Swiss panoramic train routes available in March?
A traveler named Angelalauren is visiting Switzerland in March and is concerned about some train routes not operating until April. She has a Swiss Travel Pass and is looking for recommendations for panoramic train journeys while traveling from Interlaken to Lugano and then to Zurich.
- Consider taking the Lötschberger Mountain Railway from Interlaken to Brig, then connect to the Centovalli train to Lugano.
- For your return from Lugano to Zurich, the Gotthard mountain route is a good option, as standard trains will run the same scenic route despite the Gotthard Panorama Express being unavailable.
- Remember that most train routes in Switzerland offer beautiful views, so you can enjoy the scenery even without a dedicated panoramic train.
AI-generated summary-
Hello. I am traveling to Switzerland in March and keep running into the issue of some routes not running until April. I do have a Swiss travel pass for my time in the country. I will be traveling from Interlaken > Lugano > Zurich and looking to take a panoramic train for at least a piece of the journey. Do you have any recommendations? Thank you!
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Hello Angelalauren,
Welcome to MySwissAlps, how exciting you are planning a trip to Switzerland.
Here are some suggestions that would fit your plans, you could have the Lötschberger, the Centovalli and the Gotthard mountain scenic routes to enjoy.
- https://www.myswissalps.com/lotschberger/gettingthere
- http://www.myswissalps.com/centovalli
- https://www.myswissalps.com/gotthardpanoramaexpress/gettingthere
With the Lötschberger Mountain Railway, this would allow you to travel from Interlaken to Brig, afterwards, you can connect up with the Centovalli train ride, taking you from Brig to Lugano.
Returning back to Zurich from Lugano, the Gotthard mountain route is an option, the Gotthard Panorama Express train won’t be running but you can take a normal train which follows the same route, so you can still enjoy the views 🙂In addition, our timetable link so you can plan accordingly.
I hope this helps, feel free to reach out with any further questions.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Have you looked at the Gotthard Panorama Express between Lugano & Arth-Goldau or Lucerne? The normal trains also run the same route, not just the designated GPE trains. The GPE route indicates taking a boat from Fluelen to Lucerne, but you don’t have to do that. Depending on which train you take from Bellinzona – you will have to switch trains in Bellinzona after leaving Lugano – you can stay on the train at Arth-Goldau or switch trains at AG and head on to Zurich. Should take about 3.5 hours.
How are you going from Interlaken to Lugano?
Please remember that 95% of railway routes in Switzerland are scenic and you don’t need the so called ‘panoramic’ trains all the time to appreciate the views. I started travelling regularly in the Swiss alps 50 years before ‘panoramic’ train coaches were invented and have never missed a superb view.
I don’t know of any main routes that don’t run until April – what is it that you have seen?
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