Q.'s about Swiss Rail passes and trains/lifts in the Berner Oberland

Posted by Kari (Dayton, OH, USA) on 07/08/08 06:05 AM

We bought a Swiss Rail pass (flexipass) with the free tix for our children, but we are confused about what it covers. Steves' guidebook says that in the Berner Oberland area, nothing past Interlaken is included in the Swiss rail pass, but all lifts are half off for Swiss pass holders during their valid rail period. He also says we can buy a regional Junior Card for 40 francs to get free rides on the lifts in that area (but he does not say if this pass is for one day, a week, or what). Does anyone know the details for this? We are trying to figure out if we should get the Junior Card and how long the Junior Card is valid.

We also cannot find info on the Swissrail internet site about which trains are included in our Swiss rail pass. We are considering taking the Golden Pass--I think is included on our Swiss rail pass--but the site recommends reservations. Does this mean that without a reservation, we may not be able to board that train? Does anyone know of a good, thorough source of information on this? Many thanks!

Posted by Tim

Knoxville, TN, USA

07/08/08 07:28 AM

7209 posts

In addition to the link I have provided I can tell you from experience that your Swiss Pass will cover all of Switzerland's tranports including train, boat, bus, cogwheel, gondola, trams, etc. Only certain private high mountain rail companies are not totally covered - but you will get a 50% discount on those. So from Interlaken you can go all the way to Lauterbrunnen and beyond to Stechelberg for free. From Lauterbrunnen Valley you can continue up to either Wengen on one side or Muerren on the other side for free. You can also get from Stechelberg to Gimmelwald to Muerren on the gondola for free. Anywhere above Muerren or above Wengen you will get a 50% discount.

You write about free tix for the children...are you talking about the free Swiss Family Card (SFC) that came with your Swiss Passes? If so, you don't need to buy a Junior Card. With the SFC all of your kids < 16 years old travel free with you wherever you go. Even on those private high mountain railways like to the Jungfrau where the adults get a 50% discount - your kids go free with you with the SFC. I know this because I've done it several times with my kids as recently as June 2008.

Your Swiss Pass also covers all of the scenic trains like the Golden Pass (and your kids are free), but you will probably want a reservation to guarantee you a seat with your family. Also realize that other trains travel the same route along the same tracks as the Golden Pass so it's not a necessity to ride the Golden Pass unless you just want to be on that specific train.

http://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/Tickets.16.0.html?&L=2

Posted by Connie

SULPHUR SPRINGS, TX, USA

07/08/08 09:03 AM

251 posts

Having just come back from the area using a Swiss Pass I can confirm the info Tim gave you about how far your Swiss Pass will take you "free", into the the BO area.

It's really a good deal and such a time and stress saver.

We also really enjoyed using ours for the boat ride at Lucerne. It will cover boats on other lakes as well.

You don't have to have a reservation for the Golden Pass railroad. You just get on. BUT, we were traveling on a Sunday and it was standing room only and very crowded until quite a few people got off at a lake beach area. Reservations would have been nice but I think you have to travel in 1st class to have reservations. Their second class areas were very nice and did have A/C, which they didn't have on the trains we used in Italy (2nd class).

Posted by Kari OP

Dayton, OH, USA

07/08/08 10:06 AM

5 posts

Thanks so much! Yes, we did get the Swiss Family Card. I realized I have to ask about a finer point: if we decide to travel beyond Interlaken on some of our non-travel days (we have the flexipass, so we can choose which days to use up for travel), do we get the 50% discount for our kids, or are they free? As I understand it, using the discount does not use up a travel day. If it is the 50% option, I am guessing we might still save by getting the Junior Card.

Posted by Tim

Knoxville, TN, USA

07/08/08 10:56 AM

7209 posts

You absolutely do NOT need the Junior Card if you have the free Swiss Family Card. The kids travel free with you wherever you go no matter if you use your Swiss Pass or if you buy a point-to-point ticket for yourself. If a paying parent is riding a train then the SFC will allow your children to ride with you for free.

When you ordered your Swiss Pass you automatically received the SFC for free. For those parents who show up in Switzerland and just buy point-to-point tickets THOSE are the people that would benefit from buying the 16CHF Junior Card. A Junior Card acts just like the SFC and gets you the exact same benefits. The only difference is you already have your SFC for free because you ordered your Swiss Pass from the USA before you left.

I know about the Junior Card because on my first visit to Switzerland I did not have a Swiss Pass nor a SFC so I had to purchase the Junior Card for my kids. By the way, the Junior Cards have a 1 year validity.