My experience travelling in 1st class on Swiss trains and boats
Andrew shared his recent two-week summer trip to Switzerland with his wife, emphasizing their experience traveling first class on the Swiss Travel Pass. He noted that public transport was extremely crowded, with even first-class areas seeing standing room only, and they encountered issues with boat services, particularly on Lake Thun.
- Consider upgrading to first class on busy summer trips for better comfort and views.
- Be aware that first class on boats is usually on the upper decks, offering less crowding.
- The Lake Thun boat timetable has limited services on Mondays, making it a day to avoid for visitors.
- Using the Swiss Travel Pass can significantly enhance your travel experience if you're planning to explore multiple areas.
AI-generated summary-
From time to time on MySwissAlps I have seen messages asking whether first class is worth it on the Swiss public transport system.
For a good number of years now, my wife and I have always bought first class Swiss Travel Passes and in most cases it has proved to be good value and especially so on most of the lake ships. There first class is usually exclusively on the upper decks. (I have never seen first class areas on ships in Ticino which doesn’t mean there aren’t any!)
We have just returned from our usual summer fortnight and can report that Switzerland is “full” and especially on the transport system. On a couple of occasions we even saw standing room only in first class. There are now also regular announcements asking for luggage to be put in the
areas provided and not in the aisles.
On one occasion the BLS had put the motorship Schilthorn on a service timetable route on Thunersee. Several people with bicycles were refused entry to the boat at Spiez. We didn’t ask the crew if they knew why a ship of inadequate size for the service had been rostered, but it’s not our first experience of passengers being turned away from a full MV Schilthorn.
Back to the trains and an amusing incident.
Late one afternoon many people were trying to transfer in Lauterbrunnen from the Wengernalpbahn (WAB) to the Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB). As usual those wishing to board the BOB were crowding the doors preventing the exit of those wishing to get off. An authoritative Swiss accented voice behind me called in English, “Please stand back from the doors!” It worked. I turned round to see the official who had called out only to find an ‘ordinary’ local grinning at me.
It has to be said that some nationalities are notably more offending that others when it comes to getting on and off trains. Regularly, we saw trains departing and running significantly late because of it.
Despite all this we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday as usual. We’ll be back next year. Not in August but still travelling first class. It’s worth it!
Andrew
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Hello Everyone
Andrew raises two important points in his most recent thread.
The Merits of First Class Swiss Travel Pass
Comfort on trains. I had already booked a holiday in Switzerland for July 1972 wheh (in about March) the creation of what was then called the ‘Swiss Holiday Pass’ (Now the Swiss Travel Pass) was announced. I decided to invest in an SHP, and even went as far as indulging myself with First Class. It was the first time I had ever travelled first class on a train.
On all subsequent visits I have invested in a Frist class Swiss [Travel} Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-travel-pass/)
I have never yet had to stand in first class on Swiss trains, but there have been occasions in recent years where I have had to hunt for a seat! The Inter City routes in and out of Bern and Zurich are the ones which are the problem.
First Class on Boats.
This is an important point. The top deck on a boat is (normally) first class only. People in first class get the best views. And it will usually be much less crowded.
(There is first class on the Lake Lugano boats. On Lake Maggiore, where the STP is valid only on the local runs which stay in Switzerland, the ‘local’ Swiss boats are second class only.)
Lake Thun Boats (https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-thun/)
Frankly, the level of service on the Thunersee leaves a lot to be desired.
The boats on Lake Thun are based in Thun. This means that (even in high summer) the first boat from Interlaken West is not until 11 10. The last boat form Thun to Interlaken is at 15 40.
Worse still is the frequency. Whereas the boats on Lake Lucerne run hourly from mid-April to Mid-October, there are some two hour gaps on Lake Thun, even in July and August. No wonder the ships are crowded.
People wanting to visit Thunersee villages.
The Jungfrau Travel Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/jungfrau-travel-pass/) is valid on the Lake Thun boats, but it is NOT valid on the buses and trains along the shores of the lake. The JTP on its own is therefore of very limited value if you want to explore the various very attractive villages on the Thunersee. This point has come up in two recent enquiries to this forum.
Fortunately, one of those enquirers has found an answer to their own problem.
I refer to Shabu’s thread started on April 16 2025. Contribution number 2528640 to this forum. Shabu had a JTP, but wanted to take a detailed look at the Thunersee villages. As you will see from replies 5 and 6, he found the answer.
Visit the booking office at either Interlaken Ost or Interlaken West and buy a Libero 6-zones one day ticket (‘Tageskart’) for zones 700, 701, 720, 730, 740 and 750. That ‘Tageskart’ gives you free travel between Interlaken and Thun on both buses and trains, and it will be valid on both sides of the lake. (It is not valid on the boats!)
