what time does it get light in the Spiez area - the old scenic line would not be much fun in darkness? ??? Only adding 30 mins I would definitely do it if not traveling so far that day but for others with shorter days definitely consider taking the old route! You will think you are in an airplane landing at some airport in the Rhone valley far below when the train makes its long long descent into Brig.

Supposedly some of the world's most powerful locomotive engines are employed on the old line with freight trains!

The BLS line between Bern and Brig is also said to be the only part of the main rail system in Europe that is not owned by the national railway - here SBB.

Drivers can take the old route too I presume and put their cars on the shuttle trains thru the old tunnel (like folks do with the new one - there is no way to drive over the Lotschberg Pass I think and cars have to go on trains thru the tunnel - I assume the old tunnel still have car shuttle trains but not sure after the newer longer quicker opened far below it.

Car shuttles only between Kandrsteg and Goppenstein (old line). From Goppenstein, the road goes down immetiately into the Rone Valley: no panoramic views like along the railway line.

But there is a extremely panoramic itinerary on secondary roads from Visp up to Lausanne:

Visp (2130 ft) - Stalden (Matterhorn Valley) - Toerbel - Moosalp (6750 ft) - Buerchen - Unterbaech (4000 ft) - Eischoll - Ergisch - Turtmann (2000 ft) - Bratsch (Northern side of the Rhone Valley) - Erschmatt (4000 ft) - Feschel - Guttet - Albinen (4400 ft) - Flaschen (5000 ft) - Leukerbad (Thermal Spa, 4500 ft) - Varen (2500 ft) - Pfynwald (1800 ft) - Vissoie (Val d'Anniviers, Southern side of the Rhone Valley, 4000 ft) - St. Luc (5500 ft) - Ayer (4750 ft) - Grimentz (5500 ft) - Vercorin (4500 ft) - Loye (3300 ft) - Nax (4500 ft) - Mase - Suen - St- Martin (4500 ft) - Evolene (4500 ft) - Euseigne Pyramids (3300 ft)- Mache (4300 ft) - Les Collons (5900 ft) - Veysonnaz (4300 ft) - Beuson (3200 ft) - Haute Nendaz (4600 ft) - Iserables (3600 ft) - Riddes (1550 ft) - Saxon (1550 ft) - Col du Lin (5500 ft) - Sembrancher (2650 ft) - Orsieres (2950 ft) - Lac Champex (5000 ft) - Le Brocard (1800 ft) - Col de la Forclaz (5000 ft) - Le Chatelard (3600 ft) - Col des Montets (4800 ft) - Chamonix (3300 ft) - Servoz (2700 ft) - Passy - Sallanches - Magland (1600 ft) - Araches (3300 ft) - St. Sigismond (3100 ft) - Chatillon (2400 ft) - La Riviere Enverse (2100 ft) - Samoens (2300 ft) - Col du Ranfolly (5500 ft) - Morzine (3300 ft) - Avoriaz (6000 ft) - Lake Montriond (3600 ft) - Bas Tey (2600 ft) - Col du Corbier (4000 ft) - Bonnevaux (3000 ft) - Chapelle d'Abondance (3300 ft) - Pas de Morgins (4500 ft)- Morgins - Portes de Culet (5900 ft) - Muraz (1200 ft) - Illarsaz - Vouvry - Villeneuve (1200 ft) - Sonchaux (4200 ft) - Caux (3500 ft) - Col de Jaman (5000 ft) - Sonloup (3800 ft) - Bains de l'Alliaz (3400 ft) - Fruence (2650 ft) - Monts de Corsier (2750 ft) - Mont Pelerin (2650 ft) - Puidoux - Lac de Bret - Gourze (2650 ft) - Jordillon - Bossieres - Lausanne.

Stuff for more than a week (with some hikes and some side trips)

Car shuttles only between Kandrsteg and Goppenstein (old line)>

Clarify for me please - the new line also shuttles cars and trucks, right - From near Spiez to Visp/Brig - do you have to change shuttle trains for Brig-Iselle (first station on other side of Simplon Pass/

I assumed the new line takes cars - I saw the construction site a few years back and looked like car loading platforms were being built.

anyways thanks in advance for confirming new line takes cars between X and X - Thanks.

"Clarify for me please - the new line also shuttles cars and trucks, right - From near Spiez to Visp/Brig"

NO; only truck shuttles Freiburg (Germany) - Novara (Italy).

Kandersteg - Iselle: there are direct shuttles only over Christmas, Easter and summer holidays.
The daily shuttles go only from Kandersteg to Goppenstein (BLS shuttle) and from Brig to Iselle (SBB shuttle).
Goppenstein - Brig has to be made on the road (motorway Gampel - Brig with and cantonal road through the centers of Raron and Visp without Vignette).

According to the starting point in Switzerland and the destination in Italy, the Gotthard motorway or the Grand Saint Bernard highway may be the better choice.

For winter journeys Zurich - Merano - Bolzano, some people use the Veraina car shuttle.

Wow - I thought for sure there would be a Frutingen to Visp tunnel shuttle for cars! Or all the way to Iselle.

Thanks for the update.