MySwissAlps.com features ads, commercial and non-commercial Train Locarno-Basel: base tunnel or longer route?
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We will be travelling from Locarno to Basel on our way to Freiburg Germany, after having spent two weeks in Switzerland, and I’m wondering about taking the slower but direct train, the IR 26 instead of the faster one , as it doesn’t go thru the new basis tunnel. It is four and a half hours instead of 3.17 hours, but we have no plans for Basel that evening so if we take the 15.35 (this is in early September) all we are losing is getting in a little later to Basel. Would this route be significantly more scenic?
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Hi rob travels,
I think that if you have time to take the IR26, then you should go for it. This train travels to Olten via Brunnen, and Flüelen so you’ll get a very nice view of Lake Lucerne along the way. From Olten it’s a fairly straightforward travel to Basel.
Regards,
Anna
The Gotthard mountain route used by IR 26 trains (aka the ‘Treno Gottardo’ trains service operated by the SOB railway company) is slightly more scenic than the base tunnel route, albeit mainly valley views. There are three key scenic sections (be ready for them !) south to north: Pianotondo spirals (two spiral tunnels almost ‘on top of each other’ in a figure 8 shape), Faido spirals (two sperate spiral tunnels). After the Gotthard tunnel you come to the ‘vertical S’ double loop on three levels at Wassen where famously the village church can be seen from all three levels
Hi rob travels,
just a short extension: as you are coming from Germany, have a look at this one: http://www.myswissalps.com/traintickets/germany/.
Freiburg in Germany is cute, I’ve been there a few months ago. 🙂
Ildiko
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