[Anonymous]

16 November 2021 at 16:18:28 #826293

Hello MyswissAlps Forum members

We are going to use the 8 Day Regional Pass Berner Oberland for our 8 days in the Interlaken/Jungfrau area.

We will travel on the Golden Pass train from Luzern – Meiringen (store our luggage in the lockers on Meiringen station) & then visit Aareschluct // then either another Golden Pass train or Regular train from Meiringen – Interlaken Ost.

The validity of the Regional Pass Berner Oberland is up to Saanen on the Golden Pass route. We want to travel this route from Interlaken Ost either to Saanen or to Zweisimmen just to see the scenery. I see these two towns are only 30 minutes train travel apart. I know that the GP route goes to Montreux, but we do not want to pay extra for the Saanen – Montreux // Montreux – Saanen tickets.

Questions:

1. Which of the two towns is best to travel to purely for the scenery from the train: Interlaken – Saanen or Interlaken – Zweisimmen?

2. We then want to take a regular train back (either from Saanen or Zweisimmen) to Spiez and from there to Bern (included in the Berner Oberland Pass). We want to spend the afternoon and early evening in Bern Old Town sightseeing. At the end of the day we will travel back by train from Bern – Interlaken. Will this be doable?

3. Any other suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks

TravelElla

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[Anna]

Reply 1 of 10 • 16 November 2021 at 17:10:32 #937537

Hi TravelElla,

With the Regional Pass Berner Oberland, you can travel for free on the Golden Pass up to Saanen. From Saanen, the RPBO entitles you to half price off the ticket to Montreux. So a single journey becomes CHF12.50 and return CHF25. Montreux is really nice if you can fit it into your schedule. Otherwise, I would travel all the way to Saanen and stop in Gstaad on the way back. The Glacier 3000 is worth checking out if you have time.

If you stick to your original plan, yes a day trip to Bern and a return trip on the Golden Pass in one day is definitely do-able.

Regards,

Anna

[User]

Reply 2 of 10 • 16 November 2021 at 21:28:44 #937538

Hello Anna

Thank you for your reply. I think we can travel via Montreux on our departure day en route to Zermatt.

Then we can combine Bern & Thun on our day trip as mentioned in my previous post.

I had a quick look at some of the train schedules. If we leave Interlaken early, we will have 3 or 4 hours to enjoy the scenery alongside the promenade in Montreux. It will then be possible to catch a train at 17h11 or 17h43 from Montreux to Zermatt. Arrival time in Zermatt will be at 19h51 or 20h14, not too late for us and we will also be able to enjoy the scenery before dark (sunset is at 7h45 mid September).

We would prefer this route:

1. Interlaken – Spiez – Zweisimmen – Montreux // Montreux – Zermatt

but the following route also shows on the schedules:

2. Interlaken – Spiez – Bern – Lausanne – Montreux (with the Lausanne – Montreux part along Lake Geneva – this must be beautiful)

The 3rd route on the schedule is via Visp, but we will do the RE Lötschberger route from Spiez via Kanderstegg to Brig on a day trip while we are in Interlaken.

I have read the following on the overview of Golden Pass on MySwissAlps: “Note that the GP line between Zweisimmen and Montreux is being renovated until December 2022. This will result in direct trains from Interlaken to Montreux without a switch in Zweisimmen.”

Will it therefore be possible to travel (via Zweisimmen in September 2022) to Montreux just without a change and transfer at Zweisimmen?

Which route will you recommend from Interlaken to Montreux: nr 1 or nr 2?

Your experience and input will be of great help.

Thanks

TravelElla

[User]

Reply 3 of 10 • 17 November 2021 at 1:18:20 #937539

I have read the following on the overview of Golden Pass on MySwissAlps: “Note that the GP line between Zweisimmen and Montreux is being renovated until December 2022. This will result in direct trains from Interlaken to Montreux without a switch in Zweisimmen.”

Will it therefore be possible to travel (via Zweisimmen in September 2022) to Montreux just without a change and transfer at Zweisimmen?

With apologies to the moderators etc at MSA, the statement is not truly correct. The line isn’t being ‘renovated’. What is happening (and it was originally scheduled to be in use by now – but delayed in part by covid but also due to technical innovation issues) is the fruition of a long held wish to run track-gauge-changeable train rolling stock so that the same carriages can run on both the metre gauge MOB railway Montreux – Zweisimmen and the standard gauge BLS railway Zweisimmen – Spiez – Interlaken, thus enabling the journey to be competed without changing trains.

