Bernina Express or local train, price and views

  • Removed user
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    72625 posts
    9 March 2020 at 4:40:10 #825441

    Hi, I am planning to take Bernina Express but I read somewhere here that its better to take local train as it offers the same view along the route. i have swiss travel pass but i really want to save some money without purchasing the seat reservation. and if can take local train, is the experience would be the same with taking bernina express? I would appreciate if can advise which one is better. And also if i’m from zermatt and planning to take glacier express to chur and then from chur take bernina express is that possible? and i am planning to take only day trip back to either basel, lucern or zermatt. kindly advise if this is possible. thank you so much.

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    Victoria
    Participant
    64 posts
    9 March 2020 at 5:32:18 #931318

    Hi zalzali,

    I am planning to follow the Bernina Express route, but on regular trains, in September. The one departure a day from Chur of the Bernina Express does not fit my schedule very well so I decided to use regular trains.

    I found this thread – http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/checking-train-timetables – very useful in working out my itinerary. If you check the timetables I think you will find that the Bernina Express route (Chur to Tirano) is not really a sensible day trip from any of the places you listed.

    Maybe next time?

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    9 March 2020 at 7:09:19 #931319

    Hi victoria, thank you for your reply. are you saying that if take local train would be cheaper than bernina express? and is the view same with taking bernina express?

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    9 March 2020 at 10:01:04 #931320

    Hello Zal,

    As I remember you stating in your other thread that you will hold a Swiss Travel Pass the only surcharge for the Bernina Express compared to regular trains is the mandatory seat reservation, which you don’t need on regular trains. The journey itself is covered by your pass, on any train.
    http://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/validity

    The other difference is, that only the Bernina Express does the route WITHOUT you having to change, on regular trains you have to change twice, normally. If you use the timetable I provided in the other thread you will see one train labelled with PE, THAT’S the only Bernina Express train, all the others are regulars, indicating where you would have to change.

    And here’s the thread I’m referring to.
    http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/4-day-trips-from-basel-including-bernina-express

    Best,
    Steph

    Victoria
    Participant
    64 posts
    9 March 2020 at 10:19:30 #931321

    No, what I am saying is that I don’t think the Bernina Express is a practical option given your other plans. If you check the train timetables you will be able to see how difficult it is to do as a day trip from any of the places you mention.

    Annika
    Moderator
    7116 posts
    10 March 2020 at 6:04:14 #931322

    Hi zalzali! In addition to the helpful information already provided, I suggest that you read ‘Regular trains versus Bernina Express’ at http://www.myswissalps.com/berninaexpress.

    Removed user
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    10 March 2020 at 6:13:25 #931323

    Thank you for the reply Annika 🙂 i think i’m going to take regular trains instead. My main concern is can i still take photograph outside the window? And can the window be open? I saw on facebook of this video that she boarded the bernina train and i would like to know if the regular train window can be open? You may refer to facebook link http://www.facebook.com/409685972400374/posts/2695465773822371/

    Victoria
    Participant
    64 posts
    10 March 2020 at 8:45:52 #931324

    See http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/bernina-express-still-operating-with-coronavirus.

    If I was you I would stick to your original plan to go to Gimmelwald rather than to Tirano.

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