GoldenPass Line A Train Journey with Two Premium Panoramic Trains. mystsnet.com Version 1, 2018 GoldenPass MOB Panoramic, Montreux, Lake Geneva Region
A Train Journey with Two Premium Panoramic Trains. The GoldenPass Line links three regions, two languages and eight lakes, tempting travellers to discover some of Switzerland s most diverse delights. In the morning the timeless tradition of German-language Central Switzerland. Followed by the beautiful Bernese Oberland. And in the evening the French flair of Lake Geneva. The GoldenPass Line consists of three different trains two of which are Premium panoramic trains. In the first part of the route, guests travel in the modern Luzern-Interlaken Express of the Zentralbahn. The route passes by Lake Alpnach, Lake Sarnen and Lake Lungern on the way up to the Brünig pass and then down to Meiringen. Thereafter the journey continues via Lake Brienz to Interlaken here guests transfer to the BLS RegioExpress and first glide along Lake Thun, then pass through the Simmen Valley to arrive in Zweisimmen. From here the GoldenPass MOB Panoramic continues via Gstaad to Montreux situated on Lake Geneva. This spectacular adventure journey in three different trains can begin either in western or Central Switzerland. Basel Zürich St.Gallen Luzern Neuchâtel Bern Interlaken Lausanne Zweisimmen Genève Montreux Brig Zermatt Chur Andermatt St.Moritz Locarno Lugano History of the Luzern-Interlaken Express The first trains of the Jura-Bern-Luzern Railway operated between Alpnachstad and Brienz in 1888. A twin-axle steam engine then pulled three light passenger coaches over the Brünig pass. The trains ran six times a day and each coach offered 90 seats for travellers. The cogwheel sections, which allow the train to overcome a 120 % grade, still today make the former Brünig Railway stand out as an exotic jewel. On 1 January 2005, A New Train Age began. Twelve years ago the existing SBB Brünig Railway and the Luzern-Stans-Engelberg Railway merged to form the zb Zentralbahn AG. Since late 2012, the train from Lucerne to Interlaken has been operating under the name Luzern- Interlaken Express. History of the GoldenPass MOB Panoramic As early as the 1920s the idea emerged of the railways of Central Switzerland and the Lake Geneva Region teaming up to offer a joint travel experience. Many English-speaking visitors travelled the route in late autumn in particular, enjoying the season s captivating colours and a golden time (hence the name GoldenPass Line). In 1976 the Montreux Bernese Oberland Railway took delivery of the first panorama railcars in Switzerland. BLS = Bern Lötschberg Simplon MOB = Montreux Bernese Oberland Railway ZB = Zentralbahn 2
Route Highlights of the Luzern-Interlaken Express. En route from Lucerne to Interlaken Ost the Luzern-Interlaken Express includes the following highlights and excursion attractions. Lake Sarnen. The Sarnersee embedded in a pre-alpine landscape in Central Switzerland is popular for its easy and attractive hiking trail around the lake. Hiking time is some five hours and the overall gradient difference is only 40 metres. The recommended season is March to November. Attractions along the way include Sarnen s historic old town and several churches. Lake Lungern. Lake Lungern and its splendid setting make this region an absolute eldorado for the active holidaymaker. Particularly popular among hiking, biking and angling enthusiasts as well as nature-lovers. The lake is a natural reservoir in Canton Obwalden between the villages of Kaiserstuhl and Lungern and can be reached via the scenic Sarnen Valley. Brünig Pass and Brünig Safari. The Brünig Pass links Canton Obwalden with the Bernese Oberland and can be crossed by road or rail. Between May and October, train passengers can catch sights of wild animals on the Brünig Safari. Thirteen life-sized hand-carved wooden creatures are waiting to be discovered along the route it s just like a real safari! Lake Brienz. Nestled between the Emmental and Bernese Alps, Lake Brienz captivates visitors with its unique turquoise hues. The railway line runs along the steep northern shore of this popular pre-alpine lake. The BLS Lake Navigation Company operates a fleet of four motor vessels and one historic paddle steamer. Interlaken. Interlaken is located between the lakes of Brienz and Thun, at the foot of the towering trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The resort is an ideal point of departure for many holiday excursions. In Interlaken Ost, GoldenPass Line passengers change from the metre-gauge trains of the Zentral bahn to the normal-gauge trains departing for Zweisimmen. 3
