[Removed user]

8 January 2020 at 11:48:08 #824830

We’re planning to take the Golden Pass panoramic train from Montreux this spring with two young children under 6. We’d like to reserve VIP seats

As I understand it children under 6 travel free on Swiss trains. Is this true of the Golden Pass train?

Is it possible to reserve a VIP seat for a child who is travelling free? (Ie we only pay for the reservation?)

is it possible (or expected even?) for children under 6 to travel on parents laps without a reservation?

Thanks for any help!

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[rockoyster]

8 January 2020 at 20:04:32 #927668

Hello HJBtravel and Welcome to MySwissAlps,

As far as I know the VIP seats are still not reservable. The coaches are being refurbished. I’m have not heard when the VIP seats will be available. See the blue highlighted note on the right at mob.ch/en/goldenpass/offer/view?id=14.

You can make reservations for the Golden Pass Line (https://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/tickets) including seat selection or at bit.ly/2kaq6Rf. Click the “e” for English language top right of the page. (where it says “Sprachwahl: d i f e”). Then change the class of travel, date of travel and start/end points to suit. Reservations are not compulsory but are recommended on the Zweisimmen to Montreux leg (which is where the Panoramic and Belle Époque trains operate) during peak tourist season.

If you want your children to have their own seat they will need a reservation. They won’t need tickets. The Golden Pass is just like any other regular train in that regard.

[Removed user]

8 January 2020 at 20:41:29 #927669

Thank you for this, so helpful! I didn’t think we could justify the cost if we had to buy tickets for the children as well, so that’s a relief!

As for whether you can book the VIP seats…it might just be a quirk in the online booking system that they won’t be able to honour, but I’ve just reserved the four forward-facing front seats for a Golden Pass train on the Easter weekend. Time will tell I guess!

[rockoyster]

8 January 2020 at 21:19:50 #927670

Well done on getting the seats. When I was in Montbovon in late September I saw the VIP seats occupied. But they were at the tail end if the train heading away from Montreux. Been pondering that every since. 😎

I see the 9:44 out of Montreux in April is showing VIP seats on the seating plan.

[Removed user]

9 January 2020 at 1:10:50 #927671

Recently one trainset has been running with observation cars at both ends. One trainset can cover at least two trains each way per day so it is likely a certain number fo VIP seats will be available

[rockoyster]

9 January 2020 at 1:33:06 #927672

Thanks 1960man. Seeing the MOB booking site only shows two of the 4 carriages available for booking I wonder if the tail-end Charlie carriage on the 9:44 from Montreux in April also has VIP seats look back down at the lake as yo leave?

Supposition only but is it possible the “unbookable” carriages are reserved for tour groups or just unbooked walk up passengers?

[Removed user]

9 January 2020 at 23:25:35 #927673

Yes, interesting thought.

Perhaps it is related to the two different types of observation car

one was:

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20040623P10_Arst152_Zs.jpg

the other was:

commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20040623P15_Ast116_Zs.jpg