Glacier Express – Swiss Travel Pass upgrade

  • NannyNorman
    Participant
    56 posts
    19 May 2022 at 17:26:42 #827231

    Dear Sir/Mam,

    I am planning to book the Glacier Express on July 22(Friday), If I go with first class do I need a Swiss travel Pass first class also? I am going to get a Swiss travel pass the regular only.

    I am coming from Interlaken OST and catch the glacier from brig to chur, then back to interlaken.

    Is the Brig to Chur will cover the highlight of glacier express or i will miss some beautiful scenery (if i will start from zermatt to st. Moritz)

    Thank you

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    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    19 May 2022 at 18:03:25 #942062

    Hi NannyNorman,

    we just had a similar question today, please have look at http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/1st-or-2nd-class-swiss-travel-pass-1. That might be useful for you too.

    In brief: yes, you need a 1st class Swiss Travel Pass if you would like to travel 1st class. But you can upgrade your 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass for a single ride such as the Glacier Express, see “Traveling 1st class with a 2nd class pass or ticket” at http://www.myswissalps.com/train/practical/2nd1stclass.

    You can read about the sections of the Glacier Express route here: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/gettingthere.

    What is your plan, how are you going back to Interlaken from Chur?

    Ildiko

    NannyNorman
    Participant
    56 posts
    19 May 2022 at 18:19:58 #942063

    Thank you for your help, I will take a regular train from Chur back to interlaken. Do you have any suggestion?

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    19 May 2022 at 22:54:25 #942064

    I presume Ildiko was just checking that you understood that the ‘regular train’ Chur – Interlaken would be via Zurich and Bern, another 3 hour journey.

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    19 May 2022 at 23:48:12 #942065

    Brig to Chur covers some of the best bits of the ‘Glacier Express’ (all also viewable from regular regional trains on the same line). See my personal explanation as follows:

    Glacier Express

    The Glacier (and Bernina) Express trains are special trains on the RhB and MGB lines which run in addition to normal ordinary service trains. The ‘panoramic’ coaches on these trains require a reservation or supplementary fare to be paid in addition to the normal fare. In all cases ordinary trains can be travelled on on the RhB/MGB network without paying any additional fare.

    In all cases if you choose (or find yourself on) an ordinary train you won’t miss the scenery as all Swiss train carriages on these lines have large windows giving good views.

    The Glacier Express runs East – West across the southern edge of Switzerland, so it is not ideal for a day trip from bases such as Interlaken and Luzern. The six ‘best bits’ of the Glacier Express are listed below.

    Travelling West – East, the full Glacier Express route by ‘section’ and the key ‘famous/spectacular’ zones are as follows:

    Zermatt – Brig

    Brig – Andermatt

    Superzone 1 : Grengiols viaduct over ravine, then ascent via spiral tunnel

    Andermatt – Disentis

    Superzone 2 : Andermatt to Naetschen incline: loop the loops up a steep mountainside from Andermatt

    Superzone 3: Oberalp lake, Oberalp Pass eastern descent

    Disentis – Chur

    Superzone 4: Ruinalta (Swiss Rhine Gorge)

    Chur – St Moritz

    Superzone 5: Filisur – Berguen: Landwasser viaduct (the most iconic bridge on Swiss railways); spiral tunnel up from Filisur towards Bergun

    Superzone 6: Berguen – Preda : spirals and loops, railway loops back on itself several times so you can see where you are about to go, and then look back to where you have just come from

    .

    NannyNorman
    Participant
    56 posts
    20 May 2022 at 6:31:21 #942066

    Ok, Thank you

    NannyNorman
    Participant
    56 posts
    20 May 2022 at 6:34:58 #942067

    So, Chur to St Moritz still have an amazing scenic view, if i will continue my journey to st moritz from Brig, i have still a time to go back to interlaken by regular train from st moritz?

    Thank you

    Anna
    Moderator
    6279 posts
    20 May 2022 at 9:22:15 #942068

    Hi NannyNorman,

    Travelling on the Glacier Express from Brig to St Moritz, then St Moritz to Interlaken all in one day is going to be rather long journey. The journey from Brig to St Moritz takes about 6.5 hours. St. Moritz to Interlaken via Zurich about 5 hours. Fairly doable if you don’t mind spending almost the entire day on a train. Optionally you could spend one night in St Moritz and do a little sightseeing.

    Regards,

    Anna

    NannyNorman
    Participant
    56 posts
    20 May 2022 at 10:20:29 #942069

    Thank you Anna, I dont mind travelling on train, what time the last glacier express will arrive in st moritz? Can i still catch a train going to zurich (so i can get off at interlaken)?

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    20 May 2022 at 11:58:35 #942070

    As I have already mentioned the Glacier Express runs East – West across the southern edge of Switzerland, so it is not ideal for a day trip from bases such as Interlaken and Luzern, which are ‘detached’ from the Glacier Express route (the northern part of the high Alps gets in the way!)

    Extending to St Moritz and coming all the way back to Interlaken is not a good idea as it would take 14 hours. St Moritz and Graubunden/Engadine deserves a few days or more to be fully appreciated.

    Sfarns216
    Participant
    13 posts
    20 May 2022 at 13:20:46 #942071

    Thank you for this, 1960man. Question: is there a preferred side of the train to be seated on, going West to East? We will be traveling from Zermatt to St. Morris in August. We do not have our tickets or seat reservations yet – do you know if we can specify a side? Although I just realized that doesn’t 1st class have a 2 and 1 layout so we won’t have a choice? (Yes, 1st class definitely, since my husband is 6’4” and appreciates more leg room.) Thanks for sharing your knowledge! I love these forums!

    NannyNorman
    Participant
    56 posts
    20 May 2022 at 13:30:01 #942072

    Thank you very much, I will plan if i stay overnight in st moritz and back to interlaken the following day

    Anna
    Moderator
    6279 posts
    20 May 2022 at 14:04:03 #942073

    Hi again,

    The Glacier Express train leaves Brig in the morning at around 10.15am and arrives in St. Moritz about 16.30. There are several connections from St Moritz that will get you back to Interlaken by 2300. You can check the train schedules on the SBB timetable.

    Regards,

    Anna

    NannyNorman
    Participant
    56 posts
    20 May 2022 at 17:25:13 #942074

    Thank you Anna

    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    21 May 2022 at 11:34:36 #942075

    Hi sfarns216,

    The preferred sides of the trains are mentioned for each section here: https://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/gettingthere. Unfortunately you can’t specify sides when booking seats (https://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress/tickets). Some platforms allow you to pick particular seats, but the driving direction of the coach is never indicated. You can theoretically switch sides/seats on a normal train without seat reservations, but there’s no guarantee there will be enough empty seats to do so. Don’t worry though, views on either side will be lovely!

    Sfarns216
    Participant
    13 posts
    21 May 2022 at 12:35:51 #942076

    Thank you, Arno, for your input. I figured seating anywhere would be good, but thought I would ask … just in case. I’m just very excited to be going to Switzerland (finally!) so I know I will enjoy it all.

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