MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial Switzerland intercity train transfer help
-
Hi,
I have few doubts regarding the trains
1) How do I identify that a train running between Interlaken and Luzerne is Golden Pass express. SBB site doesn’t show this. It just mentions LUZERN-INTERLAKEN EXPRESS. For route between Montreux and Zweismann it does shows this as Golden Pass Express but not for Zweismann to Interlaken and for Interlaken to Luzern.
2) I will be travelling from Lugano to Zermatt -> Montreux -> Interlaken via Zweismann. Is there any other scenic train besides Golden Express that I can take on STP (considering that I will take 8 day STP)
3) From Venice I will be taking a early morning train to Lugano via Milan. The Venice to Milan connection is via Italo and from there on Euro City. Is that covered in STP ?
4) What is the fastest way to go from zermatt from Lugano in STP ?
Thanks
-
1. The only train running between Interlaken and Luzern is the one you mention. It forms one leg of the Golden Pass Line. Zweisimmen to Interlaken you can take any train and still be on the Golden Pass Line.
2. If you want to go via Montreux, no. If you want a quicker scenic route go Zermatt to Interlaken via Kandersteg.
3. Your STP will cover travel from the Swiss border at Chiasso. You need an Italian ticket to Chiasso. See http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/italy
4. The fastest way to get from Lugano will be revealed if you use the SBB Timetable (http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable). The fastest way to get from Milan to Zermatt is not via Lugano.
Thanks rockoyster. My journey is Venice->Lugano(stay here)->Zermatt->Montreux->Interlaken->Lucernce->Zurich.
I have finalised this and made some stay bookings. I checked at almost takes 5 hrs from Lugano to zermatt so I might have to leave early from there.
I am also planning to buy 8 day STP for my trip. Do you suggest that I should look once point to point tickets or this will definately provide saving as STP will also cover Pilatus, 50% on titlis and 50% Jungfraujoch
Hi Juknawanders,
If you entire itinerary is still 7 days and with a lot of traveling (I read your first thread), then point to point tickets will be too expensive, and less convenient than a Swiss Travel Pass. If you want to calculate this in detail, you can do so as explained here: http://www.myswissalps.com/tr ain/ticketspasses/prac tical/chooserailpass
Please see here for what the pass includes: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isstravelpass/validity. As you can see there it’s 25% off for Jungfraujoch for the last leg and free traveling for the first leg, so not exactly 50% off. Pilatus is 50% off. Rigi is free, for example, as well as Schilthorn.
Just for fun, I created a “personal timetable” from SBB for your planned trip from Lugano to Zermatt.
There are many options and it will take about six hours whatever route you choose. So it’s very “doable” from after breakfast in Lugano to before dinner in Luzern!
And whatever option you choose expect some magnificent scenery!
Consider, perhaps, taking a lunch break somewhere along the way. The trains generally run every hour.
If it’s a transit trip and you have your luggage you should be fine. If you’re travelling via Domodossola (via the FART route), the change of trains at Domodossola does take several minutes so it’s best not to waste any time (as I discovered on my 2015 trip!).
I find the “personal timetable” option very handy in my Swiss travel planning. It’s rarely mentioned on here but well worth using.
I would go via Locarno and Domodossola using this route http://www.myswissalps.com/ce ntovalli as mentioned by Gunzel.
Regarding question 1:
Current tourist branding can be confusing
The true Goldenpass is just the MOB railway Zweisimmen – Montreux.
The Luzern – Interlaken railway is actually the Brünig Pass line operated by Zentralbahn (ZB), which dubs the regular trains “Luzern – Interlaken Express’. It’s OK but not spectacular scenery
A few facts about the Montreux – Zweisimmen railway – ie the MOB (Montreux-Oberland – Bernois):
The Golden Pass is the touristic branding for the Montreux – Oberland Bernois (MOB) railway but after a few years of favouring ‘Goldenpass services’, the company decided it was losing its tradition and has reverted to putting the Chemin de Fer Montreux – Oberland Bernois name on publicity and train coaches.
You will get roughly the same scenic experience form any train on the MOB and reservation is not obligatory
Here is the timetable PDF for the MOB:
http://www.fahrplanfelder.ch/ fileadmin/fap_pdf_fiel ds/2019/120.pdf
It is very scenic, but the MOB route is far from being the most spectacular (although any dubbing of this nature is going to subjective and personal) in Switzerland.
Thank you all. Gunzel the personal time table is option just too good. The route I assume you and rockoyster mentioned is this
7.56 Bellinzona 8.02 S 20
8.29 Locarno 8.29 Walk (4 Min.)
8.33 Locarno FART 8.50
10.36 Domodossola (I) 10.48
11.16 Brig 11.16 Walk (7 Min.)
11.23 Brig Bahnhofplatz 11.27
This route will be covered under STP ?
I will be reaching Lugano from Venice via Milan. Till Milan it will be Italo. After that it is EuroCity #158. Do I need to buy the tickets form EuroCity in advanced like Italo(which has dynamic pricing) or buying them at counter will work ?
Hi Juknawanders,
Yes, all of that route is included. You can download the map from the link in my previous post.
I would buy the ticket from Milan to the border (Chiasso) in advance. The price at the counter will most likely be higher. Please see http://www.myswissalps.com/tr aintickets/italy/price.
I was trying to get the pricing for seat reservation for Golden Pass express http://www.raileurope.co.in. But the raileurope site always shows error to me “Schedules were not found. For longer journeys (more than 2 connections) it is sometimes necessary to break it down. Please check our interactive map to assist you. If you have checked your travel dates and tried dividing your itinerary no reservations may be available for that route or trains may be sold out”
I selected Montreux -> Zweisimmen 27/01/19 – 7 AM
You can make reservations for the Golden Pass Line (http://www.myswissalps.com/go ldenpass/tickets) including seat selection 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.
Thanks rockoyster that helped. Just curious what is Panoramic written in the Coach picture ?
Big windows.
- The thread ‘Switzerland intercity train transfer help’ is closed to new replies.
