--- title: "GoldenPass Express (2026): Timetable, Prestige, Tickets" description: "Montreux to Interlaken in 3h15 without a change: 2026 timetable, fares, CHF 20 and CHF 49 Prestige reservations, gauge change, luggage and wheelchair access." url: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/goldenpass-express-guide" image: "https://www.mobeeinternational.com/_astro/01M5J4124NDHD6GA8P0APWFGC1.C2CVdto8_ZavpsF.jpg" --- 1. [Home](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/) 2. [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) 3. GoldenPass Express Guide: Montreux to Interlaken, Classes, Prestige and Reservations [Travel insights](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) # GoldenPass Express Guide: Montreux to Interlaken, Classes, Prestige and Reservations Montreux to Interlaken in 3h15 without a change: 2026 timetable, fares, CHF 20 and CHF 49 Prestige reservations, gauge change, luggage and wheelchair access. By [Valentine Julien](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/valentine-julien), Global Manager · Published on October 22, 2026 · 7 min read ![Lac Brienz](/_astro/01M5J4124NDHD6GA8P0APWFGC1.C2CVdto8_Z1l8oKd.webp) The GoldenPass Express is the panoramic train that links Montreux on Lake Geneva to Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland in about three hours and fifteen minutes, with no change of train. Since December 2022 its cars change track gauge at Zweisimmen in a few minutes, which used to require a change of train. There are four through trains a day in each direction, three classes (2nd, 1st and Prestige), and in 2026 the seat reservation costs CHF 20 (about $25) in 1st or 2nd class and CHF 49 (about $61) in Prestige, which is the only class where it is mandatory. Here is how we use this train when we design a Switzerland trip: timetable, fares, which class to pick, the gauge change, what to eat on board, accessibility, and how it differs from the GoldenPass Panoramic, the Belle Époque cars and the Luzern-Interlaken Express. ## Route: Montreux to Interlaken via Gstaad The line is 115 km long and crosses three cantons: Vaud, Fribourg and Bern. Three landscapes follow each other: - **Montreux to Les Avants and the Jaman tunnel:** the train climbs straight out of Montreux in tight curves, above the vineyards and Lake Geneva. The first 20 minutes give the widest lake view of the day. - **The Pays-d'Enhaut and Gstaad:** French-speaking pastures, wooden chalets and the cheese country around Château-d'Oex and Rougemont, then the chalets of Saanen and Gstaad. Somewhere along the way the conductor's announcements switch from French to German. - **The Simmental to Spiez and Lake Thun:** after Zweisimmen, the train follows the Simme valley down to Spiez, then runs along Lake Thun to Interlaken. From Montreux to Zweisimmen the train runs on the metre-gauge MOB line, and from Zweisimmen to Interlaken on the standard-gauge BLS line. That gauge difference is why travelers had to change trains for a century. ## How the gauge change at Zweisimmen works At Zweisimmen the train rolls at about 15 km/h over a ramp on tracks 6 or 7. The variable-gauge bogies widen the wheelsets from 1,000 mm to 1,435 mm and raise the car body by 200 mm, and the locomotive changes too (the electrical systems differ): an MOB locomotive pulls the train on one side, a BLS locomotive pushes it on the other. The stop lasts about eight minutes and you stay in your seat. It is a world first in regular service, and train lovers like to watch it from the window. ## Timetable 2026 Four through trains a day in each direction, every day of the year: | Montreux departs | Interlaken Ost arrives | | --- | --- | | 7:32 a.m. | 10:48 a.m. | | 9:32 a.m. | 12:48 p.m. | | 12:32 p.m. | 3:48 p.m. | | 2:32 p.m. | 5:48 p.m. | | Interlaken Ost departs | Montreux arrives | | --- | --- | | 9:11 a.m. | 12:25 p.m. | | 11:11 a.m. | 2:25 p.m. | | 2:11 p.m. | 5:25 p.m. | | 4:11 p.m. | 7:25 p.m. | The Interlaken departures were four minutes earlier (9:07, 11:07 and so on) until February 12, 2026. Between the through trains, the line still runs with a change at Zweisimmen, so you are never stuck. **Autumn 2026 works:** from October 19 to December 12, 2026, buses replace all GoldenPass Express trains between Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West. MOB asks travelers to reserve to or from Interlaken West in that period. We plan hotel transfers accordingly. ## Classes: 2nd, 1st or Prestige All cars have large panoramic windows. The differences: | Class | What you get | Reservation 2026 | Ticket needed | Our view | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2nd class | Panoramic windows | CHF 20, optional