GoldenPass with Swiss Travel Pass – reservations?
A traveler is planning a trip from Interlaken to Montreux in April and wants to know about the Golden Pass train schedule, seat reservations, and if they can break their journey at Gstaad. They specifically ask about the train times and whether a separate seat reservation is needed, even with the Swiss Travel Pass.
- You can board the Golden Pass train from Interlaken without a reservation, but it's wise to reserve if traveling during high season for more flexibility.
- The only GoldenPass Express train runs at 9:08 AM from Interlaken to Montreux and returns at 9:35 AM, so plan accordingly.
- You can hop on and off the train at Gstaad, but reservations would restrict your flexibility.
- If you miss the GoldenPass Express, research alternative trains to return later in the day.
AI-generated summary-
Hello –
1. Is it possible to take the Golden Pass train from Interlaken to Montreaux or one must board the train in Lucerne?
2. Is the seat reservation required with Swiss Travel Pass for a family of four? And is the cost covered with the Swiss Travel Pass?
3. What times the train leaves from Interlaken and what times it returns back to Interlaken from Montreaux?
4. Can we get off in Gstaad, spend time there, and then continue our journey to Montreaux by boarding another Golden Pass train at a later time?
Thank you!
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The original Golden Pass line is just the MOB railway between Zweisimmen, Gstaad and Montreux. Zweisimmen is linked to Interlaken my the main line BLS railway. You can board any train (they run at least once per hour both ways) without compulsory reservation, but trains are shorter than they once were and very popular in the high season so you can reserve seats if you so wish – but you need a separate seat reservation for each train, so you get more flexibility if you don’t reserve seats. Since December 2022, a new unique train (the GoldenPassExpress – see my own picture) was introduced allowing a though service Interlaken – Montreux – Interlaken which runs on two very different types of track but can switch between the two.
here is the Swiss official timetable PDF for Interlaken – Montreux http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/fileadmin/fap_pdf_fields/2023/120.pdf
In recent years – to cater for tourists from far away countries, the ‘Golden Pass’ concept was tagged to the Interlaken – Luzern railway as part of a marketing concept but Luzern – Interlaken is a completely separate railway (the Brunig pass line) so you absolutely do not have to board a train in Luzern to travel to Montreux.
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Thank you. Appreciate your response. I read this somewhere. I am traveling in April 2023. If I am reading this correctly, then our only option to take Golden Pass from Interlaken to Montreux is the daily train at 9:08 and then the return train is also once a day at 9:35 so obviously we will not be able to catch that. What will be the best way for us to return from Montreux to Interlaken later that day or am I misreading this?
Trains from Interlaken to Montreux: From 11 December 2022 until 10 June 2023 there will be just one GoldenPass Express train per day travelling between Interlaken and Montreux. Departure time from Interlaken Ost station is 09:08.
Trains from Montreux to Interlaken Ost: One train per day between 11 December 2022 and 10 June 2023 at 09:35
If you haven’t gotten the SBB Mobile app for your cell phone, I suggest you do so. This is vital for referencing train, bus, boat schedules.
Hello hgarg,
In addition to 1960man’s reply, additional details of the GoldenPass train route can be found here : https://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass
A return trip back to Interlaken, within the same day, would require taking a different train, unless the preference is the GoldenPass Express. The GoldenPass Express train does operate year-round, your research is correct and there is limited availability of this particular train. There are two more GoldenPass trains on the Interlaken-Montreux (and back) route, with a high frequency. More information can be found in the GoldenPass link provided above, under the header “The Train” and the “Getting There” section, the section that is blocked in blue, titled “timetable” details the different ‘trains’ that operate.
Reservations are not typically required, though some scenic, touristic routes will require reservations (for example the Prestige Class of the GoldenPass Express). Reservations are chargeable, even with the Swiss Travel Pass.
In regard to your hop on/off question, yes you can as long as no reservations are made. Reservations are for one specific departure time so sometimes hopping on and off can be complex.
The train timetable times have been kindly covered by 1960man but further information can also be found here : https://www.myswissalps.com/timetable.
I hope this helps, feel free to reach out with any further questions.
Best wishes,
Yolanda
Until June 2023, if you cannot get the new direct Golden Pass Express, you will have to do it the traditional way which is over exactly the same lines, but with a change between standard gauge train and narrow gauge train at Zweisimmen , which is what tourists have done for over 100 years – so it is not a problematic. Check your options by inputting ‘from Montreux To Interlaken via Zweisimmen’ into an online journey planner. The regular MOB trains eastbound from Montreux leave at xx.50 past each hour
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