Hopefully someone out there in the RS Forum world has done this train ride. I have read for an excessive amount of time on the rHb and SBB Swiss rail sites and can’t figure out how you purchase the Half Fare rail card on SBB and use it on rHb to purchase the Bernina Express ticket. Also is it worth the extra time to go to Chur, or is just to St Moritz sufficient. It’s been 20 years since I did the fabulous Glacier Express. We will be doing this train ride May 15. I understand a portion of the trip will be by bus due to rail construction. In advance, thanks for your help!
Posted by
248 posts
I purchased the Half Fare card on SBB late last year for our September October trip. I purchased on SBB using this link.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/tickets-offers/tickets/guests-abroad/swiss-halffare-card.html?beta
I couldn't store the card in the SBB app but was able to store it in my Apple wallet and also as a pdf. When buying train tickets on SBB it defaults to the half fare price anyway.
We only used rHb to purchase the seat reservation for the Bernina, I literally bought the ticket on the app while having breakfast before we left. The seat reservation is the important bit.
As for how far to go, we did Tirano to St. Moritz, stayed a couple of days and then switched to the Glacier Express to Zermatt. Obviously this went on the same tracks to Chur, which was a very nice journey.
Posted by
Green Bay
21269 posts
There is a drop down menu during the ticket purchase process where you put in your reduction, (Swiss Travel Pass, Half fare, or no reduction). For the actual Bernina Express train, there is a seat reservation fee and that is the same no matter what.
When you say Ticino, where exactly are you starting? There is a Bernina Express bus once a day from Lugano to Tirano connecting to one of the Bernina Express trains. You can also travel on the same rails in regular trains with no reservation fees from Tirano to St Moritz.
Posted by
OP
Tulsa, OK
56 posts
Oops, I meant to say Tirano. Thanks for your response. I’m still a little confused on the Half-fare card. I will be only using the Half Fare card for the RT Bernina Express, so do you pay a price for the half fare card for how many times you are going to use it?
Posted by
OP
Tulsa, OK
56 posts
Thanks for the tip on the regular train from Tirano to St Moritz, the view will be the same, so what is the benefit of the Bernina Express Train?
Posted by
Green Bay
21269 posts
The Half Fare Card (Tourist version) costs 120 CHF and is good for 30 days from the date you specify. You buy a ticket at half fare and show your HFC when the conductor checks your ticket as it confirms you paid the correct price. You do not have to have the HFC when you buy the ticket, only when you use it.
The Bernina Express cars have panoramic windows (but they do not open). All seats are across tables and there is food and beverage service at your seat. There are also headsets with multi-lingual description of the sights as you pass by them. The regular trains are more frequent, more basic, but the windows open and photographers prefer that.
Posted by
OP
Tulsa, OK
56 posts
I see the Swiss Rail Half-fare card is 120CHF, therefore not a good deal for just the one round trip ride on the Bernina Express.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2139 posts
I agree. www.TheTrainline.com is showing May 15 Tirano to Chur morning tickets for $60. I would just buy that ASAP and perhaps your return ticket and forego all the over-complicated Swiss train passes. In this case, they will not save you any money for the one roundtrip ticket.
I took both the routes of the Bernina Express and the Glacier Express ( which is about 8 hours) and I was floored by the Tirano to Chur section of the Bernina Express route. If you can only do one section, make sure it’s the Tirano to Pontresina section — about 2.4 hours. (The views from Alp Grum are incredible)!
The Glacier Express route is beautiful, but less spectacular than the BE route and it’s 8 hours long (two hours past my train tolerance)!
It is so amazing I’ll be returning to Switzerland this year just to do that one section of the train journey.
Overnighting in Pontresina and then returning to Italy for the Dolomites.
Posted by
OP
Tulsa, OK
56 posts
Thanks all for your suggestions and help. I love the Rick Steve’s forum, I can’t imagine planning a trip without it! Actually saves money when you know what you are doing , travel on all!
Posted by
Green Bay
21269 posts
Right now, you can buy a Saver Day Pass for May 15 for 52 CHF 2nd class. Unlimited travel on Swiss trains for the day, so that would cover a round trip from Tirano to St Moritz or Chur or anywhere else in Switzerland. You have to buy soon to get this price and it is good only for May 15 or whatever day you choose, and is nonrefundable. It is good on the named Bernina Express train, but not for the reservation fee.
Posted by
Citizen of the World
2139 posts
The Saver Day Pass is the best deal of all at the moment. Alternatively , tickets for the Tirano to St.Moritz leg on regular trains ( the most scenic 2.5-hour portion of the Bernina Express route) are for sale on SBB’s website without any passes for CHF30 each way. That is without a Half-Fare card as well.