Golden Pass train from Interlaken to Lucerne
A traveler is planning a trip from Interlaken to Lucerne and wants to understand the difference between the Golden Pass train and the express train. They need clarity on the train options available and specific routes to take for a scenic experience.
- The Luzern-Interlaken Express is part of the Golden Pass route, and no seat reservation is needed for this train.
- Always choose the right side of the train for the best views when traveling from Lucerne to Interlaken.
- If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, train travel on this route is free, but seat reservations for specific scenic parts are required.
AI-generated summary-
Hi,
Is there a Golden Pass train from Interlaken -> Lucerne and what is the actual difference between Golden Pass train and express train.
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Here is my standard saved ‘FAQ’ type reply to your query
Current tourist branding can be confusing
The Luzern – Interlaken railway is actually the Brunig Pass (the true Goldenpass is just the MOB railway Zweisimmen – Montreux). – see below
The Luzern – Meiringen – Interlaken line is the Brünig pass line operated by Zentralbahn (ZB), which dubs the regular trains “Luzern – Interlaken Express’. Due to the geography of the area the lines from Luzern and Interlaken approach Meiringen from the same direction, so the trains must reverse direction in Meiringen station
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 which runs from Montreux to Zweisimmen, 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.
I recommend using regional trains on the MOB (the real name for the Montreux – Zweisimmen railway). Again, this gives you the flexibility to get on a train at whichever time suits you.
If you do do the MOB railway you can catch any train, there is no need to book, and in fact you could pick it up anywhere along the line if you fancy.
Here is the timetable PDF for the MOB:
http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/ fileadmin/fap_pdf_fiel ds/2018/120.pdf
Be sure to check this:
Traveling on the Golden Pass route
Golden Pass tickets and seat reservations
Hi Ssholikatti,
If traveling from Luzern to Interlaken you will be on the Golden Pass route and every train is the same “Luzern-Interlaken Express” train.
The full Golden Pass route is explained here: http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass/gettingthere
When searching the timetable you’ll find a few train options may show you with a train change in Olten or Bern so don’t take those. https://www.myswissalp s.com/timetable
Golden Pass line between Zweisimmen and Montreux with Panoramic big windows give a nice capture of scenery. Need to reserve a seat on train . We covered first part from Luzern to Interlaken on Luzern Interlaken Express . Bruing Pass was beautiful . Make sure to seat at the right side of train when u travel from Luzern to Interlaken . We stayed in Interlaken . Next day we made a round trip from Interlaken to Montreux via Zweisimmen on Golden pass line . The trains in this section looks like normal ones . Not very big windows here. U have to change train in Zweisimmen. Last part of the train have Panoramic windows and very beautiful . U can even book the front seats on train .We had Swiss travel pass so the travel on train was free but seat reservation is mandatory ( make it online ) with a little charge to pay. I highly recommend this golden pass line tour , it was 1000 times better than glacier Express which was expensive long and views are not as scenic as you can get on the golden pass line . It’s hard to complete whole 3 sections of golden pass route in a single day . U can break the journey in days or complete any part of the line according to ur convenience.
HI Iffat! Thanks for your input and your pictures! Glad to hear you enjoyed the Golden Pass train trip. The entire journey takes about 5.5 hours, so it’s certainly doable in one day. If you want to do some sightseeing along the way, as you did, it’s better to break the journey and plan some overnight stays indeed.
Hi all, some quick questions
1) If I use the SBB Mobile app and search for Interlaken OST to Luzern, , it indicates it is via the LUZERN-INTERLAKEN EXPRESS. Is this the same as the Brunig pass ?
2) Difference between Golden Pass trains and the ‘normal’ trains on Brunig pass is that trains on Golden Pass line would run slower in order for passengers to enjoy the view ?
The train between Luzern and Interlaken is Luzern Interlaken Express . It covers brunig pass . It is part 1 of golden pass line . Only Luzern Interlaken Express runs on this route . No need to reserve seats on this train . When you enroute from Luzern you Interlaken , sit on the right hand side to get all the beautiful views and vice versa . Luzern Interlaken Express is the part of golden pass line
Hi DSL,
- The Luzern-Interlaken Express train travels over the Brunig Pass so that is the train you want (part of the Golden Pass route)
- All the trains on this direct route to Interlaken are the same. 🙂
- The thread ‘Golden Pass train from Interlaken to Lucerne’ is closed to new replies.
