How to travel on 22 of the lovely Swiss mountain railways including details of the routes, trains, tickets and using rail passes
Taking a train ride on a spectacular Swiss Tourist/Mountain Railway is one of the more accessible of those '100 Things You Must Do...' experiences.
All of the railway lines and trains in the content menu offer journeys with a wow factor and this guide to Swiss Mountain Railways shows you how to take these incredible trips.
You'll see below that many different independent/private companies operate these lines, they're mainly not managed by the Swiss national rail operator, SBB, or the other main rail company in Switzerland, BLS.
Many of these lines were constructed in order to provide access to mountain resort towns, hence the guide to travelling to Swiss ski resorts by train includes many of these railways.
However, the fact that so many different companies operate the Swiss Mountain Railways and that there are so many routes to choose from, can seem bewildering - hence the info we have provided below!
Where were these pictures were taken?
Clockwise from top left:
1 - From an MGB train between Andermatt and Disentis
2 - On the RhB line between St Moritz and Chur
3 - From a RB train between Rigi-Kulm at Vitznau
4 - On the Luzern-Interlaken Express between Meiringen and Luzern
5 - From a MOB train ascending from Montreux
6 - On a MGB train between Andermatt and Disentis
7 - From a WAB train between Wengen and Lauterbrunnen
8 - On the RhB line between Tirano and St Moritz
Click on the links within the info below to access practical travel information including- access to the railway's websites and ticket booking links etc.
For the larger railways ShowMeTheJourney has produced guides with additional details, so click on these to discover good to know information such as, how to:
Its website = The Appenzeller Bahn
A network of lines, with services generally at 30 min intervals, centred on the resort of Appenzell, which has connections to/from the SBB main lines at Gossau and St Gallen stations.
Both Gossau and St Gallen have regular direct trains from/to Zurich, Zurich Airport and Winterthur; though the trains from these locations call at Gossau before St Gallen, so change at Gossau for the AB Trains.
Jakobsbad station on the AB network is adjacent to the Kronberg cable car also operated by AB.
Online ticket booking is not available for regular journeys solely by AB trains; though special excursion journeys can be booked online.
Its website = Chemin de fer Bière-Apples-Morges
There is a branch line between the main line station at Morges (served by local trains between Geneva and Lausanne) and the village of Apples.
At Apples connections are available to another BAM line which operates to the village of L’isle-Mont-La-Ville
Tickets between SBB stations and BAM stations can be booked online on the SBB booking service - online ticket booking is not available for regular journeys solely by BAM trains.
Its website = The BLM Railway
The BLM line links Lauterbrunnen station on the BOB Railway with the popular village of Mürren which is inaccessible by road.
Adjacent to Lauterbrunnen station is a cable car operated by BLM that takes passengers up to the BLM station at Grutschalp from where BLM trains operate to Mürren.
Tickets between Lauterbrunnen and Mürren are valid on both the cable car and the train.
To travel between Interlaken Ost station and Mürren, the route is:
(1) travel by B.O.B. train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen station
(2) travel from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp by cable car
(3) travel from Grutschalp to Mürren by BLM train.
At the opposite end of Mürren village to the BLM station, is the cable car which gives access to the Schilthorn winter sports area.
Tickets for the complete journey from Interlaken to Mürren can be booked here.
Tickets between SBB stations and Mürren can be booked on the SBB booking service - though take care not to search for journeys to Murren (with an ordinary ‘u’).
Interlaken Ost - Wilderswill and on to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen
The SMTJ guide to travelling to travelling on BOB trains includes the links to it's official website and so much more!
Connect with SPB trains at Wilderswill and with WAB trains at Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.
Connect with mainline trains at Interlaken Ost
Tickets can be booked online - click on the 'Plan & Book' link on the menu.
Its website = Brienz Rothorn Bahn
A 7.5km long rack railway operated solely by steam engines in the summer months only, from early June to mid-October.
Brienz BRB station is adjacent to Brienz station on the ZB line between Lucerne and Interlaken.
The station at the summit is named Rothorn Kulm.
Tickets including seat reservations can be booked online.
Journeys between SBB stations and Rothorn Kulm CANNOT be booked on the SBB booking service.
