Scenic train ride
 

Planning a rail tour with our tell pass; choice is
Golden Pass line
Train from Interlaken to Lucerne and round trip
Or
Gotthard Panorama Express
Train from Flüelen to Göschenen and round trip.

Which one is more scenic?
I don't think we can do both, so need to choose one.

Golden Pass train part is IMO more scenic and gives you a change to take train up to say Grindelwald from Interlaken to at lest glimpse awesome high Alps.

Definitely the Zentralbahn train Luzern/Interlaken Ost. The real "scenic" part of the Gotthard panoramic is the boat ride to and from Flüelen. The train is far less scenic. But the Luzern/Interlaken Ost line is amazing - train runs partly along the lakefront and then through the mountains, past the lakes of Sarnen and Lungern and when it drops down into the Haslital you get great views of a huge waterfall! then it runs along the northern shore of lake Brienz. On a clear day you have perfect views over to the Jungfrau. Sit, if you can, on the righthand side. The train reverses out of the Meiringen station so then righthand side then becomes the left but the best views are then on the left so all is great!

Be sure to reserve seats in a Panoramic car - nearly all glass - on GP trains.

No need to go all way to Interlaken, a blah modern town in its tourist area anyway- rather get off at say Brienz and maybe take a lake boat ride or go to Ballenberg Open-Air Museum or get off at Meiringen and visit Reichenbach Falls near town - take funicular up to middle viewing area, etc. Or go to Interlaken-Ost - where this section of GP train ends and take train up to Grindelwald to be close up with glacier-girdled soaring Alps. If you do go to Interlaken then you could take the mainline trains via Bern to Lucerne - to see something different - about the same time or faster.

I didn't find the panoramic cars worth while -- I didn't want to see the sky! Instead, I preferred being in a train car with windows that opened. JMO.

I've done both in winter, and both were spectacular.

Perhaps Golden Pass is ahead just a fraction - but there's not much in it.

I didn't find the panoramic cars worth while -- I didn't want to see the sky! Instead, I preferred being in a train car with windows that opened. JMO.>

Actually I agree though I think many like the novel cars which are also more deluxe IME but good point and Panoramic cars are also often chock full and in regular cars and regular trains over the same route you can often easily move from side to side as the scenery dictates and yes open the window and stick your head (carefully) out - much nicer to me.

Then consider posting honestly, and if that means giving pros and cons, say so. It must be very confusing to OPs to see you post advice that you retract moments later.

The Goldenpass line "Panoramic" cars are only on the sector Montreux/Zweisimmen. And actually are being withdrawn because new rolling stock is on order and the Panoramic cars are very dated. By the end of 2019 (we hope!) it will be possible to travel from Montreux to Interlaken ost with no change of train.

We were on the Zentralbahn sector Luzern/Interlaken Ost a month or so ago. The train was entirely sealed windows with windows extending somewhat up into the roof (though certainly nowhere near the entire roof) and the views were great.

Then consider posting honestly, and if that means giving pros and cons, say so. It must be very confusing to OPs to see you post advice that you retract moments later.>

I recommend panorama cars because I think most people would like them better than regular cars - capiche? And in hundreds of posts on such trains I usually do not recommend regular cars but say how I prefer them.

Interlaken Ost ? Lucerne : GoldenPass Line

Yes new GP trains Lucerne-Interlaken-Ost is all panoramic cars now - like hambagahalie says with no windows that open anymore. (Negtive IMO).

If you want to take much more scenic trains IMO at Interlaken-Ost hop on a train to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen and then take mountain trains to the Jungfraujoch - Europe's highest train station and a perpetual see of ice and a glacier an easy walk away. You may find the Half-Fare Pass a good deal if taking those trains and 1/2 off Lucerne-Jungfraujoch and back would probably pay for the card and you'd get half-off everything that moves in Switzerland, except cows! for lots on Jungfru trains and Swiss trains in general check www.sbb.ch; www.swisstravelsystem.com BETS-European Rail Experts and www.ricksteves.com.