Best wishes
Roger
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Personally, I too recommend getting a 1st class rail pass if you are travelling during the peak summer season. However if you have a 2nd class rail pass, it is still possible to upgrade to 1st class by purchasing a day upgrade (that is valid on any connection and routes all day) or a route specific upgrade which is valid from point-to-point. You can find further information here: https://www.myswissalps.com/travel/train/classes/
Regards,
Anna
Thank you Roger and Anna for your considered replies.
Concerning general travel. As usual, this year we had two bases, first in Brunnen and then in our regular place, Spiez. We travelled on many trains and boats over central, western and southern Switzerland and the ‘fullness’ of them was universal. We always got seats together in first class but, as Roger reported, sometimes we had to do a little searching. On longer distance trains there was nearly always standing in second class.
As for Thunersee, as Roger says, the boat timetable is a shadow of what it was. Some years ago one ship (usually Bubenberg) would stay overnight at Interlaken West for an early start the following morning. Incidentally, there was no sign this month of Bubenberg. Perhaps she was in the dry dock. Does anyone know?
The BLS Schiff website now has the following statement:
“Adjustment to the Lake Thun summer timetable from June 30, 2025: Due to long-term staff shortages as a result of accidents outside the company, services 7, 8, 19 and 20 will now run from Tuesday to Sunday. These services will be discontinued on Mondays until the end of the summer timetable on October 12, 2025. Thank you for your understanding.”
One wonders if something is lost in translation where it refers to ‘accidents’.
I can report that, apart from Schilthorn, the other ships on duty were busy but not necessarily crowded. I was puzzled to see Schilthorn on the ‘Breakfast’ run when, for instance, Beatus, appeared to be available.
In my previous message I mentioned another occasion when Schilthorn was full and closed to further passengers – it was in February! This was despite the timetable warning of a full load some time ahead – surely enough time to bring out a different ship or even run two as I have seen in the winter months.
Don’t get me wrong – Switzerland and its superb transport system are still wonderful and in many places even better. It’s just that, at the moment. there are some places where it’s not quite what it used to be.
Andrew
Hello everyone.
Quoting from the English version of the BLS Schifffahrt website Andrew writes
“Adjustment to the Lake Thun summer timetable from June 30, 2025: Due to long-term staff shortages as a result of accidents outside the company, services 7, 8, 19 and 20 will now run from Tuesday to Sunday. These services will be discontinued on Mondays until the end of the summer timetable on October 12, 2025. Thank you for your understanding.”
The German version starts
‘Aufgrund langfristiger Personalausfälle infolge ausserbetrieblicher Unfälle…’
Whatever the cause of the accidents/Unfalle, the fact is that on Mondays the 08 40 and 14 40 sailings from Thun, and the 11 10 and 17 10 sailings form Interlaken are cancelled.
That in turn means that on Mondays the first boat from Interlaken West is not until 12 10(!). Worse still, there is a THREE HOUR gap in the service on Monday afternoons.
The only sensible advice is that visitors should avoid the Thunersee boats on Mondays!
Roger
.
It’s a vicious circle isn’t it?
If we try to use timetabled Thunersee ships on Mondays this summer, the service is irregular and an inadequate ship may be used.
If we don’t use them the company will no doubt argue, “No one’s using them on Mondays so we’ll cut the service even more next year.”
It won’t stop us returning to Switzerland and Lake Thun as long as we can do it.
Andrew
I agree, Andrew
Roger
Hi Andrew,
In regard to your question regarding the Bubenberg, being missing in action. You are correct the ship has been in “dry dock”.
BLS advise tomorrow, the Bubenberg will actually be taking a test drive and a decision will be made as to whether it can be reintegrated into timetable again.
I guess, we will have to wait and see.
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Thank you to Andrew, Roger and Anna for this interesting thread. We are traveling to Switzerland next week and after reading this have decided to go with a first class versus second class BOP. The cost difference is not significant with the Half Fare card, and we had already decided that we would upgrade on any boat rides anyway, so why not go with a little more comfort and not be as concerned about standing room only. As always I have learned so much from this group!
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Yes, with the Swiss Half Fare Card (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/swiss-half-fare-card/), there is a healthy discount to benefit from when purchasing the Berner Oberland Pass 🙂
Just something to bear in mind. With a first class Berner Oberland Pass (https://www.myswissalps.com/travel-ticket/berner-oberland-pass/) the mountain transportation (cable cars and cogwheel trains) do not offer first class.
I agree though, there is not a huge difference in price when purchasing with the above combination.
Have a good start to your trip next week!
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hi Yolanda,
Many thanks for the news re MV Bubenberg.
I think it’s probably my favourite ship in the BLS fleet so it will be good to see it back in service. I look forward to more news.
Kind regards,
Andrew
Most welcome Andrew.
Yes, let’s hope for positive news!
Kind regards,
Yolanda
Hello Andrew,
Thanks for sharing your experience—it’s super helpful! I can confirm, August is always busy here. The story about the guy in Lauterbrunnen is a classic. We locals love that “get-it-done” mentality!
I’m glad to hear you had a great trip despite the crowds. Hope to see you back again soon.
Cheers,
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