The SMTJ guide to travelling to travelling on GGB trains includes the links to it's official website and so much more!
A spectacular railway between Zermatt (see the MGB lines and the highest open air station in Europe at Gornergrat.
The GGB station in Zermatt is across the street from the MGB station - which is served by trains from Brig and Visp.
As its colloquial name implies, the line offers spectacular views of the Matterhorn mountain.
The mountain railway scenes in the TV series 'The Night Manager' were filmed on the GGB.
Tickets can be booked online
GGB tickets are fairly expensive but a 30% discount can be obtained when booking through tickets to Gornergrat at SBB stations.
The company which operates the line is the Ferrovie Autollinee Regionali Ticine, but in Italy it is known as the Vigezzina Centovali, which in English is 'The Centovali Railway)
Connect with mainline trains at Locarno and at Domodossola, the latter station is in Italy, but Swiss Travel Passes and Saver Day Passes are valid on Swiss Regional and IC trains between the Swiss border (at Brig) and Domodossola.
The SMTJ guide to travelling to travelling on F.A.R.T. trains will tell you more.
Tickets for journeys on the Centovali can be booked online
The railway to Europe's highest railway station.
Its website = The Jungfrau Railway
The SMTJ guide to travelling to travelling on the JB trains
Connect with WAB trains at Kleine Scheidegg.
Tickets can be booked online - click on the 'Plan & Book' link on the menu
For views of Lake Lugano.
Official Website = The Monte Generoso Railway
Connect with mainline trains at Capolago served by local trains travelling between Lugano and Chiasso
(Online ticket booking is not available for journeys solely by MG trains).
The Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway summer service and winter service operates two routes:
(1) Zermatt - Täsch - Visp - Brig - Andermatt - Disentis/Muster
(2) Göschenen - Andermatt
The SMTJ guide to travelling to travelling on the MGB trains
Connect with GGB trains at Zermatt and with RhB trains at Disentis/Muster
Connect with mainline trains at Brig, Goschenen and Visp
Tickets can be booked online
MGB trains give access to the following skiing/winter sports areas - Aletsch Arena and Andermatt - Gemsstock - Nätschen and Disentis and Saas Fee and Saas Grund.
Its website = The Montreux Oberland Bernois Railway
It operates two main routes:
(1) Montreux <> Zweisimmen via Gstaad - Its 'Golden Pass' route
(2) Lenk <> Zweisimmen
The SMTJ guide to travelling to travelling on the MOB trains includes details of its three very different types of train.
Connect with mainline trains at Montreux and Zweisimmen - take trains from there to Interlaken via Spiez, in order to travel the full length of the classic Golden Pass' route on to Luzern.
MOB operates numerous special train services including 'The Chocolate Train' and offers access to the Lenk-Simmental winter sports area.
Tickets can be booked online
Montreux <> Rochers-De-Naye
Vevey <> Les Pleiades
Its website = The Montreux Vevey Riviera Railway
Connect with mainline trains at Montreux.
Online ticket booking is not available for journeys solely by MVR trains
Nyon <> to the popular winter sports resort at St-Cerque
Its website = The Nyon St Cerque Morez Railway
Connect with mainline trains at Nyon, served by trains travelling between Geneve and Lausanne.
Tickets between SBB stations and NStCM stations can be booked on the SBB booking service.
Using SBB’s booking service is recommended, as tickets can’t be purchased on the NStCM website, and its ticket machines aren’t the easiest to understand.
Take a ride on Europe's steepest railway journey!
Its website = The Pilatus Bahn
The SMTJ guide to travelling to travelling on the Pilatus Bahn
Connects with ZB trains at Alpnachstad.
Online ticket booking is not available for journeys solely by the Pilatus Bahn.
Its website = The Rigi Bahn
The SMTJ guide to travelling to travelling on the Rigi Bahn
Tickets can be booked online
Connect with mainline trains at Arth-Goldau.
The Rhätische Bahn operates trains on multiple routes in south east Switzerland connecting Chur, Davos, Disentis/Muster, Arosa, Klosters, Landquart, St Moritz and Tirano.
