Which pass covers the Glacier and Bernina Express?

  • Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    26 March 2018 at 14:16:34 #814971

    Hi,

    I would like to know which rail pass (Swiss rail pass or Eurail pass) includes Glacier express and Bernina express? Thanks.

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    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    26 March 2018 at 18:43:18 #879879

    Hi Arajnish,

    Both the Swiss Travel Pass and the Eurail (Select Pass) cover the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express.

    Read more about the validity of both passes here:

    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    26 March 2018 at 21:27:18 #879880

    In addition to either pass you need to buy seat reservations on both those trains.

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    27 March 2018 at 0:15:13 #879881

    Thank you for the reply and the links. If we break the journey into two parts then do we have to pay the reservation charges twice on these trains? TIA.

    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    27 March 2018 at 2:12:49 #879882

    The Glacier Express and the Bernina Express are two separate trains so you need a separate reservation for each.

    If you mean if you catch the Glacier Express from say Zermatt then break and subsequently resume the journey at say Andermatt then yes you would need two reservations for the Glacier Express. That would be an unusual thing to do. Reservations are tied to a particular train departure time.

    Also bear in mind you can cover both routes on regular trains an pay no reservations charges. You just miss out on the panoramic windows and commentary. 🤓

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    27 March 2018 at 4:50:48 #879883

    Thanks for mentioning that rockoyster.

    Arajnish, seat reservations can be done online. For the Glacier Express here and for the Bernina Express here.

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    28 March 2018 at 17:17:56 #879884

    Thank you all. Your advice will help us plan our trip. One more question I have is regarding the Swiss rail pass. We are planning to stay 6 days and will be using the pass every day. Why is the Swiss pass offered only 4 days or 8 days? Is there anything for 6 days?

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    28 March 2018 at 18:21:39 #879885

    There is no country-wide rail pass for 6 days no. They unfortunately can’t make a rail pass for every possible # of days a visitor might be here. I guess 3,4,8 and work out best.

    An 8 day Swiss Travel Pass might still work out quite well economically for you – compared to buying individual tickets, even though you aren’t “using” 2 days. The cost works out to 66CHF per day, so you’ll want to compare that to your average ticket cost per day to see.

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    28 March 2018 at 20:55:24 #879886

    Thank you, I am planning to buy 8 days pass. We are traveling from Geneva to Zermatt which will take more than 4 hours. Will it be possible to cover the Matterhorn the same day or it will be too late? TIA

    rockoyster
    Participant
    8889 posts
    28 March 2018 at 21:02:21 #879887

    Depends what time you make a start. You could be at Zermatt by lunchtime so Gornergrat definitely possible. Is that what you meant by “cover the Matterhorn”? You can see the Matterhorn from Zermatt. You can’t actually visit the Matterhorn.

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    29 March 2018 at 5:26:42 #879888

    You can use the timetable for Swiss railways and see the logistics and if you want to try it. If you’re staying in Zermatt that night then there should be no problem doing that (at Gornergrat as Rockoyster notes) or Klein Matterhorn. Not the Matterhorn itself.

    Removed user
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    72625 posts
    29 March 2018 at 12:49:17 #879889

    Thank you for your reply, everyone. We will be staying that night in Zermatt and we are planning to see the Matterhorn from Gornergrat and from Matterhorn glacier plus some cable car rides. We will be leaving for Interlaken next evening by train. Therefore, two half days we have all together in Zermatt.

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