8889 posts
G’day Geripacker,
You detour to Gruyères via Montbovon. See this trip report.
You would want to send your luggage from Lauterbrunnen or Interlaken I should think but SBB keep changing their luggage shipping offerings so often that I have lost track of how they work. See http://www.myswissalps.com/train/practical/luggage.
Just use the SBB timetable to go from Montreux to Zermatt via the most direct route. Change at Visp.
I can’t lay my hands on the Ticino Ticket coverage map just now, but it is extensive. In the meantime see http://www.ticino.ch/en/ticket/partner/public-transport.html. The Centovalli to Domodossola is not covered. You can take a boat from Locarno to Stresa. Much more fun I would think – unless you are are keen on ticking off another scenic railway. 😉
I don’t know about 2 day Lake Maggiore boat ticket of which you speak. Sorry.
Here’s a trip report covering Lugano and surrounds.
PS Here’s the Ticino Ticket transport network coverage. I seem to recall it gives you 25% off a Lake Lugano Day Ticket.
72625 posts
Hi Geripacker,
in addition to Rockoyster’s great answer, you can read about
On Lake Maggiore (http://www.myswissalps.com/lakemaggiore) I know only about the Holiday Card, that can be bought for 3 or 7 days. If you go to http://www.myswissalps.com/boatlakemaggiore/tickets, scroll down to the end of the page and see under “More information”, you’ll find the link with the prices and the timetable (in Italian and English).
If you have time, do not miss the Brissago Islands: http://www.myswissalps.com/brissagoislands.
Learn about the Ticino Ticket at http://www.myswissalps.com/ticino/travel.
Ildiko
Also see:
- Where to buy the panorama train tickets (if you do not have a valid rail pass) and seat reservations:
8889 posts
Oops,I left off the network coverage map – bit.ly/2PrJnOh.
72625 posts
“We would like to detour on that day up to Gruyere & Broc for chocolate & cheese. Which station do we detour from?”
The so called ‘Golden Pass line’ is (until next year) a full size BLS railway train from Interlaken to Zweisimmen, then a metre-gauge MOB (Montreux Oberland Bernois) railway train Zweisimmen – Montreux, via Montbovon
At Montbovon, the MOB railway meets the TPF (Transports Publics Fribourgeois) railway, which serves Gruyeres and Broc (change at Bulle for Broc Fabrique), so you need to get off the MOB train at Montbovon. Depending on which MOB train you get from Zweisimmen, the time between trains at Montbovon will be either 12 minutes or 23 minutes.
Coming back from Broc Fabrique, the TPF trains depart Broc Fabrique at xx.32 past each hour (change at Bulle) and then the Bulle – Montbovon trains depart Gruyeres at xx.59 past each hour; after the change back to MOB at Montbovon, you will arrive at Montreux at xx.13 past each hour (example: Broc Fabrique 15.32, Gruyeres 15.59, Montreux 17.13
Note that Broc Fabrique station is right at the chocolate factory (otherwise it wouldn’t exist), but Gruyeres station is some distance from the town, but next to the cheese museum
72625 posts
“Montreux? We then travel to Zermatt 2n, suggestions on train route to take?”
There is only one route from Montreux to Zermatt; the standard main line trains from Geneva to Visp call at Montreux. From Visp you take the Visp Zermatt railway to Zermatt.
72625 posts
G’day Rockoyster, it has taken 2 days to read your wonderful posts & follow all the links! Very clear how to travel from Lauterbrunnen to Montbovon on regular train, detour to Gruyere with luggage. The luggage transfer system hopeless (2 days) or very expensive for express! A forum link suggested contacting Gruyere Information Centre, & they quickly responded with an offer to store our luggage & also revealed lockers are available at both the cheese & Chocolate factories. Late afternoon we will collect luggage and return back to Montbovon & board the Golden Pass Train to Montreux. Have added many ideas of how to fill our days in Montreux & Locarno/Lugano. Not sure if it will be bad or great that our trip to Bellinzona (detour during transfer from Lugano to Locarno) coincides with the Jazz Festival. I also have a habit of falling off trails, so will be careful😀
72625 posts
Hi IIdko, thanks for the Lake Maggiore tips, we will take the Centrovalli train to transfer from Locarno to Stresa for 2 nights. Will do the short boat/train/bus/walk trips to Swiss villages close to Locarno including Brissago Islands, then on our last full day in Stresa take the boat round trip for selected Italian villages, any favourites? We have until late afternoon on our final day to explore Stresa before flying out of MXP. 🤞🏾hoping the virus is gone by then.
72625 posts
Thanks 1960man, I assume there is a bus from the Gruyere station to the Cheese factory, or how far is the walk? I have all other transport details for Switzerland sorted.
8889 posts
The cheese factory is about 50 metres from the station. From there the village is about a 10-15 minute stroll or there is a bus.