Tickets for regular and special trains can be booked online
The SMTJ guide to travelling to travelling on the Rhaetian Railway
Connect with MGB trains at Disentis/Muster
Connect with mainline trains at Chur and Landquart
Access to the following winter sports areas - Corviglia and Disentis and Flims Laax Falera and Obersaxen-Mundau and Parsenn and
Scuol Motta Naluns.
Eurail; InterRail; Swiss Travel Pass; Saver Day Pass= free travel
Official website =Die SudOstBahn
A network of lines that comprises routes mainly used by commuters in the St Gallen area, but the route between St Gallen and Watwill also includes Switzerland’s highest railway bridge – the Sitter viaduct.
The Voralpen Express operates over SOB lines between St Gallen and Watwill.
its website = The Schynige Platte Railway
Connect with BOB trains at Wilderswill.
Tickets can be booked online - click on the 'Plan & Book' link on the menu
Its website = Transports de Martigny et Regions Railway
The routes of The Mont Blanc Express and The St Bernard Express.
The SMTJ guide to travelling on The Mont Blanc Express route
Connect with mainline trains at Martigny.
Access to the Verbier/4 Vallées winter sports area.
Eurail; InterRail; Swiss Travel Pass; Saver Day Pass = free travel
Its website = Transport Publics du Chablais
The SMTJ guide to travelling on the TPC trains
Connections from Aigle and Bex station with access to the ski resorts at Champery, Les Diablerets and Leysin.
Tickets between SBB stations and stations served by the TPC trains can be booked on the SBB booking service.
Online ticket booking is not available for journeys solely by TPC trains.
Its website Wengeralpbahn
The trains on the Lauterbrunnen <> Kleine Scheidegg route call at Wengen.
The SMTJ guide to travelling on the Wengeralpbahn
Connect with BOB trains at Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen and with JB trains at Kleine Scheidegg
Tickets can be booked online - click on the 'Plan & Book' link on the menu
Eurail; InterRail; Swiss Travel Pass; Saver Day Pass = 25% discount
Its website Zentralbahn
The SMTJ guide to travelling on the Zentralbahn and the Luzern - Interlaken Express
Connect with mainline trains at Interlaken Ost and Luzern
Connect with BRB trains at Brienz and with PB trains at Alpnachstad (the Luzern - Interlaken Express trains do not call at Alpnachstad.
Has access to these winter sports areas - Meiringen - Hasliberg and Engelberg Titlis.
Tickets can be booked online for jouneys on the Luzern - Interlaken Express.
Eurail; InterRail; Swiss Travel Pass; Saver Day Pass = free travel
In summary these FOUR things are particularly worth knowing about the ticketing on the privately operated Swiss mountain railways:
(1) The companies which operate these railways don't offer discounted tickets if you book in advance.
(2) Seat reservations also aren't typically available on the standard trains - though they can be booked when travelling on the Brienz-Rothurn-Bahn, on the MOB trains on its Montreux - Zwiesimmen route and on the Luzern-Interlaken Express.
Other notable notable exceptions, on which seat reservations are available include journeys by these specific train services The Bernina Express and The Glacier Express and The Gotthard Panorama Express
(3) As will be seen below not all of these railways offer online booking, but despite the lack of discounted tickets, there are two factors which make an online booking worthwhile when it is an option:
(4) If you will be commencing a journey at station on the national rail network in Switzerland, the SBB online ticket booking service will usually sell tickets for end-to-end journeys which involve taking a mainline SBB or BLS train AND a train operated by an independent railway
More info is available on the guide below.
A big plus for using a rail pass in Switzerland is the access they provide to the trains operated by these independent railway companies.
Whether you will be travelling with an InterRail, Eurail, Swiss Travel Pass or a Saver Day Pass you can hop on many of these independently managed trains - in addition to the national SBB and BLS trains.
On the the independent railway summaries above, you'll see whether you can travel on them for free with a rail pass, or whether a rail pass enables you to travel at a discounted rate.
When the rail pass does enable travel at a discount, you will usually need to visit a ticket office at the station in order to obtain your discounted ticket, before you board the trains.
You will also be able to notice that the conditions of using each type of pass can vary; there are more routes/trains on which Swiss Travel Passes or Saver Day Pass users can travel for free, in comparison to using Eurail and InterRail passes within Switzerland.
