Palenque's Scenic Swiss Trains
 

I'm a train buff and retired travel writer specializing in European trains. Switzerland is my favorite country to rail around in - a Valhalla for rail nuts as well as those who enjoy scenic trains.
Here's part of an article i once wrote for a now defunct journal:
SCENIC SWISS TRAINS
No European country rivals Switzerland in the abundance of scenic railways, as nearly every mile of its myriad of rail lines is scenic and often, tracking by rugged Alpine peaks, sensationally so. With an incredibly dense rail system rolling through an often sinuous terrain, rail is the way to go in Switzerland. Trains link virtually every Swiss town, and in fact reach several renowned Alpine venues to which motorists can't get to by car. From rail stations, Switzerland's legendary postal buses roll to even more remote areas, meaning public transit can take a traveler nearly anywhere in this rather compact country. And making rail travel in this Alpine wonderland even better are a series of special tourist trains, such as the legendary Glacier Express, Bernina Express and Golden Pass train - all of which track by some of Europe's most awesome scenery.
This article will cover:
Bernina Express
The Davos Loop
The Centovalli Line
The Gotthard Line
The William Tell Express boat-and-rail journey
Scenic postal bus rides like the Palm Express
The Glacier Express
The Gornergrat Railway
Spiez-Montreux part of the Golden Pass route
The Bruning Pass line
The Jungfrau Railways
Brig-Lotschberg-Spiez mainline
The Simplon Bus
Interlaken area Three Passes bus
Lake Geneva lines, including the Chocolate train
The Rhone Valley line
Martigny-Chamonix
and more
As usual comments, experiences and questions from others are welcome.
This will be done in installments, starting with the next posting - The BERNINA EXPRESS, in my opinion Europe's most dramatically scenic train line!

Anxiously waiting, Bob! I also think the Bernina Express is the most spectacular train ride in Switzerland and I plan to add my 2 cents to your article.

Also anxiously awaiting!

We took the Bernina Express from Chur to Tirano and back in October 2004, and it was indeed an unforgettable experience.

Byrd

Ingo and Byrd: Thanks for you expressions of interests and i hope you join in at any place to add comments!

THE BERNINA PASS TRAIN ROUTE
One of Europe's most overtly scenic mountain railways, and a great way to travel between Switzerland and Italy to boot, the 38-mile narrow-gauge line over the Bernina Pass between Tirano, Italy and St. Mortiz is one of the world's steepest railways, climbing nearly 6,000 feet with gradients of up to 7%. The highest in altitude of all European alpine rail crossings is also the rare one not tunneling under the Alps, but instead the trains on this route boldly climb up and over the Bernina Pass. Though the Glacier Express gets all the ink when talking about scenic Swiss trains, its scenery can't touch the Bernina Pass line in top-of-the-world scenery.
The Bernina Pass route has been around since medieval days, and today's sinuous 38-mile road between Tirano and St. Moritz roughly following the rail line was built between 1842 and 1865. (The road is often blocked by snow from October to May, but the rail line is kept open all year with herculean efforts and a cavalcade of snowsheds.) Part of the Rhaetian Railway's 93-mile-long Tirano-Chur line, the rail journey, starting from Italy, begins in Tirano (alt 1,407 ft), and soon plows into the Swiss canton of Graubunden (Grisons in French), where it begins a steady climb through cute Italianesque villages and the Mediterranean climate scenery of the Poschiavo Valley. At Brusio, an engineering highlight has the train rising steeply by traversing a tall spiral viaduct where the tracks loop under themselves (a photo often gracing Swiss rail brochures). The line then skirts Lake Poschiavo en route to Le Prese, a popular thermal resort, and Poschiavo (pop 3,600; alt 3,343 ft), the valley's pleasant main town. After Poschiavo, the train slowly glides up the line's steepest part, wheels squealing over a perpetually curving track until reaching the treeline around Alp Grum (alt 6,860 ft), and suddenly the barren and boulder-strewn landscape reminds one more of the lunar surface than the Swiss Alps. Alp Grum is famed for its sun terrace offering giddy perspectives over the nearby Palu Glacier and down into the Poschiavo Valley. (Sun terraces, with outdoor cafes and ecstatic panoramic views, are ubiquitous at celebrated Swiss lookout points.)
Next, the train crests over the desolate Bernina Pass (alt 7,392 ft), featuring a circular vista of an awe-inspiring amphitheater of ice-clad glacier-dripping peaks, the highest of which is Piz Bernina (alt 13,284 ft). The Ospizio Bernina rail station hovers over Lago Blanco, a mirror-like lake whose waters often bewitchingly reflect a parade of ice-bound peaks. (A popular 1.5-hour walk goes between train stations at Alp Grum and Ospizio Bernina.)
From the Bernina Diavolezza rail station, a nearly two-mile-long cableway climbs almost 3,000 feet in 10 minutes to the celebrated Diacolezza Hut (alt 9,754 ft), the gateway to one of Europe's outstanding ski area, renowned for its glacier and summer skiing, with a hotel, restaurant, sun terrace and fab close-up views of the awesome sea of ice and detritus of the glowering Pers Glacier. You can also walk to the hut on footpaths, or hike from it to higher locales. At Montebello, one of the line's most exciting vistas unfolds - that of the immense meancing Morteratsch Glacier, seemingly cascading down almost to the tracks. Paths from the nearby Morteratsch rail station go to the glacier's tip (45 min) and to the famous Chunetta Overlook (35 min, alt 6,832 ft), for a panorama of the glacier and a stunning panoply of solemn mighty peaks. The train then rolls through Pontresina to the world-famous spiffy resort of St. Moritz (alt 6,089 ft).
TO BE CONTINUED - NEXT ST. MORITZ TO CHUR PORTION

