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.