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Golden Pass Line - how to read timetable? How to reserve Panorama car? Is work happening on the line

Hello,
On Aug 31, we are going to ride the Golden Pass from Luzern to Montreux, then go on to Lausanne to spend the night. I've read the Rick Steve's book about the Golden Pass, and it's very helpful. And I've gone to website https://www.goldenpassline.ch/en/.

But I still don't see exactly how to reserve a Panarama car (we want to do this from Zweisimmen to Montreux).

And I don't understand how to read the timetable to decide what time ticket to buy (from Zweisimmen to Montreux). Plus the timetable is dated 2021. Is this the current one? We want to use the itineraty example Rick gives in the book, and arrive in Montreux at 16:13.

Additionaly, I read somewhere that there might be work happening on the Golden Pass line until December 2022, and the time table would tell me if this would affect my trip. But I don't understand how to read the time table for this question either. Is the work happening? Maybe I read that on an outdated online place.

(We were going to buy the tickets from Luzern to Interlaken to Zweisimmen on the day we ride.)

This is all pretty confusing. Can anyone help me understand this?

Thanks so much!
Adrienne

Posted by
6876 posts

Use www.mob.ch (switching to English in the menus) instead. It's the official website of the operator of that train. The other website you mention was official too, but seems out of date as you've seen.

Posted by
10 posts

Thank you. That site is much better. I see how to get a panoramic car.

Posted by
13 posts

Adrienne, We are doing the same itinerary a few days after you. I am still stuck because I am not positive I am reserving a Pano and not just buying a train ticket ( I have a Swiss Travel Pass already). Any suggestion (anyone?) ? I am using the MOB website.
Thanks!

Posted by
3095 posts

On the MOB website You start with “buy a ticket” for the train you want, then choose “reservation only” from the menu on a later page. A warning will pop up that you need a ticket but just ignore that and continue to the seat choice page.

Posted by
13 posts

Sasha - thank you, I will try that. I am confused by notices the line is down.
BTW, I see you are on Bainbridge. I am in Brenerton.

Posted by
10 posts

Travelgirl, I bought our ticket. I hope it's right!! It all ended up being clear except for 2 things. When I was choosing the departure station, there were a lot of possibilities. I chose Zweisimmen - Bahnhof. Then I chose first class, and I chose seats, but my receipt doesn't seem to show the seat assignment, so I can only hope that worked.

In case it helps you, this is what I did:
mob.ch - change it to English
I clicked on the box after 'plan and book'
Departure station I typed Zweisimmen - Bahnhof (I'm not sure this is right!)
Destination station I typed Montreux
Choose a date in the box
Choose a departure time in the box
Choose box 'find a connection' way at the bottom
On the next screen you can see if it's a panoramic car or Belle Epoch
Choose the car type you want, with the departure time you want
On next page choose 1st or 2nd class
Enter name on next page, and add traveler if you need.

From there on it seems easy. I found using a laptop easier than a smaller device.

Hope this helps you!