[Joejax]

18 February 2023 at 21:06:45 #829108

My wife and I are traveling to Switzerland in September 2023. We have a 15 day 1sr class STP and I am about to start making reservations on The Golden Pass, Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Gothard Panoramic Express. We made all these reservations last year but unfortunately the trip got canceled. As I recall, you have to wait until 60 or 90 days before your trip to make the reservation and each one is different. Does anyone have these timeframes for each of these trains to go in and reserve a seat. It took some timely research to find these dates last year.

Thanks in advance,

Joejax

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[User]

Reply 1 of 14 • 19 February 2023 at 13:37:01 #951090

Hello Joejax,

In regard to train reservations, please see below:

• GoldenPass, not typically required but recommended for the high season, note, reservations are mandatory for the GoldenPass Prestige Class, these can be made 92 days in advance; https://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/tickets
• Glacier Express, reservations are mandatory and can be made up to 93 days in advance; https://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/tickets
• Bernina Express, reservations can be made, quite long in advance, bookings for next October (for example) are already possible; https://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress/tickets
• Gotthard Panorama Express, reservations can also be made also quite long in advance, the bookings for the entire 2023 season seem to be possible already; https://www.myswissalps.com/gotthardpanoramaexpress/tickets

I hope this helps,
Kind regards,
Yolanda

[Joejax]

Reply 2 of 14 • 19 February 2023 at 17:08:32 #951091

Yolanda,

Thank you, this is very helpful. To get the seat you want, it is always good to make the reservation the first day that is available. I will note these dates on my calendar

Joejax

[User]

Reply 3 of 14 • 19 February 2023 at 20:46:25 #951092

Hi Yolanda,

What will be the nearest place to Interlaken or Lucerne to catch the Glacier Express if I want to do only part of the Glacier Express route?

Thanks!

[Anna]

Reply 4 of 14 • 20 February 2023 at 20:54:42 #951093

Hi hgarg,

If you don’t have time to do the full Glacier Express trip, you can still enjoy part of the route as a day trip.

• From Interlaken: take a train to Brig and board the Glacier Express there. Get off the train in Chur. Then take a train back to Interlaken. This day trip takes 9 to 10 hours.
• From Lucerne: take a train to Chur and board the Glacier Express there. Get off the train in Brig. Then take a train back to Lucerne. This day trip takes 9 to 10 hours. If you get off the Glacier Express in Andermatt instead of Brig the trip takes 7.5 to 8.5 hours.

Would any of this fit your schedule?

regards,

Anna

[User]

Reply 5 of 14 • 20 February 2023 at 23:38:18 #951094

Neither Luzern nor Interlaken /Jungfrau area are a good base from which to go and travel on the Glacier Express. The Glacier Express runs East – West across the southern edge of Switzerland, and Luzern is to the north.

The modern day Glacier Express brand is somewhat overhyped marketed to overseas tourists, but that masks some facts, the most important one being that it doesn’t go past any glaciers! Geographically it runs East – West across the southern extremity of Switzerland, so does not fit in to all Swiss holiday itineraries. Just because the train exists doesn’t mean it is necessary to travel on it – there are dozens of other ways to see the same or similar Swiss alpine scenery.

The Glacier Express suits organised tours that rush you to Zermatt, then put you on the Glacier Express all day, then rush you off from St Moritz to somewhere else. But for independent tourists, there are a plenty of regular trains on these and all the other Swiss railways.

If you already have lots of mountains and mountain peaks in your planned itinerary there is little point in adding the Glacier Express trip

The Glacier Express trains are special trains on the Rhaetische Bahn (RhB) and Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) railway company lines which run in addition to normal ordinary service trains. The ‘panoramic’ coaches on these trains require a reservation or supplementary fare to be paid in addition to the normal fare. In all cases ordinary trains can be travelled on on the RhB/MGB network without paying any additional fare.

In all cases if you choose (or find yourself on) an ordinary train you won’t miss the scenery as all Swiss train carriages on these lines have large windows giving good views.

[User]

Reply 6 of 14 • 21 February 2023 at 23:38:58 #951095

Thank you very much for your guidance and helping me make a decision.

[User]

Reply 7 of 14 • 22 February 2023 at 4:08:26 #951096

Hello Joejax and Yolanda,

Regarding GoldenPass Prestige Class in September:

I’m sorry to be so specific with my question, but I want to do all I can to make sure I can get a reservation for two Prestige class seats in the “Single Row” (so we can swivel around and face each other).

