brubenow

I have a 1st class Bernese Oberland regional pass which covers the train from Interlaken to Lucerne. However, I see on the time table that there is an "R". Is s reservation required? Or optional? Will I have trouble finding 4 seats tomorrow on the 10:00 train? Thanks!

PalenQ

which routing are you taking -up and over the Brunig Pass - the scenic route that Golden Pass scenic train takes or the more main line route via Bern and Spiez - no regular trains in switzerland TMK require reservations - some specialty trains do.

I see a 10:05 departure from Interlaken-Ost to Lucerne via the sweet Brunig Pass route and on www.bahn.de/en it says reservations optional- the R you saw probably means Regional train- good chance IME of just finding 4 seats near each other in first class but you can make optional seat reservations if you want.

Huggy

Not necessary unless you want a specific, reserved seat or want to ensure that you are seated together.

brubenow

It is the 10:04 Inter-regio train from Interlaken to Lucerne non-stop. Not sure what route it takes. I found it on the sbb.ch web site.

How would I make a reservation if I already gave a pass?

Thanks for the quick replies, by the way. You both are wonderful!

brubenow

It's the InterRegio 2921. And I have 2 children with me, which is why I have the concern about finding 4 seats together.
Thank you!!!!

brubenow

Looks like it does go through Brünig.

twk

I seriously doubt that you will need a reservation in order to ensure 4 seats together on the 10:00 a.m. train, in first class. When we were in Switzerland in June, the only time we saw a crowd in first class was on a train from Interlaken Ost to Spiez, and that was because there was a group of Russian students who got in our first class carriage (and the silent carriage was pretty much empty). Every other time we rode 1st class in our 2 week trip, there was no shortage of empty seats in first class.

PalenQ

How would I make a reservation if I already gave a pass?>

Just go up to any train station in Switzerland, show your passes and make the reservations - may be able to do online but I'm not sure how to do that.

Me I would not worry as twk found in first class there should be ample emptyseats.

Sit on the right side of the trains for the best views IME - note that at Meiringen the train reverses direction so a seat say facing the forward direction from there would be going backwards.

brubenow

Ok thank you all for the prompt and helpful advice! Looks like I'll just hop on!

brubenow

FYI, I am on the train now from Interlaken to Lucerne via Brünig. My family of 4 had to split up as most of the seats were reserved and the few that weren't were mostly taken. Every seat is full.

So FYI, if anyone needs to take this train in the future, reserve your seats! I was quite surprised that no one offered to switch with us in order to let my children sit with their parents. It is my mistake not to have reserved, by I didn't realize it was necessary or I would have.

kappa1

I saw this thread too late. This is a part of Goldenpass line and reservation is optional. But in your case with a family of 4 for whom sitting together is important, in a busy season, obviously it was recommended. You can book seats on goldenpass site. I did it once for friends from abroad, the part between Montreux and Interlaken. Not sure of the amount for Interlaken - Lucerne but I think about chf5 / 10 per seat. That's on top of the train tickets/pass you already have.

PalenQ

Even in first class the seats were mainly full - whilst this IME is rarely so on many trains - this kind of scenic train route is different - especially if was the Golden Pass train (was it?)- reservations if 4 have to sit together (a normal desire) are a must to be guaranteed so.

2nd class even more so.

PalenQ

brubenow - was that the Golden Pass train? Curious as I really never saw a regular train in Swiss where first class was that full -not questioning you of course but if it were the Golden Pass then that train is often quite full in both classes and reservations though not required are strongly recommended.

But a check of schedules on www.bahn.de shows that most of the hourly trains on that route have observation coaches and these are usually in first class only I believe - thus many more folks would gravitate to first class than on most Swiss trains I suspect.

twk

I'm sorry if my advice led the OP astray--I'm surprised that a Tuesday morning train had this kind of a load. When I made the trip in the other direction, it wasn't a Golden Pass train, but a regular inter-city train, so perhaps that was part of the difference. I did check the SBB app and didn't see any indication that they were expecting a heavy load on this route, but then again, it had no passenger load information at all, which seems a bit unusual for a route like this.

Hope the rest of the OP's trip goes smoothly.

PalenQ

I don't think brubenow's trains was a Golden Pass train -not sure but just about each of the hourly Interlaken-Ost to Lucerne trains on www.bahn.de/en indicates observation car or cars and often as these are only in first class it may make that class untypically quite full- most Swiss inter-city trains I think would not be that way in first class - 2nd class always could be IME.

that route is a natural tourist route and observation cars get a lot of publicity and thus folks go first class when normally they would not.

I may be wrong - maybe 2nd class cars also have observation cars?

PalenQ

http://tickets.goldenpass.ch

Well yes the 10:05 is an official Golden Pass train and those trains in tourist season will always be quite full, in either class.

swandav2000

I'm also very surprised that the OP needed seat reservations. I travel on the GP often, but in the portion between Zweisimmen and Montreux (I've spent weeks in Gstaad and in Chateau d'Oex, so was on that train line usually twice daily). I never have reservations, and I've travelled it in August.

But then again, I'm a single traveller. I guess with 4 people, it's more important to get those reservations -- something for us to remember.

Sorry you had this bad experience, brubenow, and thank you for passing it on!

Pal -- yes, even 2nd class cars have big, panoramic windows in the designated GP wagons. But (obviously?) they don't have those VIP seats where you get the driver's view.

s

PalenQ

Pal -- yes, even 2nd class cars have big, panoramic windows in the designated GP wagons.>

There are three separate GP segments - wagons cannot go thru due to track gauge differences - do 2nd class wagons on the Interlaken-Lucerne portion have panoramic cars?

I guess they are working on making the standard-gauge portion Zweissimen - Interlaken also in to narrow-gauge so there can soon be thru running Montreux - Interlaken - Lucerne but for now three separate trains - so what is true on one portion may not be on another.

And are all wagons panoramic?

Pepper_von_snoot

What I can't understand is why the OP didn't look for 4 seats together in 2nd class?

You can sit in 2nd class, you know.

I have taken the Interlaken Ost to Luzern train four times in the last 5 years and have always had plenty of choices for seats.

I can remember one trip in August where an Indian family and I were the only occupants of an entire car.


I travel 2nd class on Swiss trains. I think 1st class is a waste of money.


Thin

PalenQ

If first class was nearly full it is SURE that 2nd class was fuller.