Panoramic trains covered by Swiss Travel Pass?

  • Prarthna94
    Participant
    2 posts
    3 August 2022 at 9:08:46 #827961

    Hello,

    I would like to ask if the panorama rails like Golden Pass are free with the Swiss Pass?

    If no, how much discount do we get on the Swiss Pass?

    Thanks!

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    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    3 August 2022 at 9:50:07 #945110

    As a tourist you should use the phrase ‘Swiss Travel Pass‘ (STP) – not to be confused with ‘Swiss Pass‘ which is an ‘all round’ pass aimed at Swiss residents’.

    Please remember that about 95% of railway routes in Switzerland are scenic, so you don’t always have to travel on the ‘famous’ panoramic trains to see great views.

    Of the ‘famous’ panoramic trains, the situation is as follows:

    Golden Pass : travel is free, seat reservation (not obligatory) may cost a small fee)

    Glacier Express and Bernina Express: travel is free, seat reservation (obligatory) costs an extra fee. The railways lines traversed by these two special trains can also be ridden on normal regional trains free with STP

    Voralpen Express (pre-Alps express): free, reservation not obligatory

    Gotthard Panorama Express – 1st class only, supplementary fee payable: Much better to travel (free with STP) on the hourly regular brand new trains called Treno Gottardo

    Prarthna94
    Participant
    2 posts
    3 August 2022 at 10:25:58 #945111

    Thank you so much! That was indeed helpful!

    Arno
    Moderator
    15484 posts
    3 August 2022 at 11:52:41 #945112

    Hi Prarthna94!

    In addition: if you want to check further details of the Swiss Travel Pass validity, you can find a list of covered routes/activities and a downloadable validity map here: https://www.myswissalps.com/swisstravelpass/validity.

    Details about train reservations, if applicable, can be found on the “Ticket” sections of each of our panoramic train pages, for example here: https://www.myswissalps.com/goldenpass/tickets. All of those pages can be found at http://www.myswissalps.com/activities/scenictrips/train.

    Most Swiss trains don’t require reservations: http://www.myswissalps.com/train/reservations. The Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Gotthard Panorama Express are the main exceptions:

    If you consider regular trains/boats on such routes, you can read the sections “Regular trains (and boats) versus….” at the below pages:

    Coni
    Participant
    8 posts
    5 August 2022 at 2:03:15 #945113

    This is useful information. We will be visiting Switzerland next May/June and staying in the Lake Thun region. Are there some scenic train trips you would recommend, as part of the regular rail system, (not the specialized panoramic trains) which we might be able to take as part of some day trip type experiences? Thanks for your help.

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    5 August 2022 at 8:52:31 #945114

    Around 90% of Switzerland’s railway routes are scenic. Even fairly urban lines often pass green spaces or even small flocks of sheep in periurban smallholdings!

    Any trip in the Thun area can give lovely views of the Swiss countryside. I recommend you do something a bit different ( virtually all discussions on this site are around requests to see high, steep, craggy mountains and snow. Switzerland is a lot more than that. The lower altitude areas have beautiful rural farmland, villages, farm buildings etc, and there are lovely ‘rolling hillside country’ viewing options from the Thun area, for example the local railway from Thun to Burgdorf via Konolfingen.

    Anna
    Moderator
    6382 posts
    5 August 2022 at 12:30:43 #945115

    Hi Coni,

    You might be interested to take a trip on the Regioexpress Lotschberger. Tha train takes you from Bern to Brig over a mountain pass. and it’s free with the Swiss Travel Pass or Regional Pass Bernese Oberland! You can board the train in Thun.

    Regards,

    Anna

    Coni
    Participant
    8 posts
    6 August 2022 at 13:43:45 #945116

    Thanks for the information 1960man and Anna 🙂

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