taking the Golden Pass scenic train route from Montreux to Lucerne. Now I can take a direct from Paris to Geneva, but I have 2 questions.

1) I am just not sure how to get to the Golden Pass train from Geneva?

2) How to buy the Golden Pass scenic train ticket from Montreux all the way to Lucerne?

Would appreciate some guidance.

Thanks

—

Amer

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[User]

Reply 1 of 3 • 25 January 2019 at 0:24:10 #902805

Route is Geneve – Montreux – MOB – Zweisimmen – Interlaken.

The true GoldenPass is only the section from Montreux to Zweisimmen, see my ‘FAQ’ (this is a very common subject on this forum) below:

The Golden Pass rail route:

Current tourist branding can be confusing

The true Goldenpass is just the MOB railway Montreux – Zweisimmen

The Luzern – Interlaken railway is actually the Brünig Pass line operated by Zentralbahn (ZB), which dubs the regular trains “Luzern – Interlaken Express’. It’s OK but not spectacular scenery

A few facts about the Montreux – Zweisimmen railway – ie the MOB (Montreux-Oberland – Bernois):

The Golden Pass is historically only Montreux – Zweisimmen, only more recent marketing branding takes the ‘Goldenpass route’ east of Zweisimmen to Interlaken and beyond to Luzern.

The Golden Pass is the touristic branding for the Montreux – Oberland Bernois (MOB) railway but after a few years of favouring ‘Goldenpass services’, the company decided it was losing its tradition and has reverted to putting the Chemin de Fer Montreux – Oberland Bernois name on publicity and train coaches.

MOB pioneered the Panoramic coach concept on Swiss trains, starting in 1976.

There are now several versions of panoramic coaches in service, but MOB keeps changing its mind how to dub each service.

It hardly matters anyway as most modern Swiss trains have large windows, even if not officially panoramic. The key element of a ‘panoramic’ coach is ‘toplight’ windows above your head but in practice very few of the major views from panoramic trains are directly above your head, so the view through the normal side part of windows is normally fine.

You will get roughly the same scenic experience from any train on the MOB and reservation is not obligatory

Here is the timetable PDF for the MOB:

http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/ fileadmin/fap_pdf_fiel ds/2019/120.pdf

It is very scenic, but the MOB route is far from being the most spectacular (although any dubbing of this nature is going to subjective and personal) in Switzerland.

[rockoyster]

Reply 2 of 3 • 25 January 2019 at 0:48:10 #902806

Hello Amer and Welcome to MySwissAlps

If you use the SBB Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) and search for Geneva to Luzern via Zweisimmen and Interlaken you will be able to buy a ticket there. If you are not familiar with using the timetable it will pay to first read the instructions on that page.

A Saver Day Pass (http://www.myswissalps.com/sa verdaypass and bit.ly/2rkekat) will probably provide the most economic means of traversing the full Golden Pass Line (http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass).

Depending on what your other plans are in Switzerland you may wan to read “How to choose the best travel pass” (http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass), download the handy spreadsheet calculator and do the math.

[User]

Reply 3 of 3 • 25 January 2019 at 2:57:08 #902807

Hi 1960man –

Indeed, there is a lot of history about the Golden Pass route., and naming of various sections. Some of that is dependent on the problems that the Zentrallbahn had making a profit, and changes that they made while seeking a money-attracting name.

Today, which is what counts for a traveler, the Golden Pass Route is best characterized by the link provided by the ever-attentive and precise Rockoyster.

http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass.

Not much history, but useful details for today’s traveler.

I share your implied opinion that the section from approximately Montbovon to Montreux has the best scenery, and the most spectacular panoramic cars. However, in my opinion, the stretch from about Sarnen to Brunig has some quite nice views, and the ride downhill to Meiringen is not too bad, either.

Slowpoke