Hi Sarahfaye,
>> we opted to head straight for Gruyeres via Bern and at least have some time in the old town today instead of tomorrow morning, so we are now a bit more flexible for tomorrow…all we have on the agenda is chocolate museum in Broc, then try to get on the panoramic train for at least part of the trip down to Montreux but not sure how to make a reservation for that, and from where the best option to depart from is! the website keeps saying not available. Is that because the “chocolate train” doesn’t run on fridays and it is just regional trains that day?
First, can I confirm that I understand your situation:
You are currently staying in Gruyères.
Tomorrow you want to go to the chocolate factory in Broc, then to Montreux, using the Golden Pass panoramic train for part of the trip.
I don’t understand how the Chocolate Train comes into it, as that is a roundtrip excursion from Montreux, and you can’t travel on it one-way from Broc. You can use normal trains on the same route though.
So if you want to go from Broc to Montreux, using the Golden Pass train, you can travel on normal trains from Broc-Fabrique to Montbovon, then on the Golden Pass train from Montbovon to Montreux.
Assuming you want to leave around lunch time after spending the morning at the chocolate factory, connections that would work include:
Depart Broc-Fabrique 12:36
Arrive Montbovon 13:20
Depart Montbovon 13:28 on Golden Pass MOB Panoramic
Arrive Montreux 14:13
An earlier departure from Broc-Fabrique that would connect with a Golden Pass train would be 11:36 (which connects with the Golden Pass Belle Époque train). A later connection would depart Broc-Fabrique at 14:36, and connects with a Golden Pass panoramic train.
Reservations for the sector Broc-Fabrique to Montbovon aren’t possible, but you can make reservations for the Golden Pass trains from Montbovon to Montreux at the following website:
reservations.mob.ch/re servation/reservation/ reservation/reservatio n/reservation/reservat ion/reservation/reserv ation/reservation/rese rvation/f?p=151:1:31874748252773 99::NO:::
You might also be able to buy a Golden Pass reservation at the station in Gruyères or Broc-Fabrique, but I’m not sure about that.
As reservations are not compulsory, you probably don’t need to print it out if you can access it on your phone. However, as you are boarding at a late stage in the Golden Pass journey, you may find that someone else has decided to sit in that seat, and you may need to have something to show them or the conductor in order to claim the seat!
Alpenrose