Train Seating Reservations

I never make reservations on scenic Swiss trains because the trains I travel on neither offer nor require them. If you use the fancy named tourist trains with the hermetically sealed windows, the wine glass that stands upright on the steep bits, the air conditioning and where the only people on it are other tourists from around the world and staff - you MUST reserve, sometimes far in advance. The seats are all reserved all the time in both classes. That's not to knock them, that's just the way it is on the named ones. That may be the way you want it, and if so more power to you. You have to go that way if you want the dining car. I prefer to take the numbered but un-named local trains which run in between the fancy ones. They are ones that the locals use and cheapskates like me. If I have a ticket on one of those I can hop off at intermediate stations, hike around and catch a later one. I have windows that go up and down, fresh air in the car, sometimes a bit whiffy if the farmers have been manuring the fields or the guy at the next seat hasn't had a wash recently, no food or drink except what I carry on or get at the stations along the way. If you don't get off, they take the same amount of time. Entirely your choice.

In general, the Glacier Express runs from Zermatt to St. Moritz or Chur. A slightly shorter run is from Brig to Chur. Numerous Regional trains (not the Glacier Express) run on these same tracks and you can easily ride these trains. No seat reservations permitted. But, you will probably change trains twice during the journey at Andermatt and Disentis. Only the Glacier Express makes the entire run without a train change. And, it's not really an express. It just makes fewer stops than the Regional trains. Same tracks and same speed. You do need to have seat reservation on the Glacier Express. We had to pay a supplemental fee as well. Yes, the train looks cool but, as I said, other similar trains run on the same tracks for less money. Of the 16-18 train runs a day along these tracks, there is only one Glacier Express run departing Brig at 11:18. Just one out of sixteen runs this time of year. By the end of June, there are four Glacier Express runs (10:18, 10:37, 11:18 and 11:37). You can actually walk up to a train station window a couple days before and get your tickets.