Swiss Destinations, Swiss Pass

[STEVIEBOY1]

Good afternoon,

All being well, in July, I hope to be staying in Wengen for a week, most of the time excursions, mainly railed based, have been included, but we do have 2 free days and a full Std class Swiss Pass. I was thinking of going over to a part of Switzerland that I have not visited before and wonder if anyone knows if the towns of Fribourg, Estavier le Lac and Yverdon les Bains are interesting and worth a visit,? they are kind of all in a direct line and it may be possible to do a rail curcuit around the lake via Biel on the way back.

I was hoping to have coffee/lunch in at least a couple of these towns.

I would depart Wengen around 0900 hours and probably need to return there by about 1900 hours.

I will also try to go on the other day to Brig, via the old line in one direction and the new base tunnel in the other. Maybe do some of the Glacier express line too. (I think that no longer involves a reversal at Brig if going on a through train to/from Zermatt.?)
When I have done that before, all those trains left from westbound facing platforms out side the main station and if going towards Andamat & Chur, the line did a large curve under the main lines before going eastwards.

Rgds.

 

[starrymarkb]

I will also try to go on the other day to Brig, via the old line in one direction and the new base tunnel in the other. Maybe do some of the Glacier express line too. (I think that no longer involves a reversal at Brig if going on a through train to/from Zermatt.?)
When I have done that before, all those trains left from westbound facing platforms out side the main station and if going towards Andamat & Chur, the line did a large curve under the main lines before going eastwards.

Rgds.

All services depart east now, the old curve has been lifted (allowing the closure of several level crossings)

 

[30907]

Fribourg has a nice old centre; we visited it (30 years ago this year, with a Swiss Pass) along with Murten which is still completely(?) walled and definitely worth it. Not been to others but Yverdon has the Ste Croix line. The scenery isn't spectacular until you hit the edge of the Jura.
There are lake steamers too - used to be a 3-lakes tour including Murten, Biel and Neuchatel, but that might be too long a day bearing in mind the time down to Interlaken.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Fribourg has a nice old centre; we visited it (30 years ago this year, with a Swiss Pass) along with Murten which is still completely(?) walled and definitely worth it. Not been to others but Yverdon has the Ste Croix line. The scenery isn't spectacular until you hit the edge of the Jura.
There are lake steamers too - used to be a 3-lakes tour including Murten, Biel and Neuchatel, but that might be too long a day bearing in mind the time down to Interlaken.

OK, Thanks for that. I think I will certainly go to Fribourg, it sounds interesting. The Lake Steamers probably would make it too long for the day as you mention though.

 

[eastwestdivide]

How about a taster trip Wengen-Interlaken-Lucerne-Göschenen-Andermatt-Brig-Lötschberg-Interlaken-Wengen? You get the Zentralbahn, the north ramp of the Gotthard, part of the Glacier Express route, and the Lötschberg all in one trip.
I'll leave someone else to work out if the timings are possible.
Alternatively go east from Andermatt-Chur and back via the main line from Chur.

 

[davetheguard]

Fribourg has a nice old centre; we visited it (30 years ago this year, with a Swiss Pass) along with Murten which is still completely(?) walled and definitely worth it. Not been to others but Yverdon has the Ste Croix line. The scenery isn't spectacular until you hit the edge of the Jura.
There are lake steamers too - used to be a 3-lakes tour including Murten, Biel and Neuchatel, but that might be too long a day bearing in mind the time down to Interlaken.

I would second the suggestion of going to Murten, a really attractive little place. I think Yverdon has less going for it, although the line up to Ste. Croix is worth it just for the ride.

We also like the village of Gruyeres (where the cheese comes from) which is a chocolate-box sort of place. Lots of tourists of course, but mainly Swiss, and some nice places to eat around the village square with rustic dishes that include the local fromage.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

How about a taster trip Wengen-Interlaken-Lucerne-Göschenen-Andermatt-Brig-Lötschberg-Interlaken-Wengen? You get the Zentralbahn, the north ramp of the Gotthard, part of the Glacier Express route, and the Lötschberg all in one trip.
I'll leave someone else to work out if the timings are possible.
Alternatively go east from Andermatt-Chur and back via the main line from Chur.

Many Thanks for this excellent suggestion which I shall certainly consider for one of the free days, I will have a look on the Swiss Rail Website to see how the timings work out.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I would second the suggestion of going to Murten, a really attractive little place. I think Yverdon has less going for it, although the line up to Ste. Croix is worth it just for the ride.

We also like the village of Gruyeres (where the cheese comes from) which is a chocolate-box sort of place. Lots of tourists of course, but mainly Swiss, and some nice places to eat around the village square with rustic dishes that include the local fromage.

Thank you, Murten along with Fribourg could be a possibilty, again I will look at the Swissrail website for timings/connections. Rgds.

 

[Diddyness]

If you have never travelled over the Gotthard, it is an incredible line, with numerous helicoidal tunnels to drop/rise in altitude. Unlike most steep lines, it is exceptionally busy with freight and double headed freights are still banked up from Erstfeld to Góschenen.

The descent from Andermatt to Góschenen belies belief and if the river Reuss has a good flow on it makes for a very dramatic descent.

Note: As a rail enthusiast, services over the Gotthard are still loco-hauled, some use the 1960's built Re4/4" which to me are the very image of Switzerland with their spoked wheels and Swiss badge on the front.

 

[Gerald Fiennes]

If you do go to Murten/Morat (it's sort of bilingual over there but really German speaking), then do come back via Kerzers which has an unusual diamond junction with old mechanical signalbox in the middle. I think the box is occasionally open to visitors; the train from Murten joins from Neuchatel here (see how quickly BLS does this!) and then goes over quite a scenic single track line to Berne (now being partially doubled) via Guemmenen. Murten/Morat is unique and well worth visiting.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

If you do go to Murten/Morat (it's sort of bilingual over there but really German speaking), then do come back via Kerzers which has an unusual diamond junction with old mechanical signalbox in the middle. I think the box is occasionally open to visitors; the train from Murten joins from Neuchatel here (see how quickly BLS does this!) and then goes over quite a scenic single track line to Berne (now being partially doubled) via Guemmenen. Murten/Morat is unique and well worth visiting.

Thank you that tip too, sounds like it is an interesting area.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If you have never travelled over the Gotthard, it is an incredible line, with numerous helicoidal tunnels to drop/rise in altitude. Unlike most steep lines, it is exceptionally busy with freight and double headed freights are still banked up from Erstfeld to Góschenen.

The descent from Andermatt to Góschenen belies belief and if the river Reuss has a good flow on it makes for a very dramatic descent.

Note: As a rail enthusiast, services over the Gotthard are still loco-hauled, some use the 1960's built Re4/4" which to me are the very image of Switzerland with their spoked wheels and Swiss badge on the front.

Thank you, I have been on that line a couple of times and agree with you, it is an amazing journey....I wonder what will happen to it when the new super long tunnel is completed. I guess most trains will go through that, and the existing line will be just have slower local services, rather like the 2 Lotchsberg routes now from Brig towards the Berne area.