So I need to ask, please, since reservations for a Prestige Seat can be made 92 days in advance, a September 4th Prestige Ticket could be made on June 4th – is this correct?

Since I am on West Coast time in California, and Switzerland is 11 hours ahead, what is the very earliest possible time of day I could make this reservation?

Then, two months before the travel date I could Purchase this Ticket, correct?

Thanks so much, Jers

[User]

Reply 8 of 14 • 22 February 2023 at 4:52:30 #951097

From Lucerne, the nearest point to join the Glacier Express line is Andermatt. Direct train from Lucerne to Göschenen, then cogwheel train up to Andermatt.

[Anna]

Reply 9 of 14 • 22 February 2023 at 9:30:22 #951098

Hi Jers,

Based on my rough calculation, for a trip on Sept 4, you can purchase your Prestige Class seat reservation starting mid to end May. And yes, the tickets are only available up to 2 months in advance from your date of departure.

Link to Golden Pass tickets and reservations: http://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/tickets

Regards,

Anna

[Annika]

Reply 10 of 14 • 22 February 2023 at 11:08:42 #951099

Hi Jers,

Yes, you can buy your GoldenPass ticket 2 months in advance. But I recommend to first decide if you’ll be using a rail pass. If so, you may not even need a ticket for the GoldenPass. The Swiss Travel Pass, for example, covers the entire route. With a 1st class pass you’d only need your Prestige Class reservation and nothing else. With a 2nd class pass you’d only need your reservation and an upgrade ticket for 1st class.

In most cases, it’s cheaper to buy a rail pass than regular full-fare tickets. Here’s how to find out what’s best for your plans: https://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass.

[User]

Reply 11 of 14 • 24 February 2023 at 3:05:44 #951100

Hi Anna,

Thank you Anna, I will start trying to Reserve my Prestige Tickets starting in mid-end of May, and just keep trying everyday. We are Seniors and we will probably never return to Switzerland, so I’m trying my best to secure what I hope for. I know, I have to be flexible though 🙂

Jers

Hi Annika,

Yes, We are buying a First Class STP for 15 days, therefore, like you said, we just need to pay 35 CHF to upgrade to Prestige.

Question #1 -Is it OK to Reserve and then Pay for the upgrade to Prestige without first buying a First Class STP? I plan to purchase this STP 1st Class upon our arrival in the Zurich Airport. (doing this just in case our flight is delayed – being extra

cautious, there’s been so many delays lately – don’t want to lose a day off the 15 days, we’ll need all 15 days.

#2 – if we buy a STP First Class at Airport, can we use the 1st class ticket right away for trip to hotel? I’ve read that this STP is emailed to you, but we’ll be at Airport.

Thanks so much for your wonderful and valued help!

Jers

[Anna]

Reply 12 of 14 • 24 February 2023 at 8:29:51 #951101

Hi Jers,

You can book the seat reservation in the Prestige Class even without a 1st class ticket or railpass. Just make you sure you have both when you travel.

It’s certainly possible to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass 1st Class upon arrival. There is an SBB Travel Centre at the airport. You can use the pass immediately on the same day. You can find further information here: http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/howtouse

Regards,

Anna

[User]

Reply 13 of 14 • 25 February 2023 at 23:28:56 #951102

Hi Anna,

Thank you for your recommendation. I was able to make the reservation for first week of April for the following route. Luckily, the last 4 seats that were available for that day in 2nd class. We will be traveling with Swiss Travel Pass so when making reservation for the children below 16, I selected Reduction as Family Card Swiss Travel System. Hoping that was the right selection.

And just to confirm upon the return journey from Chur to Interlaken, we will be taking the regular train right that should be covered by Swiss Travel Pass?

From Interlaken: take a train to Brig and board the Glacier Express there. Get off the train in Chur. Then take a train back to Interlaken. This day trip takes 9 to 10 hours.

Thanks!

[User]

Reply 14 of 14 • 26 February 2023 at 19:34:30 #951103

Hello hgarg,

More information on the Swiss Family Card can be found here and where it is valid can be found by clicking on “Where it’s valid’.

(Children will be need to be aged 6 to 15, to qualify for the Swiss Family Card).

• https://www.myswissalps.com/swissfamilycard

Please feel free to use the timetable link for train times and duration.

• https://www.myswissalps.com/timetable

Yes, Chur to Interlaken will be covered with your Swiss Travel Pass.

Kind regards,

Yolanda