ST MORITZ-CHUR
Just after Pontresina, a popular resort in its own right, the line splits, with some trains bypassing St. Moritz, re-joining the line at nearby Samedan, soon after which it burrows under the Albula Pass, via the seven-mile-long Albula Tunnel, one of the Alps' highest underground crossings (alt 5,971 ft). The highlight between St. Moritz and Chur comes after the tunnel, between the towns of Preda and Bergun, when the train makes like a pig's tail and amazingly curlicues under itself, both in and out of five loop tunnels, two normal tunnels, eight viaducts and two galleries wile staggering down the Albula Valley and plunging 1,365 feet in but 8 miles to Filisur. thusis and Reichenau-Tamins, from where it follow the Rhine Valley to Chur (alt 1,919 ft), located on the Swiss Federal Railways with fast trains to all of Switzerland. Interestingly, at Samedan and Thusis, road vehicles roll on and off trains shuttling them through the Albula Tunnel.
The Glacier Express traverses the St. Moritz to Reichenau-Tamins section, from where it heads west, away from Chur towards Zermatt.
The whole route described so far is valid with Eurailpasses valid in Switzerland and Swiss Passes.

NEXT: THE BERNINA EXPRESS, a special tourist train.

I love trains, and one of my sons said he wouldn't mind to go with me on a train tour. So please keep posting!

Having traveled over the Brünig Pass by both car and train in both directions several times, I would rank it at the bottom of the list.

We drove down it again last summer, and it was a ho hum kind of thing.

Well the Bernina Pass is not the Brunig Pass, which lies much further south and, i agree, is not nearly so dramatic.

THE BERNINA EXPRESS
Though regular trains go about hourly between Chur and St Moritz and St Moritz and Tirano, and there are also the trains of the glitzy Bernina Express that also ply the Tirano-St.Moritz/Chur route. Though the word express is a misnomer for these tourist-oriented trains, they do stop less, however, and offer bar and snack facilities, fancier doilies on seat backs and snippets of commentary. Bernina Express trains, which have first- and second-class cars, but only in first class do you get the famous glass-domed observation cars. The scenery, of course is the same with either normal trains or the Bernina Express ones. Bernina Express trains require reservations, which can be made at any rail station in Switzerland or in US thru RailEurope (i recommend Swiss rail experts BETS for reservations: 800-441-2387). The Bernina Express trains can often be full as they carry numerous tour groups so reserve as early as possible in Switzerland or US. Can be booked up to two months in advance. but keep in mind that frequent regular trains, on most of which reservations are not even possible, are rarely full; and if they are you can still jump aboard. Folks who don't cotton to trains packed with foreign tourists can hop these regular trains where, especially in first class, cars are likely to be half empty; second class, however, can be fairly full with Swiss hikers or skiers. (Recently I was there only person in first class on a normal train while the Bernina Express trains that passed us were chock full - i could move from side to side for changing views rather than being stuck in a seat on the Bernina Express trains.)
NEXT- THE BERNINA EXPRESS BUS FROM TIRANO TO LUGANO

Love the info, but please insert more paragraphs to make them easier to read.

Bob, there is not much to add! Thanks for the wonderful article.

