Martigny-Goschenen - 2 Different Routes - Which One should I take?

[burns20]

Option 1 - Martigny-Montreux-Zweisimmen (Goldenpass Classic)-Interlaken Ost-Luzern-Goschenen

Option 2 - Martigny-Brig-Domodossola-Locarno Fart-Locarno-Belinzona-Goschenen

I have already done the Goldenpass Classic train before but was going to revisit it, now I am thinking to go a completely new way and see new scenery.

Opinions please.

 

[LouJ]

I think both are interesting in their own way.

The Montreux & Interlaken option uses two sections of metre gauge line and also traverses the northern section of the Gotthard route with the spiral. Perhaps offers more interest along the way.

The FART option includes a spectacular metre gauge line and the Simplon route. Perhaps less to see en-route but worth doing if you haven't done so before. Beware the FART can be very busy and crowded in summer. The section from Martigny to Brig is not very thrilling.

Hope this helps.

You could also go Martigny - Lausanne - Berne - Spiez and join your option at Brig. This would include the Lotschberg Pass - however you need to take a train that stops at Kandersteg so you are not routed through the new base tunnel.

 

[burns20]

I have done teh Lotchsberg Pass before but in total darkness as I have done Luzern to Interlaken in the dark so I'm not sure.

 

[Gordon]

Personally I would suggest you do the FART option if you haven't done it before.

The suggestion to ameliorate this option by going over the MOB first is excellent.

It is quite 'diverting' to pop into Italy at Domo, and you could fit in a ride on a 'classic' SBB train by using the local Brig - Domo Re4/4II hauled train.

With careful planning you could get a proper loco on the MOB, a BLS brownie Re4/4 on Zweisimmen – Spiez, then an SBB Re4/4II and old fresh-air coaches on Brig – Domo, although Spiez – Brig over the mountain is now a Lotschberger unit, but the journey is still well worth doing – and it calls at intermediates stations on the south ramp enabling a slightly more leisurely view of the spectacular descent into Brig.

By the way – one pedantic point – unlike the Gotthard, Simplon, Furka, Mont Cenis etc, there is no such thing as the Lötschberg Pass. The pass over the massif under which the old Lötschberg tunnel passes is called the Lötschenpass. Lötschberg simply means ‘Lötsch-mountain’ if you will. Thus Spiez – Brig route should be called the Lötschberg route. Of course the base tunnel has complicated matters, so I tend to use the phrase Lötschberg mountain route to indicate the old route.



.

 

[burns20]

My route to try and complete in a day with my hotel at Goschenen is as follows

0830 Geneve Eaux Vives - Gervais Les Bains - Martigny - Montreux - Zweissimmen - Interlaken Ost - Luzern - Goschenen 2048

I've looked at doing Montreux-Zweissimmen-Spiez-Kandersteg-Domodossola-Locarno-Goschenen but don't seem to be able to fit it all in a day.

Maybe get up earlier?

 

[Gordon]

My route to try and complete in a day with my hotel at Goschenen is ... 0830 Geneve Eaux Vives - St Gervais - Martigny - Montreux - Zweissimmen - Interlaken Ost - Luzern - Goschenen 2048
I've looked at doing Montreux-Zweissimmen-Spiez-Kandersteg-Domodossola-Locarno-Goschenen but don't seem to be able to fit it all in a day.
Maybe get up earlier?

Clearly, if you are actually starting at Geneva not Martigny and intending to do Chamonix - Martigny first that makes a big difference to what will be possible in a day.

The 'full monty' via CHamonix, Gstaad and the Centovalli is just about possible - by leaving Geneve Eaux Vives at 06.30 (arr Goeschenen 20.07)
. It would be quite a day!

 

[burns20]

Yes I am starting from Geneve. Going earlier sees me on the earlier Modern GoldenPass train which only has a bar, does this serve food?

As it will be high summer the nights will be light so I don't mind the long days.

 

[Gordon]

Yes I am starting from Geneve. Going earlier sees me on the earlier Modern GoldenPass train which only has a bar, does this serve food?

As it will be high summer the nights will be light so I don't mind the long days.

As you say mid summer is the tight time for such a long day - as it will be daylight throughout.

There is food of a sort available on the Goldenpass panoramic – but we only had a drink last time and I can’t remember what else is on the menu. That train does have the advantage of the forward (or backward) facing ‘observation car’ seats.

There are also half hour breaks at both Martigny and Montruex on the Genève – Chamonix – Montreux itinerary, where you could possibly stock up on picnic food.

However, I'm now getting a different result from my search which suggests that Genève - Chamonix - Martigny - Montreux - Spiez - Lötschberg mountain route - Brig - Domodossola - centovalli - locarno is not possible as you get to Spiez at 14.20 and the train south has departed at 14.12.

It still works if you omit the Lötschberg mountain and go through the base tunnel but it ceases to be a 'full monty'!

 

[burns20]

I have forgone the Mountain and will do the tunnel, am on the 0601 16 Tram to Geneve Eaux Vives from Cornavin, I'll be a pretty sight at that hour lol!

 

[Gordon]

The LOtschberg base tunnel an interesting rail journey in itself. Just the speed with which you reach the Valais from the Berner Oberland is amazing.

On another point – there has been work on the Simplon tunnel affecting timetables for a year or so now, and the fire the other week – so would be worth confirming before you go that the Simplon tunnel run is not affected. Having said that you can easily abort at Brig and go via the Furka Oberalp. You could even turn back at Domo if you discover problems on the FART.

Just to relate a story from my youth. In 1973 and 1974 my family had ‘pioneering’ Swiss Holiday Card (as the Swiss Pass was then known) fortnights from our house near Geneva, and we always tried to finish off the holiday with a ‘full monty’ finale circuit. In those days pre taktfahrplan not as much was possible as is today, but you could get from Geneva and back to Geneva in a day and go Geneve – Simplon – Domodossola – Locarno – Bellinzona – Gotthard – Zurich – Geneve.

On one of the two occasions we arrived at Brig to find unusual passenger trains in the station. The first sign that something was amiss was seeing the Holland-Italien express (which should have gone via the Gotthard) at Brig. WE stayed on our train though and it set of through the Simplon tunnel. However exiting the tunnel at the Italian end we then joined a queue of trains heading down the hill into Domo. We stayed for about 20 minutes at each signal and in one place could see the train in front stopped at the next signal down the line.

When we got to Domodossola eventually we saw a chalked notice stating that the Gotthard was ‘interupto’ – it turned out that a nasty collision had taken place on the Gotthard and everything was diverting via the Simplon.

The tailback was being caused by the fact that the Italians couldn’t mobiles FS locos quickly enough to take over from the Swiss locos so each train stayed in Domo station far longer than normal. This was the =days of universal ‘hole in the floor’ toilets so the 4ft was not something pleasant to look at after each train had left the platforms roads!

WE had to abort the circuit and could only ride the Centovalli as far as Re and back. The following year we managed to do the circuit successfully