Which route will you recommend from Interlaken to Montreux: nr 1 or nr 2?

Indeed if you are travelling Interlaken – Zermatt as part of your trip, it is a good way of incorporating the MOB railway, the true original ‘Golden Pass’ dubbed in the 1920s.

‘Route 1’ takes you through the mountains via Saanenmoser, Gstaad and Chateau d’Oex

‘Route 2’ is the main line national railway route. Bern – Lausanne is a delightful ride through typically Swiss agricultural green scenery, with a very scenic descent from Puidoux to Lausanne through the Lavaux vineyards. Lausanne – Montreux is then as you say along the lake (attached images 0954 and 0963)

Attachments:

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[User]

Reply 4 of 10 • 17 November 2021 at 9:18:47 #937540

Hi there,

thank you 1960man for adding the extra information about the Golden Pass.

@TravelElla, I, personally, love the Lausanne-Montreux train route but I do not enjoy that much the Bern-Lausanne part of the route 2. But again, this is my opinion 🙂
Meanwhile, I think route 1 is just amazing again for the whole route.
But anyway, I do not think you can choose wrong as both of the routes have wonderful parts and views. 🙂

Ildiko

More about the Golden Pass route: http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/gettingthere

[User]

Reply 5 of 10 • 17 November 2021 at 17:03:08 #937541

Hello 1960man

Thank you so much for the detailed info and clear explanantion of the different train lines and connections.

Our trip is still far in advance, so I have enough time to make a final decision on the train route.

TravelElla

[User]

Reply 6 of 10 • 17 November 2021 at 17:29:04 #937542

Hello Ildiko

Thanks for your input and first hand experience on the train route.

Just another question:

We will use a Saver Day Pass for my mentioned train routes from Interlaken – Montreux – Zermatt.

I see that the SDP is more or less CHF52. This will be the best option for our full day train travel to different destinations. Correct?

I have read all the info regarding the SDP and know that it can be bought on-line 60 days in advance to get the best price, but just want to be 100% sure:

Do we just board ANY train on our travel day? (We will of course plan our trip from place to place with the SBB Timetable to be sure of the departure times/changes or transfers etc).

Thanks for your help.

TravelElla

[User]

Reply 7 of 10 • 17 November 2021 at 23:59:18 #937543

I don’t know what country you are resident in, so not sure if you understand the phrase ‘rover ticket’.

In Britain, ‘rover ticket’ is a type of transport ticket that once purchased allows free, walk on travel anywhere within the ticket (aka pass) validity area. They have existed for many years but from the 1970s onwards became common, mainly on city and conurbation transport networks, but the day rover concept has expanded with the advent of regional ‘Tariff areas’

So, a Saver Day Pass is a 1 day ‘rover ticket’ – put another way it becomes a ‘1 day Swiss Travel Pass’.

As such it can represent superb value for money, for example I have used one before to ride around in Eastern Switzerland but then later in the day travel all the way south west to Geneva to see my family.

[User]

Reply 8 of 10 • 18 November 2021 at 9:15:11 #937544

Hello 1960man

We are from South Africa. Compared to Europe, our public transport is basically very limited – sometimes non existed 🙁

So to get experience in train travel from A to B and enjoy the public transport efficiency of 1st world countries, we just love the public transport systems of Europe with our previous travels abroad 🙂

And now hopefully we will experience the Swiss efficiency in 2022!!

Thank you for the extra explanation of the “rover ticket” & Saver Day Pass. Your summary is well understood.

I think we will definately benefit with this ticket on the route Interlaken – Montreux // Montreux – Zermatt because this is quite a long distance.

Regards

TravelElla

[User]

Reply 9 of 10 • 18 November 2021 at 9:53:24 #937545

Hi TravelElla,

yes, the Saver Day Pass will be good for your trip from Interlaken – Montreux – Zermatt. You can see the validity map of the Saver Day Pass at http://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass/validity.

You can buy your Saver Day Pass at http://www.myswissalps.com/saverdaypass/price. The price varies by demand and the purchase date. Buying early is normally cheaper, but that’s not guaranteed. The Saver Day Pass can be purchased from 60 days before your travel date. Some retailers offer pre-booking more than 60 days in advance, you can see them at the same link I provided above.

Regards,

Ildiko

[User]

Reply 10 of 10 • 18 November 2021 at 10:03:43 #937546

Hello Ildiko

Thank you for the confirmation and links regarding the Saver Day Pass.

Looking forward to our Swiss trip!!

TravelElla