I think it is worth to mention that there is another option for the hike from Ospizio Bernina to Alp Grüm in spite of the direct path: a short detour via Sassal Masone. This little restaurant sits a bit higher and more west towards the glacier than Alp Grüm and allows the best views in the area. The advantage is you can see the railroad winding down from Ospizio Bernina to Alp Grüm and further down to Cavaglia (which you cannot see as good from Alp Grüm).

A little correction: you cannot see Piz Bernina from the Bernina Pass. The glaciers hanging over Lago Bianco are those of Piz Cambrena and Piz Caral. Not that these are not spectacular ...

Maybe I overlooked it, but it seems to me you did not mention the Landwasser viaduct between Filisur and Tiefencastel. Another fascinating highlight of the Albular route!

Please keep it coming!

Jean - thanks for the paragraph suggestion!
Ingo - thanks for the corrections, sincerely thanks and for the additional info - that's what's so great about Fodor's - others adding in things to make a more complete picture. As for the Landwasser Viaduct i'm chagrined to explain why i left that amazing piece of railroad architecture out - it's very famous and also often pictured on Swiss train brochures. Thanks so much.
Also i forgot to mention that in summer on the regular trains going over the Bernina Route there are open-air cars you can sit in - just a few foot railing around the car - like a platform moving through such delightful scenery - beats the ballyhooed domed observations cars and i think are second class only and not reservable. They are not on all trains but i did ride in them on two different occasions.

flagging

This is so much fun to read..and now I know we must go back and take the walk to Alp Grum!

Waiting for more.

Byrd

Oh yes, I forgot about these open-air cars! I did ride them, too, on several occasions. You are correct, Bob, they are 2nd class and not reservable. It's a fantastic experience. But be prepared that it can be quite chilly in these cars ... and the noise of the brakes when descending from Alp Grüm to Poschiavo is not music in everyone's ears.

These open-air cars are attached to the local and regional trains between St. Moritz and Poschiavo - they do not go further down to Tirano - and as you said in summer (July/August) only.

THE BERNINA EXPRESS BUS
From May through October some Bernina Expresses hook up with the Bernina Express Bus going to and from Lugano (75 mi; 3 hr), flying down the cute Valtellina Valley to Lake Como and then over to Lake Lugano, gliding along the shore of these pretty lakes.
Though Swiss and Eurailpasses cover both the Bernina Express train and bus fares, a reservation fee of $16 is required for the bus (less in Switzerland; $16 is thru Raileurope in US); Bernina Express train reservation is $12 in US - bit less in Switzerland. (Again i recommend BETS - 800-441-2387 for these reservations if not wishing to wait to Switzerland - as said groups at times book these trains and buses up but if you're flexible shouldn't have too much trouble getting one a few days ahead.
There is another bus that ties in with the Bernina Pass route at St. Moritz that goes via Chiavenna, the Palm Express that will be covered farther on in another posting - it's a 4 hour bus ride up a lovely valley just before St. Moritz.
THE HEIDI EXPRESS
The Heidi Express begins in Landquart and goes via Davos to Tirano, over the route of the Bernina Express but extended to Davos. Reservations are required as on the Bernina Express.
Tips
Don't forget if you get to Switzerland and can't get on the official Bernina, Heidi Expresses, regular trains run the same routes about every hour and on these you cannot even make reservations.
From Tirano there is also rail service to Milan that skirts Lake Como (Varenna) from where you can catch lake boats.
For the best views on the Bernina Pass portion sit on the left side when going to St Moritz and the right side when coming from St. Moritz.
In Tirano there are two stations - a Swiss one of the Rhaetian Railways and an Italian one just across the square. You pass thru customs coming out of the Swiss station (for the time being - Switzerland has decided to join the EU in terms of borders and will no longer do regular customs in a few years) but for now have you passport ready.

Get current official Bernina Express schedules from the Rhätische Bahn's web site:
www.rhb.ch/berninaexpress/berninaexpress

the site contains an elevation chart of all the stations and also gives prices for all segments in Swiss francs and euros.

Bob,
I've been interested in the Bernina Express trip for some time now...haven't put it together yet. You mentioned that some buses connect for a 3 hour trip to Lugano. Could you expand on that, please? The "some" buses part and...once you arrive in Lugano, what is that like and how do you, then, continue your vacation. Thanks for the details...