but strongly recommended | 2nd class ticket or pass | Fine outside July and August | | 1st class | Panoramic windows, more space per seat, platters to pre-order | CHF 20, optional but strongly recommended | 1st class ticket or pass | Our default | | Prestige | Heated leather seats that rotate to face the direction of travel, floor raised 40 cm | CHF 49, mandatory | 1st class ticket or pass | Worth it for the view, not for service | Each train has two small Prestige compartments. The raised floor puts you higher than everyone else, with the seats always turned toward the lake or the valley. Unlike the Glacier Express Excellence Class, it does not include a meal. For three hours it is a pleasant upgrade, and at CHF 49 on top of a 1st class ticket it costs far less than the Glacier Express Excellence supplement. **Should you reserve in 1st or 2nd class?** Yes. The reservation is technically optional, but the panoramic cars fill up between May and October, and without a reservation you may end up standing in a section, or giving up your seat to someone who reserved it. At CHF 20 it is cheap insurance. ## Fares and passes One-way fares in 2026, per adult, without reservation: | Route | 2nd class | 1st class | | --- | --- | --- | | Montreux to Interlaken | CHF 56 (about $69) | CHF 96 (about $119) | | Montreux to Gstaad | CHF 28 | CHF 48 | | Spiez to Montreux | CHF 48 | CHF 84 | | Interlaken to Gstaad | CHF 37 | CHF 63 | The Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Half Fare Card, Eurail and Interrail are valid, and there is no supplement beyond the optional reservation. With a Swiss Travel Pass, the whole ride costs you CHF 20 in 1st or 2nd class. Reservations booked at a station must be made at least two hours before departure, so we book them with the rest of the trip. If you are weighing the pass against single tickets, our guide to the [Swiss Travel Pass vs the Half Fare Card](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/swiss-travel-pass-vs-half-fare-card) runs the numbers on real itineraries. ## Food on board There is no dining car, but 1st class and Prestige passengers can pre-order regional platters up to the day before: an aperitif platter at CHF 31.90, cheese or vegetarian platters at around CHF 30, a breakfast box at CHF 15, and a caviar set at CHF 94 with champagne. Payment is by card only. For 2nd class, or simply for more choice, we suggest a picnic from the bakery at Montreux station or a sandwich from Interlaken. ## Which direction? **Eastbound, Montreux to Interlaken,** works best for most of our travelers: you start with the lake and the vineyards of the Lavaux region in your head, and arrive in the Jungfrau region in the early afternoon, in time for a walk in Interlaken or the train to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen. **Westbound, Interlaken to Montreux,** fits a trip that ends in Geneva: the GoldenPass Express takes you to Montreux, and from there Geneva Airport is a little over an hour by train along the lake. We do not book a specific side. The line curves a lot above Montreux and in the Simmental, and both sides get their share of lake and mountain. ## GoldenPass Express, Panoramic, Belle Époque and the Luzern-Interlaken Express The names confuse almost everyone. In short: - **GoldenPass Express (GPX):** Montreux to Interlaken, no change, described above. - **GoldenPass Panoramic:** the older MOB panoramic train between Montreux and Zweisimmen, almost two hours, with VIP seats at the very front behind the driver (bookable on board only in 2026). Reservation CHF 10. - **GoldenPass Belle Époque:** restored early 20th century cars on the same Montreux to Zweisimmen line, also CHF 10 to reserve. Lovely, but not accessible for wheelchairs or walkers. It is also used for the Chocolate Train to Gruyères and Broc, which ran from May 1 to September 29 in 2026. - **Luzern-Interlaken Express:** a different company (Zentralbahn) and a different line, from Lucerne over the Brünig Pass to Interlaken in 1 hour 50 minutes, hourly. Before 2022 the whole Montreux to Lucerne journey with two changes was marketed as the "GoldenPass Line", which is why many websites still mix them up. Reservation is optional (CHF 16 from May to October, CHF 12 in winter), and the operator recommends the right-hand side in the direction of travel. Put together, Lucerne to Interlaken to Montreux is a full panoramic day across the country, and it forms two sections of the [Grand Train Tour of Switzerland](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/grand-train-tour-of-switzerland). ## Luggage The GoldenPass Express has luggage compartments and ski racks in each car, which makes it one of the