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More Swiss train confusion

Hello!

My family of 6 will be traveling on the Golden Pass train from Montreux to Interlacken Ost on June 16th. We already have Swiss Rail passes (2nd class) but I would like to make seat reservations, as I understand this is a very popular time to travel. I'm also interested in getting the most scenic seats on the leg from Montreux to Zweisimmen. (Are the trains with the VIP option still out of service?) Following the advice of Sam to a previous poster, I went to www.sbb.ch/en. I see how to purchase tickets (which I do not need because we have rail passes) but I don't see how to reserve seats. Definitely interested in doing that because we will be leaving our hotel in Montreux at (or before ) check out time, traveling with luggage (one carry on bag and one small backpack each) and we want to arrive at our accommodations in Lauterbrunnen, around check in time, 4:00 PM.

Additionally, do you recommend stopping at any towns anywhere along the way just to take a look? (Remember we'll have luggage.) Or maybe when we switch trains? We will also be seeing Geneva, Lucerne and Liechtenstein.

My other question is about how when I type in my starting point as "Montreux" the drop down selection presents me with a confusing variety of more specific Montreux choices. We want to depart from the main station. Ditto with "Interlacken Ost" -- more "Interlaken" sub choices.

Thank you!

Sharon

Posted by
8889 posts

If you just put "Montreux", that means the main station. All the rest are the bus stops all around the town.
Same with "Interlaken Ost". "Ost" and "West" are the two stations, everything else is a bus stop.

This train is run by a company called "MOB". You can reserve seats here: https://www.mob.ch/en/reservation-procedure

Posted by
21150 posts

Be aware that you can get off the train and look around. There will be another train along in 1 hour, but you will have forfeited your seat reservation.

Posted by
33821 posts

How will you be getting to Liechtenstein? There isn't a station there.

I want you to have a great vacation. Have you read other posts here about what there is to do there (basically nothing)? I can go into more detail if it will help.

No more over the driver "VIP" seating on the MOB - not for this year, maybe never again.

Are you travelling first class or second class on the Swiss trains?

If you post your itinerary folks here may have good suggestions for you.

Happy travels.

Posted by
14 posts

Hi, Nigel!

Thank you for your concern about Leichtenstein. So funny! See, the first week of our trip is an organized tour through my son’s school. As you can imagine, they are going the budget route. We actually start out in Munich Germany then take a bus to Lucerne then into Geneva. Along the way, we overnight in Liechtenstein. Must be a convenient stop along the road, yes?

After the group tour part of the trip is over, the rest of my family will catch up with us in Geneva. (Actually, they’ll take the train around the lake and meet us in Montreux where we’ll board the train the next morning.) We’ll be heading back through switzerland spending some time in Lauterbrunnen, then back to Lucerne. Next, flying out of Zurich to Stockholm where we’ll spend the Midsommar holiday with some friends. Stopping in Iceland (where I’ve been before) on the way back to the US.

So I really just needed tips on the train. Everything else is either predetermined by another entity or pretty much under control.

Thank you!