Why won't Glacier Express let me book 2nd class?
Mar 30th, 2014, 08:56 PM
#1
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Why won't Glacier Express let me book 2nd class?
when i put in my dates for travel brig to chur, it only gives a choice of 1st class. i know that there are 2nd class seats available... this is the first day possible for booking. we are not using any sort of pass. what am i doing wrong, or not understanding?? any thoughts?
(also... when i looked around last week, i thought i could choose my actual seats... maybe that was only for the bernina express portion, because i can't do that either.) ???
(also... when i looked around last week, i thought i could choose my actual seats... maybe that was only for the bernina express portion, because i can't do that either.) ???
Mar 31st, 2014, 02:08 AM
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On what date exactely? But I suppose they are booked out. Check the red text!
Otherwise you can easily take the regular trains as well, though with two changes in Andermatt and Disentis/Mustér. However you will be able to open the windows on these regular trains instead, at least some of them. And they will never be fully occupied, because you cannot make reservations on them. ;-)
Just check them on www.sbb.ch
From: Brig
To: Chur
Via. Andermatt
Otherwise you can easily take the regular trains as well, though with two changes in Andermatt and Disentis/Mustér. However you will be able to open the windows on these regular trains instead, at least some of them. And they will never be fully occupied, because you cannot make reservations on them. ;-)
Just check them on www.sbb.ch
From: Brig
To: Chur
Via. Andermatt
Mar 31st, 2014, 05:12 AM
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The regular trains take a lot longer than the already LONG Brig to Chur GE trek - but you can just hop on with a ticket. GE trains do book up because many tour groups use them IME - for lots on Swiss trains check www.swisstravelservice.com.
Is this your only train trip - if not and taking several the Swiss Pass may be a good deal for you - valid not only on trains but postal buses, lake boats and gives 50% off cable cars and trains to most mountain tops - some great sites for planning a Swiss rail trip: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.
Is this your only train trip - if not and taking several the Swiss Pass may be a good deal for you - valid not only on trains but postal buses, lake boats and gives 50% off cable cars and trains to most mountain tops - some great sites for planning a Swiss rail trip: www.budgeteuropetravel.com; www.ricksteves.com and www.seat61.com.
Mar 31st, 2014, 06:42 AM
#5
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Actually, the Glacier Express trains are rather scarcely occupied (they look almost empty).>
No I think that is not the case to my knowledge and experience - have seen these trains many times - usually chock full - again lots of German tour groups and other groups.
Not sure what GE trains you've been watching but they regularly sell out - folks say that they try to get reservations but not unusual to have no more seats available - that is one train you should book as early as possible and can do on the official site I understand whether you have a ticket, pass or not - can buy that later.
No I think that is not the case to my knowledge and experience - have seen these trains many times - usually chock full - again lots of German tour groups and other groups.
Not sure what GE trains you've been watching but they regularly sell out - folks say that they try to get reservations but not unusual to have no more seats available - that is one train you should book as early as possible and can do on the official site I understand whether you have a ticket, pass or not - can buy that later.
Mar 31st, 2014, 07:53 AM
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> Actually, the Glacier Express trains are rather scarcely occupied (they look almost empty).
No during June/July/August they usually are fully booked.
> The regular trains take a lot longer than the already LONG Brig to Chur GE trek
No just 22 minutes more.
No during June/July/August they usually are fully booked.
> The regular trains take a lot longer than the already LONG Brig to Chur GE trek
No just 22 minutes more.
Mar 31st, 2014, 09:19 AM
#7
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And the Glacier Express IMO and IME is the most over-hyped scenic train in all of Europe - don't mean it ain't scenic but there are several in Switzerland just as or more scenic, the tops IMO being the Bernina Express/Bernina Pass rail route.
Mar 31st, 2014, 11:47 AM
#8
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Martin is right: during the season (and until end October) GEX trains are often fully booked. But actually (during the last weeks) I saw many almost empty GEX indeed.
Journey times Brig - St. Moritz:
6 hrs 47 min by Glacier Express (direct; 2-3 times daily)
6 hrs 42 min by standard trains (3 changes in very small stations, every hr from 7.23 until 16.23)
Journey times Brig - St. Moritz:
6 hrs 47 min by Glacier Express (direct; 2-3 times daily)
6 hrs 42 min by standard trains (3 changes in very small stations, every hr from 7.23 until 16.23)
Mar 31st, 2014, 12:37 PM
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Actually, the Glacier Express trains are rather scarcely occupied (they look almost empty)>
OK in off-season but your statement was made in a general sense and to an OP probably going in busy season where the 2nd class seats perhaps are already sold out.
