Train Travel in Switzerland - First Class Through The Swiss Alps
Train travel in Switzerland is renowned for its numerous scenic routes and its punctuality. The Swiss Travel System is indeed an impressive network of trains, buses and boats on many different lakes. It is also one of the most efficient networks in the world.
The trains run by the Swiss Federal Railway are always on time, just like a Swiss precision watch. If they are not, the people here get a little nervous. A sign that we Swiss are very time oriented and do not like waiting around for to long. We are the European Champions in using the train. Train travel in Switzerland is indeed sometimes quicker and more comfortable than driving the car depending on where you are. This is usually the case for the people living in the mountain valleys. We live in Visp in the Canton of Valais-Wallis and it takes us only 56 minutes to get to Bern, the Capital of Switzerland. Almost immediately after leaving Visp, we enter the newly constructed 34.6 km (21.4 miles) NEAT tunnel at a speed of 250 km/hr (155 miles/hr) in about 12 minutes. Using the car would take us much longer, depending which route we take. However, the shorter route via the older Lötschberg tunnel requires car transport from Goppenstein to Kandersteg. Therefore it is very time-consuming for such a short distance and more expensive too. Besides, my wife has a phobia going through tunnels. Sometimes we also take the train to visit Geneva or Lausanne instead of using our car. The route down the Rhone valley and especially along Lake Geneva is very scenic. Along the way, we enjoy to see some of Switzerland’s prettiest vineyards while sitting in first class and enjoying coffee or glass of red wine.
As you can imagine, our country is very compact and geologically quite diverse. In the north, the terrain surrounds itself by rolling green hills and sparkling lakes. As you travel further down to the south, huge glaciers and Alpine meadows with spectacular scenery open up. Still further, down to the south in the Canton of Ticino, palm trees indicate the mild climate. In the cities Lugano and Locarno, you get the impression you are in Spain or somewhere on a Caribbean island. You notice that immediately when you train travel in Switzerland towards the south.
Trains arrive from many major cities in Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, The Czech Republic, and the Benelux Countries. The most important routes that connect with the Swiss train system are: * The ICE (Inter City Express) Germany’s high-speed train system offers its services to/from Berlin, Frankfurt/Main, Hamburg, Cologne, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Munich, Stuttgart and many other German cities. * The TGV, the French high-speed train runs daily international connections to/from Paris, Dijon, Avignon and Nice. The trains have a bar coach and on some lines complemented with a snacks trolley service. Please reserve your seat ahead of time, especially in the summer time. Additionally, the “TGV Méditerranee” has a daily connection from Geneva – Nice and Geneva – Montpellier. * The Italian tilting train Cisalpino runs hourly to/from Milan. From there they connect to all parts of Italy, which includes also night-trains to Rome, Florence and Venice. This trains have a dining car with bar and snack trolleys. When you reserve in first class, you additionally get seat audio entertainment and free distribution of daily newspapers. * Regular trains arrive from the Spanish Elipsos to/from Madrid and Barcelona. * Every night trains arrive also from Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Hamburg, Rome, Venice, Prague, Vienna and Beograd to Basel, Geneva, Zurich and sometimes also to Lausanne - the CityNightline. If you want to travel within Switzerland, you can search the timetables and notice that there are trains leaving in all directions. The well-harmonized timetables are ideal for the travelers so that you can get easily from one place to another. Train travel in Switzerland is not only very scenic but also adventurous because there are so many tunnels and viaducts. Moreover, it seems the Swiss Alps are like an Emmental cheese because it has so many holes (tunnels) in it. I do not know of any other country in the world that has such a dense, well-connected and integrated public transport system. Most major Swiss cities and towns connect to each other at half-hour intervals. There is no need for seat reservations for train trips for individual travelers within Switzerland. However, it is mandatory if you are traveling in a group or for booking the scenic routes like the Glacier Express or the GoldenPass Panoramic Train. Train travel in Switzerland is very comfortable especially when you book first class. The Intercity (INC) is additionally equipped with comfortable leather chairs and restaurants. The business cabins offer plenty of space for luggage on all trains. Some of the Intercity trains are double-deckers with convenient seating and of course 1st and 2nd class coaches. You can buy tickets at every train station in Switzerland or directly online with SBB or call the local phone 0900 300 300. If you decide to move around entirely by train, the Swiss Rail Pass offers tickets for various days. Various Swiss Rail Passes for First Class Individuals 04 consecutive days - CHF 332 (USD 316) Return from Train Travel in Switzerland to Car Rental in Switzerland Return from Train Travel in Switzerland to High-End Travel Switzerland Home Page |