easier panoramic trains for travelers with suitcases. Bikes are limited to one per person, loaded yourself, and not on every train. On the Luzern-Interlaken Express, space is tighter in summer: Zentralbahn asks travelers to lay wheeled cases on their side on the racks and keep aisles clear. If your trip continues to Zermatt or another car-free resort, we usually send the big suitcases ahead with the SBB service; our guide to [luggage on Swiss trains](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/luggage-on-swiss-trains) explains how. ## Accessibility The GoldenPass Express is one of the most accessible panoramic trains in Switzerland. Every train has low-floor cars with space for two wheelchairs, an accessible toilet and baby-changing, in 2nd class. Those spaces cannot be reserved in advance, so MOB advises registering your trip with the SBB Contact Center Handicap (0800 007 102, or +41 800 007 102 from abroad), which also organizes boarding help. All stations on the route are step-free except Oey-Diemtigen. The Luzern-Interlaken Express also has low-floor access, with wheelchair spaces in car 3. The Belle Époque cars are not accessible. ## How we fit it into a trip The GoldenPass Express is the backbone of our [Switzerland in 7 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/7-days-in-switzerland-mountains-lakes-and-chocolate) trip, which links Lucerne, the Jungfrau region, Lavaux and Zermatt, and of the longer [Switzerland by Train in 12 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/switzerland-12-day-scenic-train-rides-moutains-lakes-and-chocolate), which adds Gruyères and the Glacier Express. Our usual pacing: two or three nights in Interlaken or Grindelwald, the GoldenPass Express to Montreux in the late morning, then two nights on the Lake Geneva Riviera before continuing to Zermatt, which is about two hours forty-five minutes from Montreux with two changes. If you want this route with Prestige seats, a hotel above the lake in Montreux and your luggage sent ahead, [ask one of our travel designers](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/plan-your-trip) for a custom version. More guides: [Switzerland by train](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/swiss-trains)[Getting around](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/topics/routes) ## Related destinations - [Switzerland](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/countries/switzerland) ## Contents Written by ### [Valentine Julien](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/valentine-julien) Global Manager · Based in Villefranche-sur-Saône Grew up between the French and Swiss Alps; designs our scenic train and mountain itineraries and has strong opinions about hotels. [More about Valentine](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/team/valentine-julien) ## Trips for this guide - [![7 days in Switzerland : mountains, lakes and chocolate](/_astro/01M5J4124MCR5WBXAPXY8BMN83.COn9YTWr_ZyK0QU.webp)**Switzerland in 7 Days: Lucerne, Jungfrau, Zermatt & Lavaux by Train**From €1,999 · 7 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/7-days-in-switzerland-mountains-lakes-and-chocolate) - [![Switzerland : 12 day scenic train rides, mountains, lakes and chocolate](/_astro/01M5J4124NCCP82JJ7FY8RXAQ4.CeI7SiQJ_Z1oIPLB.webp)**Switzerland by Train in 12 Days: Lavaux, Jungfraujoch, Glacier Express**From €3,499 · 12 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/switzerland-12-day-scenic-train-rides-moutains-lakes-and-chocolate) - [![Legendary Swiss Trains](/_astro/01M5J4124NCZ8M7GK939T8W5Z8.DuO0OEHt_2ePJvK.webp)**Legendary Swiss Trains: Glacier Express, Bernina & Gornergrat, 7 Days**From €2,199 · 7 days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/legendary-swiss-trains) When you’re ready, we’re ready ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. ## Frequently asked questions ### Do you need a reservation for the GoldenPass Express? Only in Prestige class, where it is mandatory and costs CHF 49 per seat on top of a 1st class ticket. In 1st and 2nd class the CHF 20 reservation is optional but strongly recommended from May to October, because the panoramic cars fill up and unreserved travelers may have to move. Station bookings close two hours before departure. ### Is the GoldenPass Express covered by the Swiss Travel Pass? Yes. The Swiss Travel Pass covers the GoldenPass Express in the class of your pass with no surcharge, so you only pay the optional CHF 20 seat reservation. For Prestige you need a 1st class pass plus the CHF 49 Prestige reservation. The Half Fare Card halves the CHF 56 or CHF 96 one-way fare. ### Is Prestige class on the GoldenPass Express