8889 posts
Hello Pierre,
You have a number of choices. The two main scenic routes are the Golden Pass Line (http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass) between Montreux and Lucerne or the Glacier Express (http://www.myswissalps.com/gl acierexpress) route between Brig and Chur.
Use the SBB Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable) to see which route suits you available time best. If you are not familiar with using the timetable it will pay to first read the instructions on that page.
Reservations are mandatory on the Glacier Express although you can follow the same route on regular trains for added flexibility. You could even just go as far as Andermatt and head to Zurich from there but then you would miss the Oberalp Pass which is one of the better parts of the route.
72625 posts
Hi Pierre,
>> Is the train from Montreux to Zurich via Lausanne a worthwhile scenic train trip? Or would it be nicer to go to Zurich from Brig
Trains from Montreux to Zürich via Lausanne first travel along Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) between the lake and the Lavaux vineyard terraces, and that part of it is very scenic, but only lasts about half-an-hour.
After that, the train travels through the flatter parts of the country, which are pleasant enough, but are more heavily populated with larger towns and cities. In my opinion that route can’t be compared to the far more scenic mountain routes that travel through countryside with more of a traditional village/small town character to complement the beauty of the mountains, valleys and lakes.
If you are travelling with luggage on the fast route, try to avoid the commuter peak travel times out of Montreux and Lausanne.
Alpenrose