Well there is one bus daily called the Bernina Express bus i believe that links Tirano, Italy, terminus of the Bernina Pass line, to Lugano, Switzerland. It should leave daily at 14:25 from the Tirano station (Italian station, across the square from the Swiss Bernina station). It's run in conjunction with one of the official Bernina Express trains so makes a thru routing St Mortiz-Lugano. Details: call (081) 8440121 (in Poschiavo, Switzerland) - don't dial first zero from inside Switzerland. The bus is valid with a Swiss Pass but charges a significant reservation fee of about $15 i think with passes. Reservations are required (can be made thru BETS-800-441-2387 who i recommend for any Swiss travel product) - of course can ride without a Swiss Pass by paying normal fare.

Thanks for the great info - we have been wanting to ride the Bernina Express for a long time - bookmarking for a future trip!

t

Bob, please finish this post, its so informative.

Tagging for future reference. would love to hear more if PalenqueBob is still around!!

After taking a hiatus during the winter months to refurbish its rolling stock the Glacier Express is up and running again. The train, proclaiming itself as the world's slowest express train, now has, on some services, spanking new Premium first and second class cars will dome ceilings - meals are now served at your seat, eliminating the previous need to reserve a place in the dining car, which often was impossible on short notice.

More details on the new "Glacier Express Premium" service featuring:
New luxury panoramic cars in both first and second class
In-seat catering of meals and drinks
Headphones for info and commentary in 6 languages
the Premium Service is currently only on trains #904 and 908 from Zermatt to St Moritz and #907 and 911 from St Moritz to Zermatt.

THE PALM EXPRESS BUS: LUGANO-ST MORITZ
A great way to tie in with the Bernina Pass rail route is to take the Palm Express Swiss postal bus that links Lugano to St Moritz, where the Bernina Pass route begins its southward spiral to Italy.
One of the finest of the fabled Swiss postal bus rides, this one is dubbed the Palm Express because it links Lugano and the palm-fringed Swiss Riviera to St. Moritz.
From LUGANO the bus rolls along the shores of idyllic LAKE LUGANO, passing thru the ancient lake town of GANDRIA. Then, entering Italy (customs checks involve Italian officials coming on the bus and spot checking documents - in 2007 Switzerland is scheduled to abandon border checks as it joins the Schengen Accords i believe) the bus goes overland to LAKE COMO, stopping for a coffee/WC break at cute MENAGGIO, one the Lake Como's marquee resorts, before hugging the lake until leaving it to traverse a wide valley to CHIAVENNA, alovely bustling regional town where the bus often makes another short pit stop. Then the bus re-enters Switzerland, plying the lush BREGAGLIA VALLEY until it starts seriously climbing via a series of incredibly sharp hairpin turns that the bus somehow impossibly barely navigates, during which the driver's hand is constantly on the loud oompah-like sounding horn to alert oncoming traffic. It finally corkscrews up the famous and gorgeous MAJOLA PASS (alt 5,955 ft), entering the Upper Engadine, where the scenery is suddenly one of a typical Alpine wonderland. After the village of MAJOLA, one of Switzerland's hiking meccas and a thriving spa and resort, the road passes a string of pristine lakes to St. Moritz (alt 1775 m).
PALM EXPRESS ITINERARY PLANNING
The Palm Express route poses some intriguing itineraries:
From Interlaken area - take mainline trains to Brig and via the Simplon Tunnel to Domodossola, Italy and then hop the Centovalli train (another neat mountain railway to be covered later) thru a part of Italy to Locarno, Switzerland and then train to Lugano - and then another day take the Palm Express to St. Moritz.
From Milan - take train to Lugano and then bus to St. Moritz.
SWISS PASSES - Swiss Passes are valid on the Palm Express the whole route even though it plies a bit of Italy - but reservations are required and they cost several bucks. I'll try to get current info on this in future postings. I made bus reservations at the Lugano train station, where friendly staffers called the bus company to reserve. Swiss Flexipasses would get 50% off the bus if not using a 100% covered travel day.
Swiss Passes and Swiss Cards and Swiss Half-Fare Cards also cover in full the Centovalli train line even though it goes largely thru Italy - considered a Swiss train for these purposes.

bookmarking for my next Swiss trip!

> The Centovalli Line

This often overlooked route was one of the highlights of our 2002 trip to Switzerland. We just took a regular scheduled railcar service starting from Locanao and did the through trip to Domodossola, then returned.

Its a different experience from the the "Express" routes, both in terms of the scenery and the overall journey.

Cheers,

Bill

PalQ,
Glad you are continuing this thread and I can't wait to hear about the Centovalli - it is on our list to do next year.

