Emily’s trip is in June 2022, so the equipment switch and and schedule modifications do not apply. Her question is a follow -up to an earlier one she posted, trying to work out a route and itinerary for a trip that would include many of the Swiss scenic trains. Bernina Express to Pontresina from Varenna is already part of that. Then they want to head to Montreux, using the Glacier Express. I made a suggestion to alter the route a bit, and this question is a follow-up on that. Here is the earlier thread:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland/my-june-itinerary-needs-help
I’ll start by saying that I use the SBB website, not the app, to figure out routes. But both will show you the fastest and most direct route between your start and end points, and that is not always the one you want. Here, for example, if you start in Pontresina and end at Montreux, they both will route you through Zurich and maybe Bern, instead of showing the route you want, which starts with the Glacier Express. You need to add an intermediate stop or two to force the route to go the way you want. So start by adding a stop in Brig to make it show the GE route.
But even if you put in Pontresina as the start and Brig as the end, most of the routes SBB will display still go through Zurich, and then the deep Lôtschberg Basistunnel to Visp before reaching Brig. That iis still not the route you want. But there is one option that works—-the 8:32 departure from Pontresina which takes the route you want, straight to Brig with no changes. That is the Glacier Express itself.
At Brig, you need to transfer to a train to Spiez to pick up the Golden Pass Panorama train to Montreux. Again, to get SBB to show you the route and schedule you want ( instead of routes through Zurich or Bern), you must have an intermediate stop: Zweisimmen. That will force it to show you trains that run on the Golden Pass route. The trains that depart Spiez at 12 minutes past the hour are the actual Golden Pass trains with the special cars. You will change to them at Zweisimmen, 47 minutes after leaving Spiez.
If you depart Spiez at 10:12, 1212, 13:12, 14.12, or 15:12, you will be on a Golden Pass train with the Panoramic cars. If you depart Spiez at 11:12 or 16:12, you will be in the period-themed Belle Époque cars. ( Note that this is the current schedule, but I don’t think it changes).
If it is the Panoramic cars you want for your ride in First Class down to Montreux, the last departure from Spiez that works is the 15:12. Unfortunately you cannot get there in time if you ri the Glacier Express from Pontresina to Brig; your earliest arrival in Spiez would be 16:23, too late for even the Belle Époque train. The remaining trains on the route for the afternoon are regular regional trains.
This is why I suggested you need to break this journey into 2 days with an overnight stop on the way. Also it is a very long journey for one day if you want to take the “scenic route” instead of faster trains and tunnels.
You could get to Spiez in time for the 14:12 or 15:12 train with Panorama cars if you depart Pontresina earlier than the 8:32 Glacier Express, like 7 or 8 am, but then you will be on regional trains instead of the actual Glacier Express, and you will have 3 or 4 train changes at small stations on the way to stay on the route. Not my idea of a good time.
So—-let us know what you think of spreading the scenic journey over 2 days and spending a night somewhere on the way, and I am sure people will have recommendations ( I have several in mind). Then you can get an earlier start on the second day, and easily make one of the Panorama trains that you would like.
I will note, in response to the comment above about the scenic value of the Golden Pass segment between Interlaken and Luzern, that you will indeed be taking that route later, after your stay in Mürren or elsewhere in the area.
