6274 posts
Hi Hudspith,
Thanks for the info.
Yes, the Eiger Express is set to open on 5 December 2020, transporting guests from the terminal in Grindelwald Grund to the Eigergletscher station in 15 minutes. From the Eigergletscher station, it takes just 47 minutes to get to Jungfraujoch. If you’re interested in more details, more info are available here: v-bahn.jungfrau.ch/en/v-bahn/eiger-express
It’s been a challenging year indeed and we’re all hoping things will get back to normal eventually. I will definitely be sharing my experience when and if I get the chance to try out this new cable car once it is operational.
Regards,
Anna
265 posts
Thanks for posting that. When we were there Sept of 2019 we saw all the activity (including helicopters) working on it.
15471 posts
Hi everyone,
It’s an impressive project! The Eiger Express is part of the “V-Bahn” project. The other part is the rebuilt Männlichen gondola route. Both cable cars depart from the same location, hence the V-shape. Everything about the classic and new route to Jungfraujoch, including a map, can be found here: http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfraujoch/gettingthere.
604 posts
Thank you all for the most impressive links and information! Only the Swiss would be able to complete such an ambitious mountain construction project in such a short time frame.
There is a description on the official site of “The Wengernalp Railway is running six new panorama trains every 30 minutes on the Lauterbrunnen-Kleine Scheidegg route. From 2021, a Wengen shuttle will be available.”
Does anyone know what they mean by “a Wengen shuttle”? I’m assuming that the new train cars will continue to use the existing rail tracks connecting Lauterbrunnen-Wengen-Kleine Scheidegg? Or is that an incorrect assumption?
Positively cannot WAIT for freedom of travel once again!!!
6274 posts
Hi Kim11,
The Eiger Express brings travellers straight to the Eigergletscher station from the Grindelwald terminal in 15 minutes. When the Eiger Express becomes operational, it will shift the flow of travellers/ passengers using the cog railway (which is currently the main transportation on the Lauterbrunnen – Kleine Scheidegg route). From my understanding, the Wengenalp Bahn plans to introduce short services between Wengen and the Eigergletscher station to cater for this possible change. We’ll try and update this information again once it becomes available.
Regards,
Anna
107 posts
Hi Hudspith!
I had to laugh when I read your original message, expressing your ‘daily fix’ of Switzerland, via webcams!! I share that with you!! I long so much to go back to Switzerland that I also look at webcams of the mountains (I love the ones of Mürren) nearly every day when I get up. Then later in the day, when it is afternoon (for me in Montreal), I sometimes see the Alps turn into a beautiful dark orange-pink, as the sun is setting…
Thanks for the info on the new Eiger Express!
Take care,
Monica, Montréal, Québec, Canada
604 posts
Ah, thanks for the explanation, Anna. It sounds as thought this new service will probably use the existing tracks (so Wengen-Allmend-Wengernalp-KleineScheidegg-Eigergletscher) but perhaps run more frequently. I believe that route now only runs twice an hour and, during some parts of the day, only once an hour.
A huge benefit for Wengen fans is that this change will likely drive the large tour groups that base in Interlaken through Grindelwald Grund on their trips to Jungfraujoch. That should help ease some of the peak time crowding one sees in Wengen. My guess is that it could even drive more of the large group tour overnight business to Grindelwald rather than Wengen. If that’s the case, it is not good news for Wengen hotels. But demand there is so strong that hopefully it won’t hurt their businesses much. That would be a real shame after the long effects that COVID 19 is having on the tourist industry everywhere
79 posts
Thanks for the updates….all my plans for 2020 had to be cancelled, given the Covid situation I hope to be there in 2022
72625 posts
The bad news is it will make it even easier for hoards of people to visit an environmentally sensitive area…
72625 posts
There will be no need to build yet another railway line. It will just be a modified train service on the normal WAB line. The panoramic trains already exist. I presume the plan is to put them mainly on the Wengen side as they will not be needed on the Grindelwald side due to the new cable car.