worth it? For a three-hour ride, Prestige is a pleasant upgrade rather than a different experience. You sit 40 cm higher, in heated seats that always face forward, which improves the views and the comfort. It does not include a meal. At CHF 49 above 1st class, we recommend it for couples and for travelers riding the line only once. ### What is the difference between the GoldenPass Express and the GoldenPass Line? The GoldenPass Express runs from Montreux to Interlaken without a change since December 2022. The old GoldenPass Line was the marketing name for the whole Montreux to Lucerne journey, which needed changes at Zweisimmen and Interlaken. The Lucerne to Interlaken section is now the Luzern-Interlaken Express, run by Zentralbahn. ## Plan this trip Day by day, with prices. Each one is reshaped around you. [All itineraries](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages) ![7 days in Switzerland : mountains, lakes and chocolate](/_astro/01M5J4124MCR5WBXAPXY8BMN83.COn9YTWr_Z1l0N9k.webp) 7 days / 6 nights ### [Switzerland in 7 Days: Lucerne, Jungfrau, Zermatt & Lavaux by Train](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/7-days-in-switzerland-mountains-lakes-and-chocolate) Six nights by train through Lucerne, Grindelwald, Zermatt and Montreux: Pilatus, a free day in the Jungfrau region, sunset on the Matterhorn and a wine walk in Lavaux. Central 4-star hotels; a good first Switzerland. From **€1,999** per person ![Switzerland : 12 day scenic train rides, mountains, lakes and chocolate](/_astro/01M5J4124NCCP82JJ7FY8RXAQ4.CeI7SiQJ_Z2aYD41.webp) 12 days / 11 nights ### [Switzerland by Train in 12 Days: Lavaux, Jungfraujoch, Glacier Express](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/switzerland-12-day-scenic-train-rides-moutains-lakes-and-chocolate) Eleven nights by train from Montreux to Zurich: Lavaux, the Chocolate Train, Jungfraujoch, Zermatt and the Glacier Express to St. Moritz. Well-placed 3-star hotels keep the price down; we upgrade one or two stops on request. From **€3,499** per person ![Legendary Swiss Trains](/_astro/01M5J4124NCZ8M7GK939T8W5Z8.DuO0OEHt_1szWel.webp) 7 days / 6 nights ### [Legendary Swiss Trains: Glacier Express, Bernina & Gornergrat, 7 Days](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/packages/legendary-swiss-trains) Six nights by train from Interlaken to Lucerne, with the GoldenPass, the Gornergrat, the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express, in 4-star hotels beside each station. For first-time visitors who want the big views without a car. From **€2,199** per person ## More to read [All articles](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles) ![Belgium, France and Switzerland : a taste of the three countries](/_astro/01M5J4124FNXXY7P1DBQDES34F.2fKLGj47_ZYyi9B.webp) Switzerland ### [Switzerland in February: Carnival, Peak Snow and White Turf](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/switzerland-in-february) Switzerland in February 2027: Lucerne and Basel Fasnacht dates, White Turf, real temperatures by region, school-holiday crowds and our trip ideas. ![Gruyères](/_astro/01M5J4124R4BE58HHC3508AV4M._aLDk73f_f1u3O.webp) Switzerland ### [Switzerland Off the Beaten Path: 9 Quiet Places Beyond Zurich and Geneva](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/hidden-gems-in-switzerland-beyond-zurich-and-geneva) Switzerland off the beaten path: Appenzell, Guarda, Val Müstair, Sils, Soglio, Ticino valleys, Lavaux and Kandersteg, with train times, seasons and nights. ![Lindt](/_astro/01M5J4124Q3YE08ASYAEGGHGQ0.EUhBp82D_1iv5uM.webp) Italy ### [Italy and Switzerland Itinerary: 14 Days from Lake Como to the Matterhorn by Train](https://www.mobeeinternational.com/articles/italy-and-switzerland-lakes-and-mountains-itinerary) Milan, Lake Como, Lugano, the Bernina Express, St. Moritz and the Glacier Express to Zermatt: 14 and 10-day versions with 2026 fares, times and seasons. Tailor-made, from France ## Let us help you plan a trip that feels right Tell us what you’re dreaming about: dates, pace, who you’re traveling with, and what would make it special. A real person will get back to you with thoughtful ideas, not a generic pitch. 1. 1Share your dates and wishes 2. 2Get a priced itinerary within 48 hours 3. 3Refine it together, then travel 9 travel designers in Lyon and Nice reply to every request themselves. ★★★★★ > “A wonderful travel partner” Carol W., Seattle, WA · 4.8/5 on 273 reviews - [US+1 607 354 8896](tel:+16073548896) - [Europe+33 4 26 30 36 82](tel:+33426303682) - [contact@mobeeinternational.com](mailto:contact@mobeeinternational.com) Two minutes, three steps. 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