Need help with Gotthard Panorama seat reservations

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    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    25 May 2017 at 7:51:55 #863774

    Hi Vikram,

    Good to hear you contacted them too! The Gotthard Panorama Express is new as of 2017. Perhaps they will make changes in the coming years. The best thing to do here at MySwissAlps is to post a trip report about your trip to Switzerland, including the Gotthard Panorama Express. Then all your experiences are in one place and easy to find for others.

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    25 May 2017 at 11:20:26 #863775

    Hy,

    There is another option to go from Luzern to Locarno with Swiss Travel Pass ? I don’t want to pay extra for reservation for Gotthard Panorama Express.

    Thanks.

    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    25 May 2017 at 11:32:12 #863776

    Hi Pisicaana,

    Welcome to MySwissAlps! Sure, there are regular trains on the same route as well. All free with the Swiss Travel Pass. Please see:

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    25 May 2017 at 15:29:58 #863777

    Vikram – Probably because they’re so hard to book! I’ve had no problem with the other trains. And it’s SO expensive! We’re going to do the tunnel instead. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and experience!

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    26 May 2017 at 8:56:24 #863778

    >> And it’s SO expensive! We’re going to do the tunnel instead.

    Why not travel along the Gotthard Panorama Express route on normal trains that don’t require reservations? The cost is the same as going through the Gotthard-Basistunnel, and you don’t miss out on the scenery. You can buy a ticket online on the SBB site, or get it at the station in Luzern on the day of travel.

    Alpenrose

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    26 May 2017 at 10:09:03 #863779

    Hi All,

    I am going to travel Swiss for a month from Jun4 to July 4. So I am going to buy STP for 15 days two times.

    After I read several messages about Panoramic Trains, I am getting confused. As I have learned online, I can take Panoramic Trains with Swiss Travel Pass without paying an extra charge, but I need to make a reservation for my seat.

    Please correct me if I have a wrong information.

    Thanks!

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    26 May 2017 at 10:13:47 #863780

    Yes, you are correct.

    Everyone must make a seat reservation (at an extra cost) for the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Gotthard Panorama Express. Click on the ‘packages’ tab on each link for details on making seat reservations on those trains.

    The Golden Pass panoramic train does not require reservations but it is a good idea in the summer to ensure you have a seat – especially between Zweisimmen and Montreux.

    Lucas

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    26 May 2017 at 10:19:53 #863781

    Panoramic trains which fare can be covered with are Golden Pass Line , Bernina Express, Glacier Express, Gotthard Panorama Express, Voralpen Express.

    All of those trains are free with Swiss Travel Pass.

    Am I correct?

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    26 May 2017 at 10:23:26 #863782

    Yes, the train fare is free with the Swiss Travel Pass but reservations are extra (and mandatory) on the trains I mentioned above.

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    26 May 2017 at 10:25:10 #863783

    Hi Lucas,

    Do I pay for making reservation?

    Then What does it mean Panoramic Trains are free with STP if I have to pay for seat reservation?

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    26 May 2017 at 10:33:04 #863784

    Yes, you must pay for the reservation – you can do this on the train links from my previous post.

    In Europe you must always pay for the train fare (to be allowed on the train). You can then pay extra to reserve a specific seat. This is useful on long train rides and to ensure you don’t have to stand in case the train is very busy.

    In Switzerland reservations are extremely uncommon and not needed 98% off the time on regional trains. But they are mandatory on the panoramic trains here (I think they don’t want people standing on these trains and blocking views etc (these trains are more about the experience then just getting to another town/village).

    So the Swiss Travel Pass covers the train fare but not the reservation fare on these trains. In all cases you can travel by regional trains (non-panoramic) for free with the Swiss Travel Pass (and on the same route as the panoramic train) and not pay for a reservation if you want to avoid the cost.

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    26 May 2017 at 10:33:49 #863785

    Do people stand in normal trains when there is no available seat?

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    26 May 2017 at 10:39:05 #863786

    Yes, but it isn’t too common in Switzerland and you usually can’t reserve seats on regular Swiss trains either. The longest I’ve had to stand in Switzerland is 20 minutes before the train stopped and someone got off and I took their seat – and that was once I think in the last year.

    I only reserve on long international trains where I don’t want to risk standing for 5 or 10 hours.

    Lucas

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    26 May 2017 at 10:50:45 #863787

    Thanks! Lucas,

    It seems that I must pay for seat reservation every time when I break down the route to stay one or two nights in the middle of Panoramic train routes.

    Is it still worthy to buy STP for 15 days two times for my one month trip?

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    26 May 2017 at 12:47:13 #863788

    Hyanggy88 How would I indicate I want that train route rather than the tunnel?

    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    26 May 2017 at 13:04:48 #863789

    If you enter Göschenen as the via-station in the timetable you’ll get the scenic route (myswissalps.com/gottha rdpanoramaexpress/gett ingthere). Price wise there is no difference between the scenic route and the new long tunnel.

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    26 May 2017 at 16:11:38 #863790

    Yes, you do need to pay for reservations for each train you board – most people do not get on and off these panoramic trains though.

    I still think it is worth getting the two 15 day Swiss Travel Passes regardless of the number of reservations you make on during your stay (you still save on train fares). This is assuming you plan to make good use of the trains and boats etc on all 30 days.

    If not, you could buy a Swiss Travel Pass Flex pass for 15 days (for use on your 15 most expensive travel days and use a Swiss Half Fare Card to get 50% off other trips you make. This requires you to do some math to see if it is worth it – we have an excel sheet here to help if you choose to!

    In the end, if it is in your budget and you are traveling daily, then your original plan is still a good one.

    Lucas

    ProfRob
    Participant
    12 posts
    26 May 2017 at 21:01:53 #863791

    I also think there’s a problem with the booking site for the GP. I went through the reservation process, paid with a c/c, but no confirmation was received.

    I waited a day and checked with my c/c company, but the reservation didn’t go through despite all the steps being followed.

    So now I’m going from Berne to Bellinzona via the Glacier Express from Zermatt instead of the Gotthard Panorama!

    Arno
    Moderator
    15471 posts
    27 May 2017 at 13:17:11 #863792

    Hi ProfRob,

    Where did you try to buy it? As far as I know it should work fine through the websites listed here, particularly http://www.happyrail.com/en/p ass/europe/switzerland /panoramic-trains.

    ProfRob
    Participant
    12 posts
    27 May 2017 at 13:35:44 #863793

    Through the CFF/SBB website. Chose my seats, paid and then nothing. After a day, I sent an email and received a reply from CFF/SBB customer service saying it didn’t go through. I wonder if this is a common occurrence.

    I did use HappyRail for a reservation on the Golden Pass line which went through. Thanks for the great forum!

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