Route highlights of the BLS RegioExpress. En route from Interlaken Ost to Zweisimmen the BLS RegioExpress includes the following highlights and excursion attractions. Lake Thun. Lake Thun extends from Thun to Interlaken and is the largest lake located entirely within a single Swiss canton. The BLS fleet offers a variety of interesting theme cruises and relaxing round trips. Undisputed star is the historic Blümlisalp paddle steamer, a classic vessel built in 1906. Zweisimmen. Zweisimmen lies at the confluence of the Grosse and Kleine Simme rivers, and is a departure point for high-altitude hikes throughout the region. It is here that passengers change to the gold-coloured Panorama or Belle Epoque trains of the Montreux-Bernese Oberland Railway (MOB). From 2019, a gauge conversion system will enable passengers to travel direct to the Lake Geneva Region. Zweisimmen, das Sonnendorf am Rinderberg. Zweisimmen ist Ausgangspunkt attraktiver Grat- und Höhenwanderungen. Die rauschenden Bäche Grosse und Kleine Simme sind die Namensgeber des Ortes. Hier steigen die Gäste gegenwärtig noch um in die goldenen Panoramic- oder Belle Époque Züge der Montreux-Berner Oberland Bahn (MOB). Dank einer neuen Umspuranlage wird der GoldenPass ab 2019 direkt bis Montreux weiterfahren. Route highlights of the GoldenPass MOB Panoramic. En route from Zweisimmen to Montreux the GoldenPass MOB Panoramic includes the following highlights and excursion attractions. Gstaad. Gstaad is an internationally renowned resort, famous for its chic chalet-style houses, car-free centre and exclusive restaurants and hotels. Popular with the rich and the famous, glamorous Gstaad hosts annual sports and cultural events such as the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, the Davidoff Saveurs Festival for star chefs from all over the world, and the Swiss Open Gstaad tennis tournament the Wimbledon of the Alps. 4
Saanen. Saanen is the last German-speaking village along the GoldenPass route to the French-language Lake Geneva Region. The village is renowned for its artistically intricate scissor-cuts and other rural handicrafts (attractively exhibited in the Museum der Landschaft ) and famous among food-lovers for its finely-sliced Alpine cheese. It was here in this idyllic Alpine setting that eminent violinist Sir Yehudi Menuhin (1916-1999) founded his Menuhin Festival nearly 60 years ago. Château-d Oex. The small Alpine village of Château-d Oex has an unusual claim to fame. It is a major metropolis of hot-air ballooning, and every winter for nearly 40 years has hosted an international balloon festival. The resort is also famous for its delicious cheese fondue dishes, prepared to perfection over open wood fires as in Le Chalet restaurant. Visitors can also see Alpine cheese being made. Rossinière. On the right side in the direction of Montreux, the stately Grand Chalet comes into view. It was here that Victor Hugo wrote part of his work Les Misérables. Dating back to the 18th century, the Grand Chalet was in its time the largest timbered dwelling in Switzerland with its elaborate five-level façade and no fewer than 113 windows. The building is owned by the Klossowski de Rola family of artists. Montbovon. Montbovon is a romantic village on the River Sarine and a delightful departure point for many enjoyable excursions. A regional train links Les Avants with the picturesque village of Gruyères, famous for its fine cheese. Between April and November the GoldenPass trains take travellers from Montreux direct to Broc and the Nestlé/Callier chocolate factory. As the popular background to many Bollywood films, Montbovon has long found fame in India. Les Avants. Les Avants is famous for its extraordinary abundance of narcissi, known locally as May Snow because of the white-carpeted meadows which surround the Vaudois village every spring. Some 300 metres under the Col de Jaman pass, the nearly 2.5-kilometre Jaman Tunnel links Les Cases and Les Avants. Then begins the steep descent through woodland, vineyards and villas to lakeside Montreux. During the winding descent, passengers are offered fine views of Lake Geneva alternately to the left and to the right. 5