Maudie

thanks Maudie - Bill i agree with you that the Centovalli is often overlooked - may not have the dramatic glaciers, etc. but certainly is a sweet ride a neat part of Italy and Italian Switzerland.
THE CENTOVALLI LINE
One of Switzerland's less heralded but most unusual rail lines, the Centovalli Railway runs between Domodossola, Italy and Locarno, Switzerland, going up one pretty Alpine valley to crest over a gentle pass and the track down another. Scenery, though not nearly as exotic or dramatic as on the Bernina Pass route, is still magnificent - gorges, mountains in the distance, Mediterranean vegetation and cute Italian villages punctuated by slender Italian-style church towers.
The Centovalli is not a tourist train full of camera-clicking foreigners like the Glacier or Bernina Expresses but is used mainly by locals; for tourists, however, it provides a delightful offbeat but utilitarian link between the Bern-Brig-Simplon-Milan mainline rail route and the Locarno and Lugano "Swiss Riveria" area.
From DOMODOSSOLA the narrow-gauge few car tram-like Centovalli Railway chugs 33 miles through first the VILGEZZO VALLEY in Italy and then the CENTOVALLI ("Hundred Valleys" because of its plethora of side valleys) in Switzerland on its way to its Locarno terminus.
CENTOVALLI NITTY-GRITTY
FART (Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi) trains blow about hourly between Domodossola and Locarno, taking about 1.75 hours.
Though it runs thru Italy the whole route is valid with Swiss Passes as well as Eurailpasses valid in Switzerland.

For current schedules and reservation fees (SF20) or about $16 for the Palm Express bus with a pass as well as details on many scenic Swiss trains and buses visit the following web site of the Swiss Travel System, which i believe is a government site just giving objective information. Tons of info on traveling in Switzerland by bus, train, boat, etc.

Palm Express: Swisstravelsystem, Swiss Travel System, Swiss ...Discover Switzerland by train, bus and boat. The highlight of any Swiss trip is a ride along one of our many ... Palm Express Route: St. Moritz – Lugano ...
www.swisstravelsystem.ch/Palm_Express

THE GOTTHARD MAIN LINE
The Gotthard main line, linking Lucern or Zurich with Lugano and the Swiss Riviera, a part of a major transalpine rail route linking Germany to Italy via Switzerland, is by any reckoning one of Europe's most dramatically scenic main rail routes.

From Zurich or Lucerne, rail lines from these cities merge at Arth-Goldau, from where the line heads south towards the Gotthard Tunnel.

After Arth-Goldau the line skirts idyllic Lake Lucerne, girdled on all sides by Alps, before steadily ascending a pretty valley to Goschenen, where it enters the 9.3-mile-long Gotthard Tunnel, burrowing under the St. Gotthard Pass to emerge in Switzerland's Italian-speaking Ticino region at Airolo. (At Goschenen a side line shuttles steeply up to Andermatt, on the Glacier Express route to Brig, Chur and St Moritz.)

A highlight of the Gotthard line to me is at Wassen, just before Goschenen, where the tracks weave like a drunken sailor and do two incredible loops inside the mountain, baffling passengers and causing their heads to spin with a deja vu experience as they pass Wassen three times! You first pass the tiny village puncutated by its slender white church spire, at ground level going south...a few minutes later, higher up the mountain after the train does a loop inside the mountain, the train passes Wassen and its church again, at a higher level, but this time heading north! Then after another loop inside the rocks, the train emerges even higher above Wassen and its church, by now lying far below, as the train once again heads south, finally leaving Wassen and its church a mere memory.

After the Gotthard Tunnel not only does the language change but so does the scenery and architecture, now all of a sudden Italian looking, even though the traditional Swiss efficiency and tidiness still holds sway. (Wood in woodpiles is still impeccably cut to the exact same lengths!)

Now as the train rushes down the Ticino Valley, the line does another sleight of hand as it makes four complete loops inside tunnels, further disorienting passengers' sence of direction before it reaches Lugano and the Swiss Riviera. After Lugano, tracks hug the shores of gorgeous Lake Lugano to Italy, skirting Lake Como and going thru Como to emerge in the huge industrial and smoggy area surrounding Milan, before reaching the Milan Central station.

Unlike some of Switzerland's Alpine rail lines, the Gotthard trains don't poke along, but, rather with the aid of some of the world's most powerful locomotives, barrels up miles-long inclines at 50 mph.

Still reading with great interest PalQ.

Maudie

Hi PalQ: I live near Arth-Goldau and use the Gotthard line quite often.

