[Alizar]

6 May 2025 at 19:47:23 #2574639

I read this review on tripadvisor today and am wondering about it. Can you explain what she means? It was posted on the Kleine Scheidegg site. I want to go from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen and on to Mannlichen for the walk down, and am wondering if this would be a factor.

“Costly misunderstanding May 2025 • Solo The view is nice, but the price for the train ride is ridiculous. Not included in Swiss Travel Pass which I realized too late. Another couple in the same situation just in the same segment of train, must be a regular thing. The train from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen just continues there after a small pause, no announcement, no signage indicating that this is no longer a public service train. Notably in Switzerland they now how to explain things and make train announcements, here it seems rather the case of not caring to try. And sure, info can be found on inclusions and exclusions, but somehow every where else information was provided, warnings given and tickets / passes checked to avoid such misunderstandings.”
thanks in advance, MK

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[Roger Sexton]

Reply 1 of 6 • 6 May 2025 at 21:11:25 #2574641

Hello Alizar and everyone.

The criticism in this tripadvisor review is not really justified.  Everyone who buys a Swiss Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/) should study the ‘area of validity map’.  It can be found on this website. The map makes it clear that the STP IS valid between Lauterbrunnen and Wengen but not between Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg.  The red line between Lauterbrunnen and Wengen is SOLID – that means free travel.  The red line between Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg is dotted – that means STP holders pay a discounted fare.

Free only as far as Wengen has been the rule since 1972.

The Swiss Travel Pass was introduced in 1972 under the name ‘Swiss Holiday Pass’.  Even then the pass was only valid for free travel as far as Wengen.  Above Wengen SHP holders had to pay a discounted fare.  I remember that from personal experience.  In January 1972 I booked a holiday for July staying in Interlaken.  In (I think) March 1972 the creation of the Swiss Holiday Pass was announced. I decided to invest in an SHP.  Even back then I knew that the SHP pass would not give me free travel above Wengen.  In addition to the SHP I also invested in a regional pass (the name I cannot remember) which included Kleine Scheidegg and the other mountain lines in the Jungfrau area.  But even then in 1972, I had to pay a (high) fare for Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch.

Jungfrau Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/jungfrau-travel-pass/)

A lot of queries to this forum are from people staying in the Jungfrau region asking which regional pass they should buy.  Some of them say they have already invested in STPs.   If somebody is staying in Wengen or Grindelwald and is going to do a lot of travelling in the mountains around those villages, then they should be thinking of investing in a Jungfrau Travel Pass.   The validity of this pass is explained on this website.

STP validity for free travel stopping in the middle of a train’s journey.

This is not unique to Wengen.  On the Line from Montreux to Rochers-de-Naye, the STP will take you up as far as CAUX.  Above Caux an STP holder pays a discounted fare.

At several places Swiss local trains cross international frontiers.  There is now a good system of local trains ‘Leman Express’ going from Geneva into the area of France south of Lake Geneva.  The STP validity stops at the first French station, Annemasse.  On TILO local trains from Lugano to Milan Malpensa Airport the STP is only valid as far as the small station of Cantello-Gaggiolo, about 500 metres inside Italy.  (I have very recent personal experience of this line!)

Berner Oberland Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/)

You may also need to consider investing in a Berner Oberland Pass.  But note that this Pass, while it will take you free to Mannlichen, it will not take you free to Kleine Scheidegg.

Sorry that this matter is complicated.

Kind regards
Roger

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 2 of 6 • 6 May 2025 at 21:39:14 #2574642

Hello Alizar

I have now looked at the thread you posted on March 9th

I see that you are staying in Murren.  The STP will get you up from Lauterbrunnen to Murren, whether you go via Stechelberg or via Grutschalp.

Your STP will give you 50% discount on the Schilthorn Trip

Day 13 is the problem.  You very reasonably want to avoid the expensive train fares to/from Kleine Scheidegg.
I suggest you go from Murren to Wengen via Lauterbrunnen.  That will be free with the STP.
Take the cable car to Mannlichen, 50% discount with STP
Do some hiking in the Mannlichen area, but do not hike to Kleine Scheidegg.
Take the cable car down from Mannlichen to Grindlewald Terminal , 50% discount with STP
Return to Murren via Zweilutschinen and Lauterbrunnen. This route will be free with the STP.

(I now do not think it is worth your investing in either a JTP or BOP.)

Kind regards
Roger

[User]

Reply 3 of 6 • 7 May 2025 at 19:22:45 #2575994

Hi Alizar,

I fully agree with Roger, the review is a little harsh.

I trust his explanation has clarified the situation for you.  For ease, here is the Swiss Travel Pass coverage map, do download and take a look whilst cross referencing with his comments.

• https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/#downloads

Kind regards,
Yolanda

[Alizar]

Reply 4 of 6 • 9 May 2025 at 1:55:26 #2577966

Thanks, Roger and Yolanda. That’s a relief, I thought perhaps I was missing something and that perhaps it was somehow easy to miss the stop in Wengen and end up somewhere else, like the Jungfraujoch, with seriously extra fees.

Why do you recommend not doing the Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg trail? Is it because it’s too popular and consequently crowded? I was thinking of continuing on to Wengernalp but I’m not seeing it on the validity map so not sure how one would get back from there or what it would cost.

best, MK

[Roger Sexton]

Reply 5 of 6 • 9 May 2025 at 6:34:54 #2577970

Hello again Alizar

I had better explain my thinking behind my second reply.  In that reply I in effect suggested that you do not do the whole hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg.

I was not concerned about crowding on the Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg trail!  Rather it was the fact that you appear to be extremely alarmed by the very high fares charged on the cog-wheel railway which runs Wengen-Wengernalp-Kleine Scheidegg-Grindelwald.  I was looking for a way for you to avoid your paying those very high fares!  One possibility would be to both start and finish your hike at Mannlichen.

Fares on the two cable car lines serving Mannlichen are discounted at 50% to STP holders.  That would mean (for example) you pay 14.50 CHF to go up from Wengen to Mannlichen.  By contrast, the cog-wheel railway gives only 25% discount to STP holders.  Wengen up to Kleine Scheidegg works out at 23.25 CHF

Suggestion for a relatively cheap Day 13

Go up on  the cable car from Wengen to Mannlichen; pay 14.50 CHF per person. Hike from Mannlichen to Wengernalp via Kleine Scheidegg.  Catch the cog-wheel train back down to Wengen.  With the 25% discount given to STP holders, that fare wlll be 17.50 CHF per person.

Kind regards
Roger

[Alizar]

Reply 6 of 6 • 9 May 2025 at 18:22:54 #2581516

Thanks for this, Roger, but I was not alarmed by the high fare, it was whoever posted the review. I was just wondering what they were talking about. It didn’t occur to me that it was the fact that the route from Wengen was only discounted and not free. I thought perhaps they had somehow missed their stop and ended up much higher up and had to pay a fine for not having a ticket, or something along those lines. I worry about making faux pas like that.

It’s a good tip to take the cable car and not the train, as there’s an option and it does save a bit. From what I’ve read, it’s a lovely area and worth the fares to get there and back.

best, Monica