OK in off-season but your statement was made in a general sense and to an OP probably going in busy season where the 2nd class seats perhaps are already sold out.
Mar 31st, 2014, 01:53 PM
#10
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well, thanks for the replies.
i got my answer!
i wrote to the rail center and (because it's switzerland) they were amazing and got back to me twice within a day with personal notes!!
the answer is, yes, they have 2nd class tickets, but NO, you can not book them online. i can book them by writing to them with my request and dates at the service center. next, they will send a Dossier-Number and i will use it to pick up and pay for the tickets at the station. a credit card is needed to secure the dossier-number.
strange, because on the bernina express i can buy tickets online for either class, and actually choose my seats.
go figure.
i got my answer!
i wrote to the rail center and (because it's switzerland) they were amazing and got back to me twice within a day with personal notes!!
the answer is, yes, they have 2nd class tickets, but NO, you can not book them online. i can book them by writing to them with my request and dates at the service center. next, they will send a Dossier-Number and i will use it to pick up and pay for the tickets at the station. a credit card is needed to secure the dossier-number.
strange, because on the bernina express i can buy tickets online for either class, and actually choose my seats.
go figure.
Apr 1st, 2014, 03:51 AM
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strange, because on the bernina express i can buy tickets online for either class, and actually choose my seats.
go figure.>
trains are run by different companies - Bernina by the Rhaetische Bahn and the Glacier Express I think is an entity all its own - different policies for different operating companies.
go figure.>
trains are run by different companies - Bernina by the Rhaetische Bahn and the Glacier Express I think is an entity all its own - different policies for different operating companies.
Apr 2nd, 2014, 08:17 AM
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The leg Zermatt - Disentis/Muster is run by Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn and the leg Disentis/Muster - St. Moritz - Tirano is run by Viafier Retica/Rhaetische Bahn.
Both are higly subsidized by the Swiss Confederation.
Both are higly subsidized by the Swiss Confederation.
Apr 2nd, 2014, 08:19 AM
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The leg Zermatt - Disentis/Muster is run by Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn and the leg Disentis/Muster - St. Moritz - Tirano is run by Viafier Retica/Rhaetische Bahn.
Both are highly subsidized by the Swiss Confederation.
Both are highly subsidized by the Swiss Confederation.
Apr 2nd, 2014, 11:56 AM
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Both are highly subsidized by the Swiss Confederation.>
Ah more of that great Swiss socialism! But I guess that is why the GE is so so over-hyped with tons of advertising - to bring foreign tourists to Switzerland.
Unless you need to go between Brig and Chur do not go out of you way to take what is a fairly ho-hum scenic, for Switzerland, stretch where most folks IME quickly bore of the scenery and concentrate more on sipping from the unique tilting wine glasses - or whatever they are - to keep wine from spilling during the at times sinuous train route.
Ah more of that great Swiss socialism! But I guess that is why the GE is so so over-hyped with tons of advertising - to bring foreign tourists to Switzerland.
Unless you need to go between Brig and Chur do not go out of you way to take what is a fairly ho-hum scenic, for Switzerland, stretch where most folks IME quickly bore of the scenery and concentrate more on sipping from the unique tilting wine glasses - or whatever they are - to keep wine from spilling during the at times sinuous train route.
Apr 3rd, 2014, 03:08 PM
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Why does everyone know about the Glacier Express and want to ride it neckervd? When it is not the most scenic train in Switzerland and it is an all-day marathon for most who quickly IME of riding it to see what it was all about - get bored.
Few have heard of the Bernina Express, to me Europe's let alone Switzerland's most dramatically scenic train and a short few-hours long - or other trains - well I think it is because of publicity - advertising - if not why is this so?
Few have heard of the Bernina Express, to me Europe's let alone Switzerland's most dramatically scenic train and a short few-hours long - or other trains - well I think it is because of publicity - advertising - if not why is this so?
Apr 4th, 2014, 12:59 AM
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palenq... for us, it was simply that we were going to be in interlocken and knew we wanted to ride the bernina express to tirano (to go to bormio)... so the glacier express was a way to get there. the only other way was to go up through zurich and down to chur... and the price was just about the same-- though the journey time is admittedly shorter longer way around. i think many people just say 'glacier express' because that is the train they start on, and the bernina is the train they end on.
hey-- i'm a tourist-- might as well see the scenery from the slow train.
hey-- i'm a tourist-- might as well see the scenery from the slow train.