Look at the Swiss Rail map, and the ‘Grand Tour of Switzerland' railway routes are marked.
However, our suggested itineraries includes the 'Grand Tour' rail routes, PLUS a few extra lines, which we think should also be on the 'must-do' list.
The itineraries are all for eight days as there is a Swiss Travel Pass valid for 8 Days, which can be made the most of, if you follow the suggested routes - or you can use 3 or 4 Day Passes to travel on your pick of the suggestions.
Or use Saver Day Passes to travel on one or two routes.
An InterRail or Eurail pass valid in Switzerland, can be also be used on all of these suggested itineraries, so you don't have to use a Swiss Travel Pass.
A big plus of exploring Switzerland with a rail pass (Eurail, InterRail, Swiss Travel Pass or Saver Day Pass) is the easy connections between trains; all of the suggested routes can be completed in a day.
You shouldn't ever have to wait more than 30 mins for the next train to depart from any of the stations.
To make your explorations as simple as possible, it can make sense to base yourself in one location, so that you can loop back to your accommodation at the end of each day.
Do that and you also won't have to cart your luggage around Switzerland.
Hence the itineraries have been designed so that you can spend each night of your holiday in the same location, and choose between staying in Basel, Zurich or Olten
Journeys with red arrows are those when Eurail and InterRail pass users have to pay a discounted ticket price.
ALL rail passes including Swiss Travel Pass and Saver Day Pass. users have to pay a discounted price on the routes between Interlaken and Jungrfaujoch.
FROM BASEL:
1: The Golden Pass route: Basel – Visp – Montreux – Zweisimmen – Spiez – Interlaken Ost – Luzern – Basel
2: The Glacier/Bernina Express route #1: Basel – Chur – Samedan – Pontresina – Tirano – Pontresina – Samedan – Chur – Zurich – Basel
3: The Glacier Express route #2: Basel – Visp – Zermatt – Visp – Andermatt – Disentis/Muster – Chur – Zurich – Basel
4: The Centovali Express and The Gotthard Express route: Basel – Brig – Domodossola – Locarno – Bellinzona – Erstfeld – Basel
5: The Mount Rigi and Gotthard Express route: Basel – Luzern → boat to Vitznau → Rigi-Kulm → Arth-Goldau – Fluelen → boat to Luzern – Basel
6: The Bernese Oberland Railway: Basel – Interlaken Ost → Grindelwald → Kleine Scheidegg → Jungfaujoch → Kleine Scheidegg → Lauterbrunnen → Interlaken Ost – Basel
7: The Voralpen Express and Schaffhausen Falls: Basel – Zurich – Schaffhausen – St Galllen - Luzern - Basel
8: The Mont Blanc Express route and The Lotschberger: Basel – Biel – Lausanne – Martigny – Vallorcine – Chamonix-Mont Blanc – Vallorcine – Martigny – Brig – Thun/Bern via Kandersteg - Basel
FROM ZURICH:
1: The Golden Pass route: Zurich – Visp – Montreux – Zweisimmen – Spiez – Interlaken Ost – Luzern – Zurich
2: The Glacier/Bernina Express route #1: Zurich – Chur – Samedan – Pontresina – Tirano – Pontresina – Samedan – Chur – Zurich
3: The Glacier Express route #2: Zurich – Visp – Zermatt – Visp – Andermatt – Disentis/Muster – Chur – Zurich
4: The Centovali Express and The Gotthard Express route: Zurich – Brig – Domodossola – Locarno – Bellinzona – Erstfeld – Zurich
5: The Mount Rigi and Gotthard Express route: Zurich – Luzern → boat to Vitznau → Rigi-Kulm → Arth-Goldau – Fluelen → boat to Luzern – Zurich
6: The Bernese Oberland Railway: Zurich - Spiez – Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Kleine Scheidegg → Jungfaujoch → Kleine Scheidegg → Grindelwald → Interlaken Ost – Bern - Zurich
7: The Voralpen Express and Schaffhausen Falls: Zurich – Schaffhausen – St Galllen - Luzern - Zurich
8: The Mont Blanc Express route and The Lotschberger: Zurich – Lausanne – Martigny – Vallorcine – Chamonix-Mont Blanc – Vallorcine – Martigny – Brig – Thun/Bern via Kandersteg - Zurich
FROM OLTEN*:
1: The Golden Pass route: Olten – Visp – Montreux – Zweisimmen – Spiez – Interlaken Ost – Luzern – Olten
2: The Glacier/Bernina Express route #1: Olten - Zurich – Chur – Samedan – Pontresina – Tirano – Pontresina – Samedan – Chur – Zurich – Olten
