MOB Goldenpass VIP seat reservation question
Marc is planning to travel on the GoldenPass Panoramic train from Montreux to Gstaad on February 18. He wants to reserve VIP front seats but has discovered they are unavailable for that day due to refurbishment. He seeks advice on his options and any alternatives.
- VIP front seats on the GoldenPass Panoramic train are currently out of service for refurbishment and won't be available for the foreseeable future.
- You don't need to reserve seats on the Montreux to Gstaad route outside of peak summer season, so you can take any available train.
- Most modern Swiss trains have large windows, ensuring good views even if not in a 'panoramic' coach.
AI-generated summary-
Hi,
I would like to book the VIP front seats on the Goldenpass Panoramic from Montreaux to Gstaad on Monday 18/2. I was on the GoldenPass site and it looks like the front carriage isn’t reservable on the train I want. I’ve attached a screenshot of the seat and carriage options here. I thought there were VIP seats on every Goldenpass panoramic train but I guess not? There doesn’t seem to be any trains that day where you can reserve seats in the front carriage. So I guess I’m out of luck?
Many Thanks!
Marc
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Hi Marcs44 and welcome to MySwissAlps!
Unfortunately the carriages with the VIP seats have been taken out of service for refurbishment (as of Sept.3) and we don’t have any return to service date at this point.
As an FYI the VIP seats are only on the modern panoramic trains (noted as MOB panoramic on the timetable; the classic-style called Belle Epoque never had the VIP seats).
http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass
There is no need to reserve seats on this route outside of the peak summer season (VIP seats are limited and would be a different story had they been possible for you).
First, the important fact: the front facing ‘VIP’ seats are not in service for the foreseeable future.
Now, some general facts about the Montreux – Zweisimmen railway – ie the MOB (Montreux-Oberland Bernois):
The Golden Pass is historically only Montreux – Zweisimmen, only more recent marketing branding takes the ‘Goldenpass route’ east of Zweisimmen to Interlaken and beyond to Luzern.
The Golden Pass is the touristic branding for the Montreux – Oberland Bernois (MOB) railway which runs from Montreux to Zweisimmen, but after a few years of favouring ‘Goldenpass services’, the company decided it was losing its tradition and has reverted to putting the Chemin de Fer Montreux – Oberland Bernois name on publicity and train coaches.
MOB pioneered the Panoramic coach concept on Swiss trains, starting in 1976.
There are now several versions of panoramic coaches in service, but MOB keeps changing its mind how to dub each service.
It hardly matters anyway as most modern Swiss trains have large windows, even if not officially panoramic. The key element of a ‘panoramic’ coach is ‘toplight’ windows above your head but in practice very few of the major views from panoramic trains are directly above your head, so the view through the normal side part of windows is normally fine.
Any through train on the MOB is fine to use. They all travel at the same speed on the track, a few stop at more stations but there isn’t a huge time penalty, and many travellers prefer using regional trains for the flexibility to get on a train at whichever time suits you, and for a sense of ‘being with the locals’
If you do do the MOB railway you can catch any train, there is no need to book.
Thank you both very much.
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