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Glacier Express Options

Kabagoaf89

Hi, we three are in Switzerland this year from 6 to 13 October, travelling by train on the Half Fare Pass from Zurich to Interlaken to Zermatt, to St Moritz to Tirano. We have reserved seats in 1st class on the Glacier Express for the 12th, from Zermatt to St Moritz and we understand it’s the last day of the season. Three questions 1. when and what’s the process for purchasing our Half Fare Pass? 2. when (earliest is around 12 April) and what is the process for purchasing a Saver Day Pass for the 12th? 3. Do we need to reserve seats on the Bernina Express for St Moritz to Tirano on the 13th? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

RolandP

Hello Kabagoaf89

October (until 20 Oct) is a great month for travelling in Switzerland. The mountains stand out more in September and October, thanks to the lack of humidity in the air.

Please kindly note, the correct term for the Swiss Half Fare Pass is Swiss Half Fare Card.

The Swiss Half Fare Card has to be purchased latest on the day you want to travel with reduced fare tickets. There is no need to purchase the Swiss Half Fare Card now for October. You can purchase reduced tickets now, and the Swiss Half Fare Card anytime later. There might be unforeseen changes to your travel plans; spending the money that far in advance doesn’t seem reasonable to me. The Swiss Half Fare Card does not sell out.

The Saver Day Pass offers you can find on this website (press the Purchase online button):
https://sbb-tickets.cc/en/tickets-offers/tickets/day-passes/saver-day-pass.html

The Bernina Express has coaches that need a seat reservation, yet there are also coaches as part of the same train, for which you don’t and which offer free-seating. For the latter, you do not have a guarantee of finding a free seat, as these coaches are used by the locals for commuting, too. If you want to have a seat, do reserve your seats. The right-hand side in travel direction offers better views.

Does that make sense to you? Let us know if you need more information.

Also, since the Bernina Express is operated by Rhaetian Railways, not SBB, you might want to ask the RhB rail service for Bernina Express seat reservation related questions:

https://www.rhb.ch/en/service-souvenirs/contact/railservice

Kind regards,
Roland

Ps. One last note: you did not say how you will travel from Zurich to Interlaken. I suggest travelling via Lucerne and spending some time there (if not even spending a night). Don’t waste too much time in Zurich, our country has more to offer than Zurich.

Kabagoaf89

RolandP
Hi Roland,thanks for the comprehensive and helpful response. We are only overnight in Zurich then heading to Interlaken with a stop in Lucerne (put bags into lockers) and hopefully a trip to Titlis and back, then the afternoon train to Interlaken and finally overnight at Grindelwald. If you don’t consider that Titlis is manageable, do you have any thoughts on what to do in and around Lucerne for say 5 hours? Thanks

RolandP

Hello Kabagoaf89

Lucerne is charming, there isn’t actually a need to leave the city for 5 hours. Even the lake is beautiful, you could do a little cruise on the lake, for example.

Mt. Titlis is possible, simply keep in mind that you might be tired after descending (especially if you are not used to high altitudes) and there is another 2-hour trip to Interlaken afterwards. The ride from Lucerne to Interlaken is scenic, and it would mean a pity if you fell asleep on that train. All depends how fit you are.

Know that in October, it will be dark by 7 p.m.

Kind regards,
Roland

Kabagoaf89

Hi Roland,

Sorry to bother you again. We will arrive in Lucerne from Zurich and wanted to leave our luggage in lockers at the station. I located a map of the station, but it was difficult to determine where the lockers were. Are you please able to provide a link to a schematic that is in english? Also, if we are running late and don’t have time to access the lockers at Lucerne, does Engleberg have a storage facility for a few hours? Thanks Bruce.

RolandP

Hello Kabagoaf89

Since I am based in Lucerne, I can tell you the lockers are located in the centre of platform 14; these platform belongs to the Lucerne-Engelberg Express train station.

When you arrive from Zurich (usually on platforms 3 to 6), after disembarking, go in the same direction as the train drove into the station, at the end of the track, turn right, platform 14 is the very right track, at the end of the station.

Engelberg has lockers, too, but not as many as Lucerne, thus they might be taken already, depending on your arrival time. I suggest taking an earlier train from Zurich to allow a 30-minute stop in Lucerne. If I were you, I would have stayed in Lucerne, not in Zurich.

Kind regards,
Roland

https://sbb-tickets.cc/en/travel-information/stations/find-station/lucerne-station.html

Kabagoaf89

RolandP Hi Roland,

Thanks for the prompt and great response. For whatever reason, the other two are reluctant to change our itinerary. We used a Qantas voucher for some of the hotel cost in Zurich. We get in at 6pm on 6 October and will aim to catch the 8:10am to Lucerne on 7 October. I would prefer to stay in Lucerne, and whilst writing this and after a few prompts, the others are now considering staying the 6th in Lucerne, if the voucher can be transferred. I just looked at connecting rooms at the Monopol Hotel. Any suggestions for a 2 bedroom or connecting rooms or 2 doubles accommodation reasonably close to the station? Thanks again. Great advice. Bruce

RolandP

Hello Kabagoaf89

Since I live close to Lucerne, I never use a hotel there. One which is usually reaonsably priced and close to the station is the Radisson blu.

Any hotel around the lake bassin is actually close to the station.

If you stay in Zurich, you may benefit of inexpensive hotel rooms while the city itself isn’t inexpensive at all - it is one of the most expensive cities in the world. If you want to have resonable priced local food in Zurich though, I suggest Zeughauskeller.

Kind regards,
Roland