Switzerland trip, comments welcome

[MattyH]

Very grateful for any expert thoughts on this forthcoming trip in early October - thanks.

Day 1: Early to Geneva, train to Zermatt, Gornergratt if it isn't dark by then.
Day 2: Glacier Express. Zermatt to St Moritz.
Day 3: Bernina Express to Lugano
Day 4: Lugano to Lucerne which should arrive around 1500 so maybe Voralpen Express to St Gallen, then the faster rote back to Lucerne
Day 5: Lucerne to Montreaux. Probably not doing Jungfraujoch as it's even more expensive.
Day 6: Montreaux to Geneva and home.

Any thoughts very welcome, and thanks.

 

[30907]

Do you particularly want the touristy add-ons (and crowds) of the Glacier/Bernina Expresses, or just to do the journey. If the latter, then just use service trains (including the 3-car unit that heads the BEx).
The Tirano to Lugano bus IIRC is only 1/day - you have time to do the journey via Milan by train AND to use the old Gotthard route via Göschenen (unless you particularly want to do the base tunnel).
If you want to do the Voralpen route then Zürich-St Gallen-Luzern would be most efficient.

 

[Foxhunter]

Excellent plan, clearly some thought has gone into it.

I've said before on this forum, if your funds run to it then the Bernina and Glacier are to be done at least once in a lifetime. I don't normally go for the 'touristy' things on holiday, but I thoroughly enjoyed both of them.

you have time to do the journey via Milan by train AND to use the old Gotthard route via Göschenen

Given your other selections I think this is an excellent suggestion. A shadow of its former self now, but still a pleasure if you have the time.

Probably not doing Jungfraujoch as it's even more expensive.

I made the same choice. But I enjoyed my round trip and pausing at Kleine Scheiddegg, though by October you will perhaps have to be a little lucky with the weather to get the views.

 

[Sir Felix Pole]

Yes, I would second taking the (hourly) service trains instead of the Glacier / Bernina Expresses - it can be rather wearing being hermetically sealed in with a load of annoying tourists for hours. You can also have a break in Andermatt, Disentis etc. as required. From Tirano if you don't want to go via Milan you can change at Monza for Lugano.

On the 'Golden Pass' route from Interlaken to Montreux there are service trains too (changing at Zweisimmen) although you probably want to do the through gauge-changing trains. In Montreaux a pleasant afternnon trip is the mountain railway to Rochers de Naye.

The Gornergratt is worth doing properly rather than in a rush at the end of the day - spectacular views at the top.

 

[alistairlees]

Most (?) of the service trains between chur and st moritz now include a panorama car that is for standing only. This has no seats (but a central padded stand to rest back against) and has windows that (electrically) slide down to open half of the window. Fantastic for viewing outside and taking photos and especially good as you go across all those famous viaducts and spirals. I travelled in one both ways on a Saturday in mid May and there was hardly anyone else in - August may be different of course. But if you can stand up for a couple of hours then it’s well worth it. The buffet steward came round , took drinks orders, and brought them to us too. Great fun and highly recommended.

 

[E94]

I did Tirano to Chur back in April using the normal service trains, and would 100% recommend the route. For me, getting a seat next to a window that opens was important. On the Tirano to Pontresina part I ended up on one of the fold up seats by the vestibule, because Trenord caused me to arrive in Tirano somewhat later than planned, but that is another story.
Samedan to Chur I used the photographic compartment. SBB‘s journey planner indicates which trains have them. I had a couple of people in there with me but it wasn’t crowded. Again, 100% recommend it

 

[Bill57p9]

Having just returned from a family railway holiday in Switzerland, it is an absolutely spectacular country.

We felt that the Bernina Express was probably worth the uplift but would do (and did the second time!) the Glacier Express route by service train instead. This would also allow you to take in the Furka Dampfbahn (steam over the bit of the route where you can see glaciers, which the service train and express bypass by tunnel!) if it is still running in October.
Also the spur from Andermatt to Göschennen is breathtaking and well worth the small diversion.

SBB run historic trains once a month via the old Gottard pass & tunnel, usually hauled by a Crocodile.

RhB run a couple of daily historic trains in scheduled passenger service between Filisur and Davos.

If you have time, RhB have a great museum in Bergun and the Lucern Transport Museum has a lot for everyone (planes, trains, automobiles and ships). Both these museums have very impressive collections and model layouts.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[lbradshaw55]

I did the Bernina Line at the start of the month, and I would suggest travelling on the regional services over the express (as others have recommended). The opening windows on the older carriages gave some great views, and the fact that they are hourly gives more flexibility and allows you to get off along the way. I would recommend Ospizio Bernina as a stopping point if you have time, Lago Bianco is very nice to walk around!

Some other RhB stuff I'd recommend if you have time to explore the area more throughly:

• The Davos-Filisur line, especially with the Historic trains or the Landwasser Shuttle since both have open carriages. The bit with a waterfall sandwiched between two tunnels was a definite highlight.
• The Landwasser Shuttle also allows you to get to a viewpoint which allows you to look down onto the famous viaduct.
• The Chur-Arosa line - short but with some excellent views (there are also two loco-hauled diagrams with Ge4/4 IIs if that interests you)
• The Rheinschlucht area around Trin and Versam-Safien. An excellent area to wander for an hour or two. If you take the Glacier Express you'll pass through anyway but its worth exploring

The Rigi railways up from Arth-Goldau and Vitznau are worth doing as well, with some incredible views and a nice mix of old and new rolling stock (all equipped with opening windows as well). The Vitznau section is notable for being Europe's first mountain railway. There are also historic trains on the Arth-Goldau side daily and the Vitznau side on Wednesdays.

If you're passing through St Gallen then a quick trip up to Heiden on the S25 offers some great views (there may even be some open carriages running). The S26 to Walzenhausen with its 50s railcar is a unique experience as well.

Also the spur from Andermatt to Göschennen is breathtaking and well worth the small diversion.

Can second this. Impressively steep with great views of jagged cliffs.

Overall a very impressive country with lots to do rail-wise. Hope you enjoy!

 

[MattyH]

Thanks so much everybody. I will now disappoint you all by saying that I am being a 100% full fat tourist and doing the named special trains rather than the local services, partly because, well, I'm happy to sit there and watch and I have a bit of a disability which means that proper walks aren't an option. Having said that, in early October I don't anticipate problems in jumping off early or whatever; I've taken the Swiss Pass option for fares. You've given me some interesting ideas on side trips and I'll have a good browse at these. I guess that I am at the mercy of weather in early October but I'll benefit from being in the low season.

Really appreciate the thoughts and if it's ok I'll come back with anything further on specific trips, and also with a brief trip report.

 

[Usual-Commuter]

Looks a great plan for a few days.

I’ve really enjoyed doing some of the Bernina and Glacier express in the last couple of years. With an interrail or Swiss Pass I thought the seat reservations weren’t too expensive for the experience.

If you have time in Lucerne I thought the Cable car up Mt Pilatus was excellent. Kriens - Fräkmüntegg is approx half the price compared to going to going all the way Pilatus Klum (+a toboggan there!).

Kriens was about 10-15 on the bus from outside the main station in Lucerne.

Enjoy the trip!

(Pic from Fräkmüntegg)