Bernina Express and Glacier Express

There are comments that a regular train :
- "does the same route, see the same thing";
- except: dun get to travel in tourist coaches with panorama windows
- no commentaries.
- less crowded ... can take pictures/videos without reflection from the windows (windows opened).
- There are also open top flat-bed train where one can move to and back to the enclose coaches.

Though I am incline to reserve the 1st class train to get stay away from crowded coaches. I still hope for anyone to provide insights, and help on these queries :

1. Travel on GE/Be in Aug 2010, is it a peak or warm season for GE/BE ?
2. Is the GE/BE a 100% pure tourist train ? Are regular coaches attached to the same train of GE / BE ?
3. If the regular coaches are attached to the GE/BE, one can just hop on those (with a Swiss Pass) without reservation right ?
4. Is the open top flat bed coaches present in every train including the GE/BE ?

5. For BE, my trip is Lugano ->Bus- > Tirano ->BE-> St Moritz. Since the bus starts early and once per day, will need to reserve the bus. Is the reservation done as a "bundle for both the bus and BE" or is a-la-carte basis ?

6. On the cute wine glass with tilted base(used to serve wine on GE with a nice Switzerland cross on it). How do I get to keep one of it ? Any idea how much does it retail for ?

Thanks

Once again thanks for the respond. I am glad I got a reply because I believe my questions are really not the usual questions people ponder.

I have a another question though.

The GE takes 1 day to get to Zermatt. Along the route, how long does the GE stops at each train stations ? Is there enough time to quickly grab hold of a lunch for consumption on board. Though the GE lunch is a spread, but does not really appeal to me. A simple fish and chips plus a beer is enough to make me a happy man. If there is, any recommendations on which station to get good food would be welcomed and accepted.

Hi Libbis, the Glacier Express doesn't stop that long at most stations. It will be too short to get out and have a lunch, but of course it's possible to get off of the first Glacier Express, take your time at the railway station of your choice and then get on the second Glacier Express of that day. In summer, generally two Glacier Express trains leave each day with an interval of about one hour. By checking the timetables (which can be found through the Glacier Express website) you'll find out how long the breaks between both Glacier Express trains will be.

Especially at the larger stations of Chur, Brig and Visp you'll find a restaurant. There's one at the station of Andermatt, too, where you'll arrive around lunchtime. If you decide to do it this way, please mind that you can't reserve seats for the entire route in one time. Instead, you will have to make reservations for the first part in the first train and, separately, for the second part in the second train.

Just to be sure: are you aware that dining cars are available in the Glacier Express as well? Warm meals are served here, so you could also reserve seats in the dining car. Meals may include pasta and simple meat or fish dishes with chips, baked potatoes, or (even better) Swiss Rösti. Having lunch in a Glacier Express, with a view of the splendid landscape, can definitely be recommended! You'll find more information on the Glacier Express website under the header 'Offers'.

Thanks for that valuable information. I will just settle my meal on the train, like you say, it is an experience itself. And thanks again for bringing up so many meal choices.

Have a nice day.

please help me....
i need to know how much is the price for bernina express
here's my tentative

im going on 17thjune2011 from moscow to zurich
17/6 : moscow - zurich
zurich - interlaken
21/6 : interlaken-zurich
21 @ 22...im taking bernina express
the problem is...
from zurich@interlaken...how do i take bernina express....from what point & by what means of transportation....
secondly, what is the price for bernina express (can i probably but it single trip?)

im thinking of stopping by to rome@venice from switzerland, after riding bernina express, what is the nearest city to get to rome@venice

thanks in advance for helping me. i hope you will reply this post as soon as possible. :-)

Hi Annika,

Understand that the Swiss Flexi Pass covers the Bernina Express Train (Chur to Tirano), and the same pass also cover the Bernina Express Bus (Tirano to Lugano), right? For seat reservation, we only need to pay CHF 12 for Bernina Express Bus, and CHF 12 for the Bernina Express Train?

Seat Reservation.
www.myswissalps.com/train/reservations

Bernina Express Bus
http://www.rhb.ch/index.php?id=1875?&L=4

That's correct Bill.

Thanks Arno. :-)