Interlaken-Brienz-Meiringen bus replacement runs south of Lake Brienz?
Roger is sharing updates about the Meiringen–Interlaken Ost train line, which is closed until November 25, 2024, due to extensive damage. He clarifies bus options between Meiringen and Interlaken, specifically asking whether the non-stop bus uses the modern road along the south shore of Lake Brienz.
- Check the Swiss timetable for bus routes, as they can either go north or south of Lake Brienz.
- The non-stop bus from Meiringen to Interlaken runs on the south shore and is designed to connect with train schedules.
- Bringing a flexible schedule can help you catch the fast bus or train connections from Interlaken Ost.
- The boats to Giessbach Falls are operational again, providing an alternative route for exploring the area.
AI-generated summary-
Hello everyone
The Zentralbahn’s website now says
‘The clean-up work is progressing. However, the extent of the damage is significantly greater than previously assumed. The Meiringen–Interlaken Ost line is expected to open on 25 November 2024. Replacement buses (EV) are running. Waiting times are to be expected.’
The rail replacement bus timetable shows three buses an hour. There is a non-stop bus carefully timed to connect with the fast Meiringen to Lucerne trains at Meiringen. There is a semi-fast bus calling at Brienz only. And there is an ‘all statiions’ service. Note this pattern does run ALL DAY.
I am guessing that the non-stop bus is taking the modern road along the SOUTH shore of Lake Brienz. Does anyone know if I am right?
Best wishes
Roger
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Hello Roger,
Many thanks for sharing this information.
By consulting the Swiss timetable (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/public-transport/timetable/), you can view the breakdown of the route.
I just carried out a quick search and if you take a look at my screenshots that are attached, depending which bus you board, it will either go north of Lake Brienz or south.
Buses 304, 510, 306, 310 and 514 head north and buses 204, 206, 210 head south of Lake Brienz.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thanks Yolanda!
I have just done what you did a few minutes ago. In brief, the maps confirm that the NON-STOP buses take the (modern) road along the south shore of Lake Brienz. That will greatly help keeping to the timetable.
Best wishes
Roger
Hi Roger,
When I travelled from Luzern to Wengen we switched to the bus in Meiringen. It was a non stop bus to Interlaken. It travelled along the lake side. Not sure if it was the modern road or not but not much traffic at the time. I believe we arrived ahead of schedule in Interlaken and had plenty of time to catch the train to Wengen via Laterbrunnen.
I’m very impressed with Swiss public transport. Very easy to navigate, clear signs everywhere and connected seamlessly. You won’t get lost.
Cheers
Nikolaus
When we used the bus between Interlaken Ost and Meiringen in late August we travelled one way via Brienz (where we stopped for a walk and a coffee and were horrified by the damage) and returned by the direct bus from Meiringen to Interlaken Ost.
In both directions the bus travelled on the south side of the lake. I should also mention that the road makes considerable use of tunnels.
Andrew
Many thanks Andrew.
Of the three hourly bus services I refer to in my contribution which started this thread, the ;all stations’ service obviously runs along the north shore. The non-stop Meiringen to Interlaken buses are taking the newer south shore road (with a lot of tunnels) and judging by Nikolaus’s reply three (thank you Nikolaus!) the schedule is easily ‘doable’ unless road traffic is very heavy. The important point is, therefore, that connections at Interlaken Ost will usually be ‘made’ if you take the non-sop bus. And that includes connections to the Inter-City trains leaving Interlaken Ost precisely on the hour.
The current emergency bus timetable, which includes the hourly ‘semi-fast’ service calling at Brienz, was introduced on August 24th, replacing an emergency timetable which had been operating for about eleven days. The Swiss electronic timetable is showing the ‘semi-fast’ buses as running along the NORTH shore.
However the important point is this. Both the ‘non-stop’ and ‘semi-fast’ buses to Meiringen leave Interlaken Ost at 04 minutes past the hour. (They are timed to give connections from the Inter-city trains arriving at 58 past the hour!) If you are wanting to connect with the train on to Lucerne, then you must catch the NON-STOP bus.
Finally, note Nikolaus’s last sentence in his reply three.
Best wishes to everyone
Roger
I hope that it is ok to jump into this thread as my question is about this subject.
During the week we will be in Wengen (4th to 11th October), we were hoping to catch the boat to Giessbach Falls, have lunch at the hotel, boat to Brienz to explore, then train back to Wengen.
Will the problems with the trains affect that? I am not sure where Meiringen comes into the picture.
We will probably skip Brienz rather than have to use buses which are no doubt busy, but we’d like to see it if possible.
Hi DebH.
You need make no apology for ‘jumping in’ on this thread which I started. My main purpose in starting the thread was to alert people to the current situation in the Lake Brienz area.
Before going any further, I suggest you read Nikolaus’s very positive comments in his reply three. Also Andrew’s sad comment about Brienz in his reply four.
The good news is that Brienz HARBOUR is back in action, and the boats on the lake are back to normal service
I would suggest you get the 10 10 boat from Interlaken Ost harbour to Giessbach, arr 11 09. Have an early lunch and get the 13 09 boat to Brienz arrive 13 20. There are then boats back to Interlaken Ost at 13 40, 14 40 and 16 40. They take 73 minutes.
I have just looked at the Swiss electronic timetable, and it is showing both boats and buses. The ‘fast’ buses to Interlaken Ost leave at 34 minutes past the hour and take 21 minutes. The stopping buses leave at 57 minutes past the hour and take 27 minutes.
(Meiringen is a small town some miles to the east of Lake Brienz, and it is therefore not relevant to your plans, unless you want to go to Lucerne.)
Best wishes on your travels
Roger
Thanks so much Roger. That explains it all.
No, we have no interest in going to Lucerne, lovely place but we stayed there for almost a week on our last trip. This trip is all about the BO area (https://www.myswissalps.com/region/bernese-oberland/ ), Zermatt (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/zermatt/), St. Moritz (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/st-moritz/) and Montreux (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/montreux/).
We would like to visit the town of Brienz (https://www.myswissalps.com/town/brienz/ ) though, so your suggestion helps very much.
The boat you suggest from Interlaken Ost to Giessbach is the one we were planning on taking anyway, but we were going to have a more leisurely lunch and catch the boat to Brienz at 14:09 rather than 13:09.
If we just have an hour or so to explore the town that’s all we want and we were then planning on getting the train back, but we will try and time it for the “fast” bus instead.
Thanks once again.
Hi everyone,
Those of you familiar with Brienz station, who have not been there since the storm damage in August, might be interested in these pictures of the reconstruction work, which I took on 17 September 2024.
Alpenrose
Hi Alpenrose,
The storm did major damage indeed. Thanks for sharing these photos.
Update: Due to on-going clean up and repair work, the Meiringen–Interlaken Ost train line is currently closed and expected to open on 25 November 2024. Currently, there are rail replacement buses in place to transport passengers.
Regards,
Anna
Hi Everyonel
Yesterday I travelled on the 13 18 fast rail replacement COACH from Meiringen to Interlaken. Actually there were two coaches, as there were I estimate nearly 100 people wanting to travel. Because it took time to load all the luggage, the coaches left at 13 23, but took only 24 minutes to do the journey. The connection with the trains leaving at 14 00, 14 04 and 14 08 were of course made.
Kind regards
Roger
Thanks Roger.
It’s always well received when members share their own experience 🙂
Hope you are having a great trip.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
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