Scenic and Famous Railway Lines of Switzerland
Switzerland is truly a wonderful country and, as one would expect, the trains are renowned for being clean, efficient, and always on time! Switzerland has many beautiful railway routes and several famous trains. Many of these journeys feature on the often repeated "Swiss Rail Journeys" television series made in the 1990s.
Please do contact us if you would like more information, or to incorporate one or more into a longer trip.
All prices given exclude our cover charge and are for one adult travelling one way only, unless otherwise stated. Prices are subject to availability and currency fluctuations. Reservations are included if compulsory or strongly recommended.
You may wish to consider combining several of these journeys into one holiday and it would then be worthwhile considering one of the range of Swiss Passes.
The Aigle Lines
From Aigle to Leysin, Les Diablerets and Champéry in South West Switzerland
The Aigle-Leysin Railway, was the earliest of the narrow gauge line in the Chablais area of south west Switzerland. The first kilometre of the route is through the streets of Aigle from the railway station to the railway depot. From this point the line climbs steeply through the vineyards.
Total journey time approximately 35 minutes.
The Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry Railway crosses the Rhône plain, and winds through Valaisan country before using the Stub rack system to climb the mountain, unveiling a sumptuous panorama on the way, spotted with villages typical of the Val d'Illiez before reaching Champéry.
Total journey time approximately 1 hour.
The Aigle-Sépey-Diablerets Railway incorporates spiral tunnels, dizzingly high viaducts, and breathtaking landscapes whilst hugging the side of the moutain on precipices.
Total journey time approximately 50 minutes.
Seat reservations are not possible and there is no first class on these routes
| Price | 1st class | 2nd Class | Swiss Pass | Half Fare Card 1st class |
Half Fare Card 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leysin | N/A | £7.80 | Free! | N/A | £3.90 |
| Champéry | N/A | £9.90 | Free! | N/A | £4.95 |
| Diablerets | N/A | £8.30 | Free! | N/A | £4.15 |
Berner Oberland railway
Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald
The Berner Oberland railway is a Y shaped line running from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. It is a rack assisted line, and begins the climb to Jungfraujoch.
Total journey time approximately 20 minutes to Lauterbrunnen and 35 to Grindelwald. Reservations are not possible.
| Prices | 1st class | 2nd Class | Swiss Pass | Half Fare Card 1st class |
Half Fare Card 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lauterbrunnen | £9.40 | £5.50 | Free! | £4.70 | £2.75 |
| Grindelwald | £13.80 | £7.80 | Free! | £6.90 | £3.90 |
The Bernina Express
Chur to Tirano
The train makes short work of the 55 Tunnels, 196 bridges and steep climbs that are found along its route. The physical high-point of the Rhätischebahn is Ospizio Bernina at 2,253 metres above sea level. Since summer 2008, the section between Thusis and Tirano has been classed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Total journey time approximately 4 hours. Reservations are compulsory on the Bernina Express Panoramic trains.
| Prices | 1st class | 2nd Class | Swiss Pass | Half Fare Card 1st class |
Half Fare Card 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Way | £78.40 | £48.15 | £8.00 | £43.20 | £28.05 |
Bex Villars Bretaye Railway
Bex to Col-de-Bretaye via Villars in South West Switzerland
This is really two metre gauge railways, first a mixed adhesion and rack railway from Bex to Villars-sur-Ollon, then after a change of trains onto an Abt rack system railway to Col-de-Bretaye. The journey starts at 1,401 ft at Bex and after running through the streets of Bex rises to 5,938 ft at Col-de-Bretaye.
Total journey time approximately 1 hour. Seat reservations are not possible and there is no first class on this route.
| Prices | 1st class | 2nd Class | Swiss Pass | Half Fare Card 1st class |
Half Fare Card 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Way | N/A | £18.50 | Free! | N/A | £9.25 |
The Glacier Express
Zermatt to St. Moritz
The Glacier Express is the most famous train in the world. It travels from Zermatt to Davos or St. Moritz through untouched mountain landscapes, glamorous health resorts, deep gorges, delightful valleys, 91 tunnels and across 291 impressive bridges. Lunch on board can be pre-booked.
Total journey time approximately 7 hours
| Prices | 1st class | 2nd Class | Swiss Pass | Half Fare Card 1st class |
Half Fare Card 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Way | £192.00 | £113.65 | £9.20 | £100.65 | £61.50 |
If you are considering a ride on the Glacier Express you may wish to consider one of the range of Swiss Passes as money may be saved on this one journey.
The Golden Pass Line
Montreux to Lucerne
This route is made up of three separate trains, beginning with the Mediterranean atmosphere of Montreux then after passing through a tunnel, a setting of alpine forests, bubbling mountain streams and picturesque mountain villages. As you ride on the second train from Zweisimmen the valleys gets narrower and the forests darker and finally the train from Interlaken passes Brienz Lake and the Giessbach falls before climbing to the Brünig pass.
