Thanks to all of you I've figured out which Swiss Rail pass/card to purchase. I didn't think to ask whether or not we need to purchase seat reservations before we get on the train. We will travel second class and will probably not be taking any of the special scenic trains. Our trip dates are two weeks during mid September.

With the exception of the "scenic" trains, seat reservations are generally not available for trips that occur wholly WITHIN Switzerland. At that time of year I doubt you'll have any problems finding seats even though 2nd Class cars tend to fill up faster than those in First.

The only time I rode a crowded train in Switzerland was on a Sunday afternoon when I was traveling from Bern to Interlaken. The car was full, but I don't recall anyone standing.

One of the most rewarding experiences of my travel career took place that afternoon when I got into a conversation with an old man who was going to visit friends near Spiez.

He had been a mountain guide in his youth and I got him started on one story after the other. Spiez came up too quickly.

You CAN reserve first class seats on train traveling only within Switzerland. You cannot reserve second class seats. Whether you want to pay for first class is up to you. Generally traveling second class is fine, esp if you are going weekdays and as you are not going in the summer months. There is not a huge different in size of cars or seat room between first and second class cars in Switzerland, IMO its one of the few places where it is not worth paying extra, unless you were going at a crunch holiday time like Christmas.

I wonder if the person who originally posted this two years ago ever came back?