Hi! Good morning fellow train fans!
International student here, big fan of SBB, and dreaming of doing the Grand Train Tour part by part.
My home train station is Bulle for the purpose of this discussion (more specifically Tour de Treme Centre but I don’t think anyone knows that one).
I have the Saver Day Pass 1st class on 28 January, my grandfather gifted it so I can visit him.
I need to get to Lugano train station eventually (latest at 9 pm) so my aunt can get me.
Earliest I want to depart is 10 am (yes I like to sleep).
My issue is I want at least 1 panoramic train, if not 2 or 3. The app doesn’t offer an option to select panoramic only option, and the information is so hard to find all in one place!
I found I definitely want to go on the Gottardo train, the app tells me to get on at Lucerne and get off at Arth-Goldau, but I’m thinking of just going all the way to Bellinzona and then a normal train to Lugano.
I find it weird the app tells me to do that, is there some issue preventing me just staying on the train to Bellinzona instead of switching trains to also get to Bellinzona?
However, I first need to get to Luzern! The app shows me different convoluted routes, but could I do GoldenPass Panoramic (forgot the specific name) Montreux -> Interlaken?
And even better could I then do Interlaken -> Luzern panoramic?
Tentative plan:
- Home to Montreux 10:09 -> 12:35
- Montreux Golden Pass Panoramic -> Interlaken??? 12:33 - 15:48?!
- Interlaken -> Luzern (Luzern Interlaken Express)??? 15:04 - 16:55
- Luzern -> Bellinzona on Gotrardo? 17:18 - 20:00
- Bellinzona -> Lugano on any train
As you can see, the schedule does not align… help please! I think the issue is GoldenPass train, it has no good earlier train, the only one is 9:33 but it would require me to be up before dark, no thanks.
So maybe skip it, I can do GP later (moving to Montreux in March) and take a faster train, this would allow me to do my schedule?
Also, sunset is 5:30, so maybe the Gottardo will be a wasted trip if I don’t do it earlier?
Please let me know if I need reservations on any of the above, I feel rather confused.
Is this doable in 1 day?
Or is this way too ambitious and the schedules won’t line up enough for me to finish by 9 pm?
Provided I am at Bulle Gare at around 10:10, I won’t stop for food or anything (buy snack on train), and I don’t want to be stuck at any station for more than 1 hour to wait for next train.
This is a very complex ask that SBB app can’t help me solve, so I feel very overwhelmed on how to go about planning this…
P.S. I will be travelling with a two suitcases (one large 30 kg and a hand luggage) and backpack. Will my route be accessible (no stairs at least?) I am not fit, I am a young woman who can’t lift the heavy suitcase more than a few cm (flying home after this). Do you think I can do this route, or should I abondon most of the plan and only do Gottardo?
If so, what’s the best way to get to Luzern to catch just the Gottardo?
I am set on doing Gottardo as I only go to Lugano a couple times a year to see my grandfather, and will move away in June for good, so it’s one of my last chances to do it.
Please help me, I will be super appreciative. If you can tell me how to plan this in the app, I will be so thankful!
Have a nice day!