Has anyone ridden on the Golden Pass Panoramic Train ride from Interlaken to Montreux (via Zweisimmen and Gaastad)?? I understand there is a supplemental fee even if you have a Swiss Pass for the reservation. What is the difference between this ride and the normal train ride between Interlaken and Montreux? Can you get off at interesting stops? Thanks! Mary

The GP has an engine with the driver above the passenger seating. A special area allows you to sit at the very front of the train. As I recall, there was no supplement unless you used that special area. I loved the trip from Montreux to Gstaad, as it climbs away up the hills overlooking the lake. If you have any other questions about don't hesitate to ask. Good luck with your trip, the Swiss trains are terrific. (Wish I could say the same about the tourist traps like the William Tell or the Glacier Expresses.)

We have taken the Golden Pass Panoramic train ride from Montreux to Interlaken (panoramic pass portion is only up to Zweisimmen). Their web site is<BR><BR>http://www.mob.ch/GPS/main.htm?e<BR><BR>Their site in not good at showing three(?) type of that run this route. Golden pass, Golden pass panoramic, and plain train. Golden pass has more viewing area while the Golden pass panoramic, as Harvey described, has the engine in the middle of the train so both very front and back of the train are available for passengers. We sat at the west end of the train with a breathtaking view of the Lac Leman. Panoramic reservation is compulsory. No, you cannot stop any more than brief stop as these are neither hop on hop off nor sightseeing stop trains. The sleek bullet shape train in the picutre is the Panoramic train. There are two row of 4 seats (1+3) across at very front and another two rows of 4 seats at very back of train. These seat number are in the 80's.<BR>

Thank you for your help!<BR>Having never been to Switzerland before, would we be better off on a day trip taking a train where we can get on and off at certain stops OR would we be better off just enjoying the scenery on the train with the fewest stops (bullet type train)? We're covering a large distance (roundtrip in one day) so I'm leaning towards the fastest train with the fewest stops and spending time only in Montreux....right? Mary

I can't remember any place along the way I felt like stopping. The train is bullen "shaped" but not bullet "speed". The route is windy, expecially between Montbovon and Montreux. All trains travel around same speed. While I usually don't reserve seats before the trip because of the high markup, I have reserved the seat on this train from US by paying Raileurope high mark up fee to ensure getting these hard to get end of the train seats. Tourists group travel this route in so if you want the covetted front seat (not only on the front train, but one of 8 very front seats), you should reserve them now, if not already taken by the tour groups. They have changed the terminology of these trains. The train between Interlaken and Zweisimmen was a more plain looking one.

Can you make reservations for the Panaramic GP car anywhere other than RailEurope? I hate paying those extra fees, but will if it's the only option. Thanks in advance for your advice!

Greg--I would appreciate your advice on our trip to Montreux this summer. We'll be taking the trains from our previous location in the Czech Republic so it will be a long ride for us. According to the information I have available, we'll be starting in Cesky Krumlov at 0400 (by bus to Linz, Austria) The problem is that with the fantastic views in Switzerland, I would like to be traveling there in the light of day! Leaving C.K. at 0400, we would arrive in Montreux at 2110. Would you suggest reservations in August on the Golden Pass? Is it too early to talk about reservations now? By the way, I don't want people to think we are crazy people --this is the only really difficult day of three weeks of travel. (Maybe we can sleep during the day off and on? We have first class tickets) I'm trying to plan ahead so we won't be disappointed with the lack of scenery visible from the train. Boy, do we need help!

ttt

ttt, please<BR>

Mary, Maria, & Laura,<BR><BR>Greg & Harvey have done such a great job with your questions so far that I hesitated to butt in. But here I go.<BR><BR>Another web site for this route (that gives a better breakdown of the three parts) is www.goldenpass.ch. You can check this data and then compare it to the schedules and fares on the www.rail.ch (Swiss rail) website to see what the differences are.<BR><BR>You'll note that you can make reservations by e-mail at either the mob site or the golden pass site. I've found the Swiss rail folks in general to be very quick and accurate responding to my e-mail questions, so don't hesitate to try them all!<BR><BR>If you want some info on what to do in Montreux, check out my journal on the area at www.igougo.com/planning/journal.asp?JournalID=7825<BR><BR>Feel free to e-mail me if you have more questions.<BR><BR>s<BR>