Flight leaves tomorrow for Zürich getting in at 9 AM Tuesday. should we take train to Murren and stop off at Lucerne on the way?
Going via Lucern looks like that’s part of the golden pass that would be nice to see and might break up the trip a little bit. I realize it will take us a little longer
Not taking a lot of bags so wouldn’t be too hard to jump on it jump off.
Thanks!
For sure stop in Lucerne for lunch. From the train station, it’s a quick walk across the bridge to the old town.
Exciting that you leave tomorrow. Have a great trip!!!
You can store your bags at Luzern station, too, so it is a great idea! You can actually see a lot in a couple of hours since the station is so close to the city center, and the weather is looking good.
The only drawback after flying overnight is that long train ride may make you feel like falling asleep (that happened to me) and Luzern train station and the area in front of it is always crowded. The train you get on might be crowded also with bags where you and your party can't all sit together and you might get seat mate not to your liking (somebody coughing with no mask on for example), so if you can reserve seats better or sit in first class where it is less crowded specifically on the Luzern to Interlaken leg.
@Jazz+Travels, May is not peak travel season it Switzerland so seating should really be fine. And the SBB website has a handy predictor of crowds when you look at train schedules (1,2, or 3 person icons next to the train time indicated projected crowd levels).
The train levels look low for Tuesday?
I have traveled that route in May 2019 it was crowded; and one time July 2016 it was not that full in 2nd class later in the day.
SBB is not giving any loading icons for the Luzern-Interlaken Express on Tuesday afternoon. The trains go every hour from Luzern at 4 past the hour. Just be at the platform 10 minutes before departure and you will be among the first to board and have your pick of seats. Since they don't sell seat reservations for this train, you'll be fine.
It is likely that this will simply be the train arriving from Interlaken at 5 before the hour. Wait till everyone is off and then get on.
Thanks for all the advice! Is this the only part of the golden pass that’s really en route to Murren is us that on another line? Thanks!!
If you skipped going to Luzern and went the fast way to Interlaken, the last stretch between Spiez and Interlaken is also part of the Golden Pass route, but not worth going out of your way for.
Golden Pass is simply a marketing campaign, linking 3 sections of privately held railroad lines, the Montreux-Oberland Bernois, the Berner Landesbahn, and the Luzern-Interlaken Express.
I don't hang out in First unless somebody else is paying - but I get Jazz+Travels's comments about social distancing - but my memory, having been on the Zentralbahn's Interlaken - Luzern trains quite a few times, is that the First class area is at the front and back of the train, and the Second is in the middle. The First class compartments are quite small, and have a door so there will actually be less air flow. One other consideration is that because you are at the ends, there is the wall of the driver cab, so your vision to the front or back can be restricted, and I think I remember that because the First Class is over the wheels it is up higher so the panoramic windows are actually shorter than in Second.
The views are good both sides, and the train is narrow because of the narrow gauge cogwheel train track, but the best views are sitting on the right leaving Luzern. One of the most pretty rides in Switzerland IMHO. When the train changes ends in Meiringen front becomes back and v.v. and you are still on the better side as you go along Lake Brienz - Brienzersee.
See how many lakes and waterfalls you can count. Some waterfalls will be the same one from different angles, especially that one at Giessbach.
