travelcloud

Is it true that some trains / gondolas / cable cars in Bernese Oberland will be closed in May? I was booking 3 nights in Wengen starting May 18, but it they indeed are closed, I guess I will have to look at alternative dates. Please help.

bettyk

We were in Lauterbrunnen in the BO in May and took the seilbahn up to Schilthorn. As far as I know, none of the cable cars were closed.

This website may be of assistance:

http://www.jungfraubahn.ch/en/deskto.../113_read-1060

bob_brown

I checked the SBB web site for several dates in May on sampling basis. The train went to the Jungfraujoch on each day in my sample.

The Luftseilbahn (cable car) from Wengen to the crest of the ridge did not seem to be operating.

Others posters in other threads have said the cable car line was done for maintenance in May.

The trip to the Schilthorn is open in May best I can tell.

So you will not be shut out. Mürren would be better for the Schilthorn while Wengen is better for the Jungfraujoch.

Lauterbrunnen is on the floor of the valley and convenient to both, but arguably does not have the views. But if you are like me, I am not in my room or apartment during the day so the views I see are not those from my room except in the morning and the late afternoon.

bob_brown

I found a web site for the cable car company, www.maennlichen.ch
but it does not respond.

Perhaps it is down for the evening.

bettyk

Bob, the website I posted says that the Wengenbahn and the Jungfraubahn are both open all year. There were a few others mentioned on the website too that were open all year.

bob_brown

Actually betty I found that link on the one you posted. The original post asked about the Luftseilbahn.

That is why I pursued that particular link. I was hoping it would give maintenance dates for the line from Wengen to the crest of the Männlichen.

I will not be there until early July, so it will up and going.

That was the same line that got put out of service by an avalanche a few years ago. One of the cable masts got badly bent out of shape by the force of the snow according to what I was told. Much of the system had to be reworked because of the damage.

enzian

The train to the Jungfraujoch runs all year. The cable up to Männlichen from Wengen, as well as the gondloa up to Männlichen from Grindelwald-Grund, ceases operation for maintenance sometime after ski season. They re-open in late May; last year it was May 26 but I don't know if the website shows the schedule yet.

This one closure should not affect your time in Wengen all that much.

travelcloud

Thanks all! I emailed to Wengen tourism yesterday before posting the question on this board and just got email from them:

"The main train like the Wengernalp Bahn from Lauterbrunnen to Kleine
Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch will be running, but there will be a special
timetable. The cable car up to Männlichen will be closed."

Only the cable car is going to be closed so I guess we are still still going!

bob_brown

According to the web site shown in previous posts to this thread, the Wengen-Männlichenbahn goes back into operation May 31, which is on Saturday.

I agree. There is plenty to see in that area. From Kleine Scheidegg several trails lead to beautiful views. I hope most of the snow is gone by then.

If you should catch a very cloudy day, descend to the valley and visit Trümmelbachfälle - a beautiful waterfall. It opens in April and enough meltwater should be coming down by mid May to make it worthwhile.

Also the museum in Lauterbrunnen is small but very interesting.