[Yuahtung]

13 February 2020 at 18:13:18 #825213

Would the Swiss Scenic Trains operate in November of 2020?

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[rockoyster]

13 February 2020 at 20:26:44 #930144

Hello Yuahtung and Welcome to MySwissAlps,

Sure, apart from the Glacier Express. Did you have one in mind? See http://www.myswissalps.com/activities/scenictrips/train.

[Yuahtung]

13 February 2020 at 21:08:37 #930145

Thanks Rockoyster, I’m actually planning a few day vacation in Switzerland and would like to look at Travelling on Scenic Trains like the Glacier Express and the Brenina Express. The starting city would like be close to Geneva nd the end city would likely be Basel. I know there is the Grand Train Tour with 7 nights but it may be too long for me. Happy the know there is any options.

My initial thought would be fly into Geneva, From Geneva to Zermatt. Pick up the Glacier Express to St Moritz, from Moritz, take a train to Basel via Chur. I could source some local tours along the route.

Any suggestions?

[rockoyster]

13 February 2020 at 21:12:18 #930146

The Glacier Express stops operating in mid-October until early December but you can follow the same route on regular trains. See http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress.

[Arno]

14 February 2020 at 8:45:21 #930147

Hi Yuahtung,

That’s a good route. Whether it’s the best for your purpose depends on how many days you have exactly, and whether you’d like to mostly travel or have one or more days of other activities in towns en route.

This might be interesting, not to copy exactly but for inspiration:

• http://www.myswissalps.com/plantrip/doityourself/sampleitineraries/ultimateswissscenictrains
• http://www.myswissalps.com/plantrip/doityourself/sampleitineraries/glacierexpresstour

[rockoyster]

14 February 2020 at 10:24:22 #930148

Hi again Yuahtung,

For a “few days” forget the so-called “scenic trains” you will waste a lot of time riding trains.

After Zermatt take a train to the Jungfrau Region (maybe Wengen) via Kandersteg.

You will then travel on the BLS Regio-Express Lötschberger (https://www.myswissalps.com/lotschberger) train over the traditional, more than 100 year old mountain route, giving you a wonderful view along the impressive peaks and down into the Rhone Valley.

Zermatt and the Jungfrau Region will give you more alpine scenery than a week of trains and you will end up with not far to travel to Basel.

Based on your personal itinerary you should read “How to choose the best travel pass” (http://www.myswissalps.com/train/ticketspasses/practical/chooserailpass), download the handy spreadsheet calculator and do the math. The spreadsheet also includes links to the “Where it’s valid” page for all available passes. Be sure to check those pages for each pass you are considering. Study the map AND read all the text on those pages to fully understand what is covered by the respective pass.

For checking timetables see http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/checking-train-timetables.

[Yuahtung]

14 February 2020 at 17:16:44 #930149

Thanks you so much rockoyster, Really useful information but sad to learn that the Glacier Express stops in mid-October. That is exactly the time I wish to visit. When you said travel on the same route after mid-October, do you mean regular trains rather than scenic train? How about the seating and panoramic windows? I suppose regular train won’t have those facilities?

[Yuahtung]

14 February 2020 at 17:22:15 #930150

Thanks Arno for your insightful suggestion. I probably may spent 3 days max just on the train rides. Other time, I may spend on local excursions at the stops like Zermatt or Interlaken or St Mortiz, Basel, etc..

I’m joining a river cruise at Basel after the train tours. I could also make it the reverse, picking up the train tour from Basel/Zurich and end at Zermatt then depart from Geneva.

Any suggestions?

[Anna]

14 February 2020 at 19:15:42 #930151

Hi Yuahtung,

As Rockoyster pointed out, you can still travel on the Glacier Express route using the regular trains. These trains are nicely set up for scenic rides just like a panoramic train, with big windows and comfortable seating. Some trains even have a special carriage for photographers. The main disadvantage of taking a regular train is you have switch trains a couple of times as the Glacier Express is the only train that goes direct from Chur to Zermatt and vice versa. Have a look at this for more info: http://www.myswissalps.com/glacierexpress (scroll down to the section that explains Glacier Express vs regular train)

Regards,

Anna