Facts & Figures. Route Luzern Interlaken Ost with the Luzern-Interlaken Express Interlaken Ost Zweisimmen with the BLS RegioExpress Zweisimmen Montreux with the GoldenPass MOB Panoramic or Belle Époque Offer The GoldenPass Line comprises 3 different trains and transport companies. Because of the varying gauges, passengers are required to change trains twice: in Interlaken Ost and Zweisimmen Luzern Interlaken Ost route operated by the Zentralbahn: Panorama railcars 1st and 2nd class, air conditioned dining car Interlaken Ost Zweisimmen operated by the BLS: railcars in 1st and 2nd class, air conditioned Zweisimmen Montreux route operated by the MOB: GoldenPass MOB Panoramic: Panorama railcar including 8 VIP seats (reservation supplement for VIP seats, CHF 15 per person) GoldenPass MOB Belle Époque: Belle Époque railcar with dining car and service at your seat Eating and drinking Timetable Luzern Interlaken Ost dining car Interlaken Ost Zweisimmen no catering in train Zweisimmen Montreux Minibar in Panorama railcar trains / Belle Époque dining car in MOB Belle Époque Timetable (10 Dec 2017 to 08 Dec 2018 expressly subject to change) Luzern Interlaken Montreux Luzern a) dp 07.06 1) 09.06 1) 11.06 1) 13.06 1) 15.06 1) Interlaken Ost a) arr 08.55 10.55 12.55 14.55 16.55 Interlaken Ost dp 07.00 5) 09.08 5) 09.29 5) 11.00 5) 13.08 5) 15.08 5) 15.29 5) 17.08 5) Spiez arr 07.21 09.50 11.21 15.50 Spiez dp 07.37 5) 10.18 5) 11.37 5) 16.18 Zweisimmen arr 08.19 10.19 10.59 12.19 14.19 16.19 16.59 18.19 Zweisimmen b) dp 08.25 2) 10.25 2) 11.05 4) 12.25 3) 14.25 2) 16.25 4) 17.05 2) 18.25 3) Montreux b) arr 10.13 12.13 13.03 14.13 16.13 18.13 19.01 20.11 Montreux Interlaken Luzern Montreux b) dp 07.44 2) 08.53 4) 09.44 3) 11.44 2) 13.44 4) 14.53 2) 15.44 3) 17.53 2) Zweisimmen b) arr 09.32 10.52 11.32 13.32 15.32 16.52 17.34 19.52 Zweisimmen dp 09.38 5) 11.03 5) 11.38 5) 13.38 5) 15.38 5) 17.03 5) 17.38 5) 20.01 5) Spiez arr 10.19 11.47 17.47 20.45 Spiez dp 10.33 5) 12.05 5) 18.05 5) 21.36 5) Interlaken Ost arr 10.57 12.28 12.49 14.49 16.49 18.28 18.49 21.57 Interlaken Ost a) dp 11.04 1) 13.04 1) 15.04 1) 17.04 1) 19.04 1) Luzern a) arr 12.55 14.55 16.55 18.55 20.55 1) 2) 3) Luzern-Interlaken Express GoldenPass MOB Panoramic GoldenPass MOB Panoramic with VIP-seats (until 02 September 2018) 4) 5) GoldenPass MOB Belle Époque (10 December 2017 07 January 2018 / 30 June 08 December 2018) Regular train a) 15 October 08 December 2018 Brienz Interlaken Ost Brienz: Rail replacement buses b) 18 March 04 June 2018 Château-d Oex Montbovon Château-d Oex: No group transportation services Château-d Oex Montreux Château-d Oex: No group transportation services Zweisimmen Montreux Zweisimmen: No seat reservation for single travellers 6
Travel duration Luzern Interlaken Ost 1h 50 min Interlaken Ost Zweisimmen 1h 11 min Zweisimmen Montreux 1h 48 min Luzern Montreux 5h 8 min (including changes of train) Route length 191 kilometres / 119 miles Route stops Luzern Sarnen Sachseln Giswil Kaiserstuhl OW Lungern Brünig-Hasliberg Meiringen Brienz Interlaken Ost Interlaken Ost Interlaken West Spiez Wimmis Oey-Diemtigen Erlenbach im Simmental Boltigen Zweisimmen Zweisimmen Saanenmöser Schönried Gstaad Saanen Rougemont Château-d Oex Rossinière Montbovon Les Avants Chamby Chernex Montreux Seat reservation and surcharge On the GoldenPass Line reservation is not mandatory (except for VIP seats), but is strongly recommended, particularly between May and September Surcharge Luzern-Interlaken Express possible, CHF 8 (01 Jan 18 May 2018 & 09 31 Dec 2018) resp. CHF 10 (19 May 14 Oct 2018) BLS RegioExpress possible, CHF 5 GoldenPass MOB Panoramic and Belle Époque trains recommended, CHF 8 VIP seats mandatory, CHF 15 Ticket information Individual passenger fares (excluding surcharge) Ticket Swiss Travel Pass Swiss Travel Pass Flex Swiss Travel Pass Youth Swiss Half Fare Card Routes and prices Luzern Montreux or vice versa included CHF 38.50 in 2nd class CHF 67.50 in 1st class Children aged 6 15.99 with Swiss Family Card free of charge Without reduction CHF 77 in 2nd class CHF 135 in 1st class Eurail included Interrail included All prices are subject to change. MOB Route Upgrade The train composition of the GoldenPass MOB Panoramic with VIP seats will be taken out of service on 3 September 2018 and completely rebuilt. The normal GoldenPass MOB Panoramic with 1st and 2nd class panoramic coaches will continue on a regular basis. The GoldenPass Classic will be renovated between 8 January and 29 June 2018. Beginning 30 June, three salon coaches will be in service again and operate under the new name GoldenPass MOB Belle Époque. During the renovation period the train will run according to schedule with normal coaches. Points-of-sale Swiss Travel System points-of-sale worldwide: mystsnet.com/wheretobuy Every railway station in Switzerland 7