Total journey time approximately 8 hours 15 minutes if using the panoramic cars
| Prices | 1st class | 2nd Class | Swiss Pass | Half Fare Card 1st class |
Half Fare Card 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Way | £103.55 | £63.90 | £11.35 | £57.45 | £37.65 |
The Gotthard Pass
Milan, Italy to Lucerne
The first part of this route is across the fertile Lombard plains with the mountains a distant view. As the train approaches Como the scenery becomes more dramatic overlooking lake Como. Shortly after entering Switzerland at Chiasso the train will enter a narrow valley before crossing Lake Lugano on a causeway. The route then follows the Ticino river in a narrowing valley. To gain height the railway then snakes up the moutain using spiral tunnels and doubling back. After emerging from the Gotthard tunnel Lake Lucerne will be visible. A change of trains is required in Arth Goldau for the final part of the journey around the lake to Lucerne.
It will soon be important to check the route of your train as once the Gotthard Base Tunnel opens in 2016 and the Ceneri Base Tunnel opens in 2019 much of this route can be bypassed by over 72 kilometers of tunnels. The Gotthard Base Tunnel at 57 kilometers will be world's longest rail tunnel.
Total journey time approximately 4 hours 30 minutes including changes.
| Prices | 1st class | 2nd Class | Swiss Pass 2nd class | Swiss Pass 1st class | Half Fare Card 1st class |
Half Fare Card 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Way | £89.50 | £55.00 | £11.50 | £14.00 | £44.50 | £28.00 |
The Jura Line
La Chaux-de-Fonds to Porrentruy in Northern Switzerland
Another metre gauge railway running through wooded mountainsides, lush valleys and miles of unspoilt country. A change of trains is required at Glovelier
Total journey time approximately 1 hour 50 minutes
| Prices | 1st class | 2nd Class | Swiss Pass | Half Fare Card 1st class |
Half Fare Card 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Way | £36.30 | £20.75 | Free! | £18.15 | £10.40 |
Lake Biel
Basel to Yverdon
This route begins through a spectacular alpine landscape from Basel to Moutiers. From Biel to Yverdon the route follows the shores of Lake Biel and Lake Neuchâtel.
Total journey time approximately 2 hours
| Prices | 1st class | 2nd Class | Swiss Pass | Half Fare Card 1st class |
Half Fare Card 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Way | £50.50 | £29.00 | Free! | £25.25 | £14.50 |
Lausanne to Brig
Lausanne to Brig via Montreux
This route begins by following the shores of Lake Geneva and then has stunning mountain scenery as Brig is approached.
Total journey time approximately 1 hour 45 minutes
| Prices | 1st class | 2nd Class | Swiss Pass | Half Fare Card 1st class |
Half Fare Card 2nd class |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Way | £36.30 | £20.75 | Free! | £18.15 | £10.40 |
The Lötschberg Pass
Spiez to Brig via Kandersteg
The new Lötschberg base tunnel may save a little time but the scenery on the 'old' route should not be missed. Only on the mountain route via Kandersteg do you experience the loops around the Felsenburg castle and the impressive view of the Rhone Valley.
Total journey time approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Price £28.20
The Vereina Line
Landquart to Scuol Tarasp in Eastern Switzerland
This route incorporates one of Switzerland's newest railways line from Klosters to Sagliains opened in 1999. Through the beautiful Engadine valley near the Austrian and Italian borders, and the scenic Prattigau and then the broad and densely forested Rhine valley. The route of this line is not just a thing of natural beauty but also in part a huge feat of engineering as it includes the longest metre-gauge tunnel (19042m) in the world.
Total journey time approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
Price £28
The Wilhelm Tell Express
Lucerne to Locarno
The William Tell Express takes its name from the Swiss folk hero who shot a crossbow bolt through an apple placed upon the head of the son of the brutal ruler Gessler leading the country into rebellion. This route is just as dramatic as the story, the journey starts on the shores of lake Lucerne on the first-class upper deck of a historic paddlewheel steamer. Lunch is included on this three hour crossing and as the boat cruises across this lake an obelisk can be seen on the west shore to remember the writer Friedrich Schiller, whose production of 'William Tell' boosted tourism to the area in the 19th Century.
As the steamer arrives in Flüelen the panoramic William Tell train stands only steps away. Again in first class luxury the train winds up through the Reuss Valley before diving into the impressive Gotthard Tunnel. After passing through this engineering feat the train descends through numerous spirals via picturesque villages to the final destination of Locarno on the shores of the lake of the same name.Total journey time approximately 6 hours
Price £136 First class throughout, for Swiss Pass holders this price is reduced.
Zürich to Chur
This route follows the South Western shore of Lake Zurich and then the Walensee, providing spectacular views over the water.
Total journey time approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
Price £31.00
Prices were updated in November 2014 and are subject to availability at the time of issue.