Apr 4th, 2014, 06:23 AM
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"we were going to be in interlocken and knew we wanted to ride the bernina express so the glacier express was a way to get there THE ONLY OTHER WAY WAS TO GO UP THROUGH ZURICH"
not really. You may check
Interlaken dp 6.00 - Milano C 9.35/10.20 - Tirano 12.50/13.40 - Bernina - Pontresina ar 15.50
Interlaken dp 8.00 - Milano C 11.35/12.20 - Tirano 14.50/15.14 - Bernina - Pontresina ar 17.20
Interlaken dp 5.54 - Lucerne 7.55/8.47 - Lugano 11.24/11.55 - St. Moritz 15.35/15.45 - Bernina - Tirano ar 18.21
Interlaken dp 7.04 - Lucerne 8.55/9.18 - Bellinzona 11.23/11.40 - Thusis 13.25/13.30 - Samedan 14.46/14.49 - Bernina - Tirano ar 17.12
Interlaken dp 8.04 - Lucerne 9.55/10.18 - Bellinzona 12.23/12.45 - Thusis 14.20/14.30 - Samedan 15.46/15.49 - Bernina - Tirano ar 18.21
Interlaken dp 9.04 - Lucerne 10.55/11.18 - Bellinzona 13.23/13.40 - Thusis 15.25/15.30 - Samedan 16.46/16.49 - Bernina - Tirano ar 19.12
Interlaken dp 8.33 - Meiringen 9.07/9.25 - Grimsel Pass 10.29/11.00 - Nufenen Pass 12.05/12.30 - Airolo 13.07/14.01 - Bellinzona 14.53/15.40 - Thusis 17.25/17.30 - Samedan 18.46/18.49 - Bernina - Tirano ar 21.00
Interlaken dp 8.04 - Meiringen 8.36/8.50 - Stein Glacier/Susten Pass 9.44/10.00 Andermatt 11.04/11.40 - Gotthard Pass 12.05/12.25 - Airolo 12.50/13.01 - Bellinzona 13.53/14.45 - Thusis 16.20/16.30 - Samedan 17.46/17.49 - Bernina - Tirano ar 20.05,
resp Andermatt dp 11.27 - Reichenau 13.48/14.08 - Samedan 15.46/15.49 - Tirano ar 18.21
not really. You may check
Interlaken dp 6.00 - Milano C 9.35/10.20 - Tirano 12.50/13.40 - Bernina - Pontresina ar 15.50
Interlaken dp 8.00 - Milano C 11.35/12.20 - Tirano 14.50/15.14 - Bernina - Pontresina ar 17.20
Interlaken dp 5.54 - Lucerne 7.55/8.47 - Lugano 11.24/11.55 - St. Moritz 15.35/15.45 - Bernina - Tirano ar 18.21
Interlaken dp 7.04 - Lucerne 8.55/9.18 - Bellinzona 11.23/11.40 - Thusis 13.25/13.30 - Samedan 14.46/14.49 - Bernina - Tirano ar 17.12
Interlaken dp 8.04 - Lucerne 9.55/10.18 - Bellinzona 12.23/12.45 - Thusis 14.20/14.30 - Samedan 15.46/15.49 - Bernina - Tirano ar 18.21
Interlaken dp 9.04 - Lucerne 10.55/11.18 - Bellinzona 13.23/13.40 - Thusis 15.25/15.30 - Samedan 16.46/16.49 - Bernina - Tirano ar 19.12
Interlaken dp 8.33 - Meiringen 9.07/9.25 - Grimsel Pass 10.29/11.00 - Nufenen Pass 12.05/12.30 - Airolo 13.07/14.01 - Bellinzona 14.53/15.40 - Thusis 17.25/17.30 - Samedan 18.46/18.49 - Bernina - Tirano ar 21.00
Interlaken dp 8.04 - Meiringen 8.36/8.50 - Stein Glacier/Susten Pass 9.44/10.00 Andermatt 11.04/11.40 - Gotthard Pass 12.05/12.25 - Airolo 12.50/13.01 - Bellinzona 13.53/14.45 - Thusis 16.20/16.30 - Samedan 17.46/17.49 - Bernina - Tirano ar 20.05,
resp Andermatt dp 11.27 - Reichenau 13.48/14.08 - Samedan 15.46/15.49 - Tirano ar 18.21