3: The Glacier Express route #2: Olten – Visp – Zermatt – Visp – Andermatt – Disentis/Muster – Chur – Zurich – Olten
4: The Centovali Express and The Gotthard Express route: Olten – Brig – Domodossola – Locarno – Bellinzona – Erstfeld – Olten
5: The Mount Rigi and Gotthard Express route: Olten – Luzern → boat to Vitznau → Rigi-Kulm → Arth-Goldau – Fluelen → boat to Luzern – Olten
6: The Bernese Oberland Railway: Olten – Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Kleine Scheidegg → Jungfaujoch → Kleine Scheidegg → Grindelwald → Interlaken Ost – Olten
7: The Voralpen Express and Schaffhausen Falls: Olten – Zurich – Schaffhausen – St Galllen - Luzern - Olten
8: The Mont Blanc Express route and The Lotschberger: Olten - Visp – Martigny – Vallorcine – Chamonix-Mont Blanc – Vallorcine – Martigny – Brig – Thun/Bern via Kandersteg - Olten
*Olten is the central hub of the Swiss rail system so it makes a great base for exploring Switzerland by train and its room rates tend to much lower than staying in Basel or Zurich
It also has a charming old town in which to have a meal/drink after your day of travels.
Or if you don't want to stay in the same location every night, National Geographic has published this great guide to following the 'Grand Tour of Switzerland' route
Booking the passes:
If you want to take one or two, or three of these itineraries, a Saver Day Pass for each day of travels will be a money saver,
If you want to follow three or four of these routes it can be worth looking up the costs of purchasing 3 or 4 day passes against the cost of a 3 or 4 day Swiss Travel Pass.
Though keep in mind:
The Concierge Service can help with planning a tailor made itinerary for exploring these mountain railways with a Swiss Travel Pass or an InterRail pass.
We have singled out these trains because the Swiss tourist information services also highlights these services.
You don't have to travel by these trains to explore these routes, some of which are taken by mainline trains, but they offer either convenience, or a special on-board experience, or both.
What can make these trains special is:
2: The Glacier Express (large windows and a direct service)
3: The Gotthard Panorama Express (large windows in 1st class and a direct service)
4: The Lötschberger (local service)
Has access to the Adelboden, Saas Fee and Saas Grund skiing areas.
5: The Voralpen Express (direct service)
If you will be travelling with a rail pass, this route between Montreux and Luzern, is a fabulously scenic and useful connection between Lake Geneva and central Switzerland - a great alternative to the direct IR trains between Geneva and Luzern.
You can't take direct trains on this 'Golden Pass' route, but the required connections in Zweissimen and Interlaken Ost stations couldn't be more straightforward and the trains are timed to minimize the transfer time.
West to east the route is:
(1) MOB trains from Montreux to Zweissimen
(2) BLS (standard gauge trains) from Zweissimen to Interlaken Ost*
(3) The Luzern - Interlaken Express between Interlaken Ost and Luzern.
So reverse the combination when travelling east to west.
*In some hours an additional change of train is required in Spiez, but this can be avoided if you depart from:
Montreux at 09:44; 11:44; 13: and 15:44
or Luzern at 07:05; 11:05; 13:05 and 15:05
What can be confusing is that MOB applies 'Golden Pass' branding to its trains, which only travel on the part of the route between Montreux to Zweissimen.
So you want to travel on more than one of these railways = a great idea, but some more insider knowledge, than we could fit on this already epic page, would probably be useful.
Hence we've come up with the tips below, which will add to your enjoyment of exploring these incredible mountain railways.
I wanted to share my passion for train travel and explain how anyone can take the fantastic journeys I have taken.
This is one of more than 100 train travel guides available on ShowMeTheJourney, which will make it easier to take the train journeys you want or need to make. As always, all images were captured on trips taken by ShowMeTheJourney.