Train operation during winter

Hi,

We would like to check which rail line will not be operation during end Dec winter? Another question is Palm Express between St Moritz and Lugano operational during End December?

Thank you

<<"We would like to check which rail line will not be operation during end Dec winter?">>

None. Well, maybe one or two. There is one "hobbyist' railroad near the old route of the Glacier Express that may not be running. The GE will run. Also, the museum railroad (Chambly/Blonay) above Vevey will probably not run in the winter

<""Another question is Palm Express between St Moritz and Lugano operational during End December?">>

Not sure, but this is a clue, suggesting that it will not run after 10 December.:

www.sbb.ch/en/leisure-holidays/holidays--short-breaks-in-switzerland/scenic-trains.angebotdetail.f erien_kurz_trips_schwe iz-panoramazuege-palm_express.html

Slowpoke

>> We would like to check which rail line will not be operation during end Dec winter?

Hi Casey,

We could help you better if you provided more details about where you are thinking of going. The answer will differ depending on whether you mean train services between cities, towns and villages, scenic trains such as the Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Golden Pass, or mountain trains.

>> Another question is Palm Express between St Moritz and Lugano operational during End December?

The public transport timetables for 2016-17 will change on 11 December 2016, with details due to be published online on 19 October 2016.

In December 2015, the Palm Express ran as follows:

In the direction St Moritz to Lugano

21 December to 3 January: daily

Other dates in December: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays

In the opposite direction, Lugano to St Moritz

22 December to 4 January: daily

Other dates in December: Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays

I would expect the new timetable would be very similar, with the daily service period in December/January perhaps shifted back by about 2 days, but you will need to check the new timetable after 19 October 2016 to be sure.

If you need further assistance, post back here after 19 October, at which time we can assist you to find the details in the new timetable.

Alpenrose

Thanks Slowpoke and Alpenrose for your kind advises.

We are trying to follow the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland that consists of 8 stages of rail journey. Likely we will start and end at Zurich.

Hi Casey-

Thanks for your post. I was not aware of an "official" tour of those routes, although I have travelled on all of them.

http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/en/home/highlights-en/grand-train-tour-of-switzerland.html

They are certainly some of the most scenic. In addition, there are some in the Mittelland and the western part of Switzerland that are nice too, so that when you get done, you will still have more to look forward to. ;-)

Alpenrose mentions the timetable:

www.myswissalps.com/ti metable

You can use it to understand travel times and options for all stages of your journey, but fine tuning will be needed after the new timetable appears after the annual update, as he noted.

In the higher passes, the roads close in early December due to snow. The trains keep running, via tunnels. Buses may have difficulties in the mountains, so you do need to watch those schedules carefully.

Slowpoke

>> We are trying to follow the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland that consists of 8 stages of rail journey. Likely we will start and end at Zurich.

It will be a little bit tricky planning your train trips for the end of December, given the new timetable for dates from 11 December onwards will not be available until 19 October.

However, the online timetable will accept queries using 2015 dates for the second half of December. You could do your draft planning using 2015 dates, then verify your plans using 2016 dates when the new timetable is published on 19 October.

The Glacier Express timetable for winter 2016 is already available here:

www.glacierexpress.ch/ EN/timetable_tickets/T imetable/winter/Pages/ default.aspx

Are you spending Christmas in Switzerland? If so, and if you will be in one of the winter resorts, make sure you book your accommodation well ahead of time.

If you are there before Christmas, you might like to check out a Christmas market or two. Here are details about those in Zürich.

www.zuerich.com/en/vis it/christmas-markets

You can search for Christmas markets in other locations here:

www.myswitzerland.com/ en-au/service-updates/events.html?strubrik=2161

Alpenrose