Just a minor detail: after Arth-Goldau, (which lies at the foot of the Rigi) you pass by Lauerzersee, go through Seewen and Brunnen (where one can see the Mythen and Stoos) and then finally go along the Vierwaldstättersee.

I love your tidbit about Wassen. Seeing three different views of the church is a nice fact that the Swiss like to talk about, too.

Maudie - thanks for your compliment! Schuler - thanks for your details that i was hazy on - in Brunnen you refer to "where one can see the Mythen and Stoos" - i'm not familiar with what this means?? thanks in advance for clearing up.
Yes i've always thought in the several times i've ridden past the Weissenkirche what a novel thing that was and a pity that most tourists don't realize it perhaps.

Bob,

Thank you for continuing this.

Our "to-ride" list is growing!

Byrd

Hi PalQ:

Here's a website showing the three faces of the church as seen by train.
http://www.wassen.ch/

Here's a website that shows different views from the Swiss Knife Valley, or Schwyz Valley. If you go to the Panoramakarte, you'll see the different areas named. Click on Bergen, and you'll find Stoos and the Kleine und Grosse Mythen.

The Mythen is a beautiful mountain, shaped a bit like the Matterhorn as seen from Schwyz. Stoos is above Brunnen and a great ski resort.

http://flash.swissknifevalley.ch/

Merci Schuler! I love the pix of the Weissen Church. And the info on the famous peaks - if i ever revise this i'll add these fine sights.
Maybe you can answer a question for me about the Alps Transit project or whatever it's called where on both the Lotschberg and Gotthard Alpine routes they are now constructing long long tunnels that apparently will burrow under much of the stunning scenery currently on these two routes.
I pretty much know the Lotschberg tunnels having gone along that route recently several times but on the Gotthard route i assume the new tunnels will start before Weissen and thus the church or village will no longer been seen on the main north-south Gotthard route. I'll have to get my detailed Kimberly & Frey Swiss Rail map out and see where i think it may go - it's an old map so won't have the new construction on it. Thanks for any insights.
I'm sure the old rail lines will continue with local service but passengers transiting the area will of course want to take the faster route and thus lose out on a lot of fine views.
Note: this map is sold at Swiss Train station counters and is huge scale with good reliefs - a great fun thing to have along on any Swiss train ride.

Scenic Swiss Trains: Request For Information (Please!)

I had the very good fortune to actually win a 8-day trip to Switzerland by entering “The 100 Years of Swiss Presence in Toronto” contest, sponsored by the Swiss Consulate!

Due to unavailability of the return airfare on the date we were supposed depart Switzerland, we will stay an additional night, at our expense (no complaints here!) so it's actually 9 Days/8 Nights. The trip my husband and I will take includes airfare, via Swiss International Airlines (business class) from Montreal, to Zurich, accommodation at Best Western hotels and Swiss passes (first-class) on Switzerland Public Transportation.

We’ve never been to Switzerland or Europe before.

Although I have read the thread generously posted by PalenqueBob,

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...eBob&fid=2

with additional information kindly provided by others, I’ve been reading so much written information and Internet postings over the last few weeks; I’m simply over whelmed.

What transportation routes would you suggest? We are more than willing to pay for tourist excursion upgrades, if they are warranted.

Our October 2006, itinerary is as follows:

Zurich to Lugano
- 2 nights, Best Western Hotel Du Lac (Oct. 3rd & 4th)

Lugano to Zermatt
- 2 nights, Best Western Hotel Butterfly (Oct 5th & 6th)

Zermatt to Grindelwald
- 2 nights, Best Western Hotel Derby (Oct. 7th & 8th)

Note: I tried to book Wengen, but the hotel closes for the season a few days before our arrival in the area.

Grindlewald to Zurich
- 2 nights, Best Western Hotel Glodenhof (Oct. 9th & 10th)
- Including perhaps, a day-trip to Lucerne.

Any pertinent feedback would be very much appreciated.

Ah yes, the NEAT. I don't know much about it even though we often hear tidbits concerning a breakthrough between regions or that they are in dire need of more money.

When I was in Sedrun, we saw a huge area squared off for NEAT workers and a hole in the earth that will let Sedrun become one of the stations using the NEAT tunnel. Sedrun is rather difficult to get to and after the opening of NEAT, they are expecting it to become a popular destination where people can live and use the train as transportation to work.

Below are two websites that will offer more info.

http://www.verkehrshaus.ch/en/museum...msimulator.php

http://www.swissworld.org/eng/swissw...rubricId=10080