How to travel on the PB (Pilatusbahn)

The Pilatusbahn is the world’s steepest cogwheel railway and it operates from the end of May to mid-November only, between Alpnachstad and the spectacular summit station, Pilatus-Kulm, on Mount Pilatus.

When ascending the mountain the journey takes 30 minutes and for pretty much every second of the trip, the views are spectacular, though as the little red train, which resembles a mobile staircase, nears the summit, the views back down the mountain can be enjoyed from the left.

Mount Pilatus is by the shore of the Luzernsee, Lake Lucerne, so it's the views down on to this body of water, which dominates the view.
Though what makes the journey on the Pilatusbahn special is that when the train ascends above the tree line, it threads a path between the jagged peaks of the mountain.
Therefore, more than any other Swiss railway, it lives up to expectations of the experience of travelling up a mountain side by train.

Alpnachstad station is served by ZB (Zentralbahn) trains.

However, the ‘Luzern – Interlaken Express’ trains operated by ZB do NOT call at Alpnachstad, the only trains that do are the local trains between Luzern and Giswil.
So when travelling from by train from Interlaken, to access the Pilatusbahn, you need to change trains at Giswil.

Though the most popular option for making the transfer from Luzern to Alpnachstad is to take one of the Luzernsee cruise boats, as this boat ride is the first stage of the Golden Round Trip (see below).
The pier in Alpnachstad is a 5 minute walk from the station, though you need to take a subway under the busy road which separates them; and this subway can only be accessed by stairs.

The Pilatusbahn is one part of The Golden Round Trip to/from Luzern - the timetable is here.

The Golden Round Trip tickets include:

1. The cruise boat trip from the piers outside Luzern station to Alpnachstad;
2. The ride on the Pilatus Railway up to the summit of Mt Pilatus;
3. The ride on the cable care down to the base stationat Kriens; which requires a transfer between cable cars at Fränkmüntegg
4. The bus ride back, to Luzern; though an option is to make a return trip back to Luzern via Mt Pilatus.

It's easiest to travel in this direction as the bus stop is just to the right of the gondola base station, though if you take route/line 15, which stops by the base station, you'll need to connect into line/route 1 at the bus station in Kriens.
Though if the weather is fine, this bus stop in Kriens, used by route 1, is a 10 min walk from the cable car.
This trolleybus route/line 1, which will be heading to Ebikon, Fildern, makes several stops in the city centre, including at the railway station.

Tickets between SBB stations and Pilatus-Kulm station, for journeys via Alpnachstad, can be booked on the SBB booking service.

The Golden Round Trip can be booked here.

Note that the round trip is only available from the end of May to mid November, because the Pilatus Railway is closed between these times.

Eurail and InterRail
50% discount on the Pilatusbahn and on the gondola to Kreins.
Discounts are also available on the complete Golden Round Trip, that also includes the buses between Kriens and Luzern and the boat between Luzern and Alpnachstad.

Swiss Travel Pass and Saver Day Pass
free travel, including the entire Golden Round Trip, no need to book separate tickets, just show your pass