What is the Voralpen-Express?
The Voralpen-Express is a unique 2h15-train journey from Lucerne to St. Gallen or the other way around. It's a direct, very scenic between Central and Eastern Switzerland, that bypasses the busy station of Zurich.
You won't have the impressive mountain views of some other famous Swiss rail journeys, like the Glacier Express or Bernina Express. Instead, the Voralpen-Express shows the rolling green hills and charming villages of Central- and East-Switzerland, with the Alps (including Rigi and Säntis) as your backdrop. You’ll also pass a couple of impressive viaducts.
Prices, tickets and reservations
Voralpen-Express 2024 ticket prices
A single journey Lucerne-St. Gallen with the Voralpen Express costs CHF 51 in 2nd class. The journey is discounted or even free with several rail passes.
Where to buy tickets
If you don't have a rail pass that grants free traveling, you'll need tickets for the Voralpen-Express ride. They're for sale online and at Swiss rail stations.
Reservations
Reservations are optional. We don't recommend making them, except if you're traveling in a larger group during high-season tourism months such as July and August.
Find Voralpen-Express tickets and related tours
Offered by Trainline: www.thetrainline.com
- Train tickets for Switzerland and beyond
- Compare train and coach prices for international journeys
Offered by Swiss Activities: www.swissactivities.com
- Easy, online, free cancellation in most cases
- Extra Support: if you buy here, MySwissAlps can also assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by Official SBB shop: swissrailways.com
- Official webshop of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), operated by Switzerland Travel Centre (STC)
- Instant delivery through e-mail in 5 minutes
- Free cancellation until 1 day before travel, if you choose the FLEX OPTION. No questions asked.
- Extra Support: MySwissAlps can answer most questions regarding your order as well.
Promotions
Scenic rail journeys (with guaranteed seat reservations), self-drive holidays, journeys to famous mountain peaks, and more. Choose your preferred hotels, number of nights, and excursions in each town. Apply the promo code AFFMYSWISSALPS for a 5% discount.
Voralpen-Express discounts with your rail pass
The rail passes below allow free or discounted traveling on the Voralpen-Express.
Pass | Discount |
---|---|
Day Pass |
Free:
|
Eurail Global Pass |
Free:
|
Interrail Switzerland Pass |
Free:
|
Saver Day Pass |
Free:
|
Swiss Half Fare Card |
Discount 50%:
|
Swiss Travel Pass |
Free:
|
Swiss Travel Pass Flex |
Free:
|
Tell-Pass Summer |
Free:
Pfäffikon to St. Gallen: no discount. |
Tell-Pass Winter |
Free:
Pfäffikon to St. Gallen: no discount. |
The Voralpen-Express route in detail, with map
The 2h15-train journey can be made in both directions. From Lucerne to St. Gallen, it can be divided into 3 sections.
Section 1: Lucerne to Arth-Goldau
You’ll travel alongside Lake Lucerne, with the Pilatus in the background, and you’ll pass the beautiful hiking area of Rigi.
Section 2: Arth-Goldau to Rapperswil
The peaks of the Schwyzer Mythen can be seen near Arth-Goldau. A bit further on, you’ll reach the moorland plateau of Rothenthurm. Then you'll cross Lake Zurich and arrive in the charming lakeside town of Rapperswil.
Section 3: Rapperswil to Zurich
You’ll cross the hills of Toggenburg and pass the Weissenbach and the Sitter viaducts. The latter is Switzerland’s highest rail viaduct with 99 meters. The mountain Säntis can be seen in the distance.
Which section of the Voralpen-Express is best?
We think the section between Lucerne and Arth-Goldau is prettiest if you’re looking for lakes and mountain scenery.
If you want a change of scenery compared to the Swiss mountain regions, we recommend the lowlands around Rapperswil and Lake Zurich, plus the viaducts close to St. Gallen.
Which side of the train is best?
Although views are good from both sides of the train, we recommend sitting on the right side between Lucerne and Wattwil, and on the left side between Wattwil and St. Gallen.
Map of the Voralpen-Express train route
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
Voralpen-Express operation dates
The trains operate on all days of the year.
Planning your journey with the timetable
Voralpen-Express timetables can be found through the links here. The route can be planned in the Swiss timetable as well:
- Enter your departure and destination stations along the route.
- You may add a 'via' station, such as Rapperswil, to see connections on the Voralpen-Express route only. Otherwise, the timetable will also show the quicker routes via Zurich, which are not the Voralpen-Express line.
- You can recognize the Voralpen-Express as a direct connection without changes of trains. If you click on a connection for details, the name ‘Voralpen-Express’ will appear.
Best seasons for the Voralpen-Express
We think that spring, summer and fall (early January to late February and early April to late October) are the best months for the Voralpen-Express ride. The gentle hills will be green or colored by autumn trees, and you'll see snow-capped mountains far south.
November to March can be less attractive. The Voralpen-Express is at relatively low altitude. So snow along the route isn't common, although you'll see snowy mountains in the distance. January and February offer the best chances for such sights.
Weather tips and forecasts
You can ride the Voralpen-Express in any type of weather, but sunny and clear skies are best. The panoramic views on this journey reach far into the distance, and you'd miss out on them in fog or low clouds.
Seat reservations aren't necessary. This means you can check forecasts shortly before and then decide whether or not to make the ride.
5-day forecast for Wattwil on the Voralpen-Express route
What the Voralpen-Express trains are like
The Voralpen-Express is a regular interregional train that runs hourly in both directions. It’s used by commuters and tourists.
The modern copper-coloured train is called ‘Traverso’. It has 1st and 2nd class compartments, large windows and lots of comfort.
There’s a family compartment with room for pushchairs and prams, and large tables for toys. The trains also have two bistro zones where you’ll find vending machines for snacks and drinks. You can pay by debit or credit card, plus a limited number of payment apps. Airco, a digital information system, and power outlets add to your comfort.
The Voralpen-Express versus quicker trains via Zurich
The mountain ranges between Central and Eastern Switzerland make direct traveling between both regions challenging. That’s why most trains between these areas bypass the mountains and travel via Zurich in the north instead.
Connections from Lucerne to St. Gallen via Zurich take a bit under 2 hours, meaning they’re about 20 minutes quicker than the Voralpen-Express. If you’re not in a rush, we recommend the Voralpen-Express, because:
- it offers you a unique view of the charming rural scenery in northern Switzerland;
- it’s a direct connection, so you don’t have to switch trains at the busy station of Zurich.
Excursions to combine with the Voralpen-Express
The Voralpen-Express can be combined with lots of side trips:
- Include a trip up to Rigi near Lucerne. Other activities near Lucerne can be found here.
- Visit the nature park and zoo in Arth-Goldau.
- There’s an abbey in Einsiedeln, where monks have been living for over a thousand years. Einsiedeln can be reached by local trains from Biberbrugg, one of the rail stations along the Voralpen-Express route.
- Get out at the charming town of Rapperswil, also known as the “City of Roses”. In a 10-minute walk, you can reach the 12th-century Rapperswil Castle. Or make a boat trip on Lake Zurich.
- Get out in Wattwil and travel to the mountain of Säntis. This is one of the main viewing points in North-Eastern Switzerland.
- Visit the monastery of St. Gallen, with its beautiful cathedral and impressive library. It’s a 10-minute walk from the rail station of St. Gallen to the abbey precinct. This is an official UNESCO World Heritage site.
How to make a Voralpen-Express train ride from Zurich
If you’re based in Zurich, consider these options for a 1-day round trip:
- A nice circular route is Zurich – St. Gallen – Voralpen-Express to Lucerne – Zurich. Alternatively, you can get off the Voralpen-Express in Arth-Goldau and then head back to Zurich. This saves about 45 minutes compared to traveling via Lucerne. The section St. Gallen-Arth Goldau still contains the two impressive viaducts of the Voralpen-Express route.
- An extended trip, including a mountain excursion, starts like this: Zurich – St. Gallen – Voralpen-Express to Arth-Goldau. In Arth-Goldau, you can switch to the cogwheel train to Rigi. Take a cogwheel train down to Vitznau, travel by boat to Lucerne and travel back to Zurich by train. The total traveling time is about 6 hours, not including time spent at Rigi.
How to combine the Voralpen-Express with other scenic trains
You can add sections of the GoldenPass and Gotthard Panorama Express as follows:
- GoldenPass: travel from St. Gallen to Lucerne by Voralpen-Express. Then board the GoldenPass to Interlaken, Zweisimmen and Montreux.
- Gotthard Panorama Express: travel from St. Gallen to Lucerne by Voralpen-Express. Then enjoy the Gotthard Panorama Express ride to Lugano.
Other websites of interest
- unterweg.sob.ch: Voralpen-Express seat reservations
Schedules
- unterwegs.sob.ch: Voralpen-Express pdf timetables