GoldenPass Express Guide 2026: Interlaken to Montreux Route, Prestige Class & Belle Époque Cars

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The GoldenPass Express is a direct panoramic train that runs from Interlaken Ost to Montreux in 3 hours and 15 minutes. Operated by the Montreux Oberland Bernois railway (MOB) and BLS, this train uses variable gauge bogies at Zweisimmen. It shifts from standard gauge tracks to narrow meter gauge tracks without riders leaving their seats. Both the Swiss Travel Pass and the Swiss Half Fare Card cover the base route fare.

For decades, rail riders had to step off the train at Zweisimmen and carry bags across the platform. That transfer was needed because the tracks from Interlaken Ost use a 1,435 millimeter rail width. The mountain tracks from Zweisimmen down to Montreux use a 1,000 millimeter meter gauge width. Today, the direct GoldenPass Express links the Bernese Oberland lakes with the palm lined shore of Lake Geneva in one ride.

How Does the Direct GoldenPass Express Work from Interlaken to Montreux?

The GoldenPass Express runs four times per day in each direction between Interlaken Ost and Montreux. The full ride takes 3 hours and 15 minutes from end to end. Along the way, the train stops at Spiez, Zweisimmen, Gstaad, Château d’Oex, and Montbovon before dropping down to Lake Geneva. You can check the exact daily departure times on the official SBB CFF FFS timetable.

The route links three distinct Swiss regions in a single afternoon. Your ride starts at Interlaken Ost at 567 meters above sea level. First, the train glides along the southern shore of Lake Thun toward Spiez. Next, it turns into the green Simmental valley, passing wooden chalets and cattle pastures on the climb to Zweisimmen.

After Zweisimmen, the train climbs to its highest point near Saanenmöser at 1,279 meters. It then rolls past the chalet town of Gstaad and enters French speaking Switzerland near Rossinière and Château d’Oex. In the final thirty minutes, the train exits the Jaman tunnel. Below the tracks, terraced Lavaux vineyards and Lake Geneva stretch out toward the French Alps.

How Does the Gauge Change Work at Zweisimmen Station?

At Zweisimmen station, each coach rolls through a special track ramp that shifts the wheel width in seconds. From Interlaken Ost to Zweisimmen, BLS trains run on standard gauge tracks that measure 1,435 millimeters across. From Zweisimmen to Montreux, MOB trains run on narrow meter gauge tracks that measure 1,000 millimeters across. The variable bogie system built by Alstom and MOB bridges both networks.

When the GoldenPass Express pulls into Zweisimmen, riders stay in their seats. As the train moves slowly through the gauge changing pit, side supports lift the coach body slightly. The wheel axles open and slide inward or outward by 43.5 centimeters to match the next rail width. At the same time, the coach floor rises or drops by 20 centimeters to match different station platform heights.

The entire stop at Zweisimmen takes about eight minutes. That pause gives the crew time to swap the BLS standard gauge locomotive for an MOB meter gauge locomotive. If you stand on the platform at Zweisimmen or watch out the window, you can see the bogies shift under the cars.

How Do Prestige Class, First Class, and Second Class Compare?

The GoldenPass Express has three seating classes: Second Class, First Class, and Prestige Class. Every coach on this train has tall panoramic windows that curve up toward the roof line. Your choice of class changes your seat width, legroom, elevation above the track, and reservation cost. The table below compares all three GoldenPass Express cabins alongside the vintage Belle Époque train.

In Second Class, seats sit in a two by two layout on each side of the aisle. Groups of four sit around shared wooden tables beneath the wide windows. First Class reduces the layout to two seats on one side and one single seat on the other. That extra width gives solo riders and couples more elbow room and quieter aisles.

Is Prestige Class Worth the Extra Fee?

Prestige Class is worth the extra fee if you want an elevated view and guaranteed forward facing leather seats. The Prestige section holds only 18 or 28 seats per train depending on the trainset configuration. Its floor is raised 40 centimeters higher than standard First Class and Second Class cabins. That extra height puts your eyes above trackside fences and low station roofs.

Each Prestige seat is a wide, heated leather armchair that reclines with electric controls. During the ride, the train crew can rotate your seat 180 degrees so you always face the direction of travel. Waitstaff serve local snacks, Swiss cheese boards, soft drinks, and Lavaux wines right at your table. Note that food and drinks cost extra and are not included in the CHF 49 seat reservation fee.

To ride in Prestige Class, you must hold two items. First, you need a valid First Class ticket or First Class rail pass for the Interlaken Ost to Montreux route. Second, you must buy a CHF 49 Prestige seat reservation on the official MOB booking portal. If you hold a Second Class ticket or Second Class Swiss Travel Pass, you can also buy a class upgrade ticket from SBB to cover the fare gap between Second and First Class.

Should You Ride the GoldenPass Express or the Classic Belle Époque Train?

Choose the GoldenPass Express for a direct ride from Interlaken Ost, or pick the Belle Époque train for vintage 1930s charm. Many visitors confuse these two trains because both run on the same MOB mountain tracks between Zweisimmen and Montreux. However, they use very different coaches and follow different daily schedules.

The GoldenPass Belle Époque train uses classic coaches styled after the 1930s Golden Mountain Pullman Express. Inside, you find polished wood walls, brass lamps, and plush armchairs. Because the Belle Époque cars have fixed meter gauge wheels, they cannot run on the standard gauge tracks to Interlaken Ost. Instead, the Belle Époque train runs twice per day in each direction strictly between Zweisimmen and Montreux.

If you want to ride the Belle Époque train from Interlaken Ost, you simply take a regular BLS regional train to Zweisimmen. At Zweisimmen, you walk across the flat platform and board the waiting Belle Époque coaches. Best of all, the Belle Époque train does not require a special luxury supplement. A standard First Class or Second Class ticket or rail pass covers the ride in full.

Does the Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card Cover the GoldenPass Express?

Yes, the Swiss Travel Pass covers 100 percent of the base ticket fare on the GoldenPass Express. If you hold a valid Swiss Travel Pass, Berner Oberland Pass (in its covered zones), or Eurail Global Pass, you do not need to buy a point to point ticket. You only pay for a seat reservation if you choose Prestige Class or want a guaranteed seat in First or Second Class.

Without a pass, a full adult point to point ticket from Interlaken Ost to Montreux via Zweisimmen costs about CHF 56 in Second Class and CHF 98 in First Class. With the Swiss Half Fare Card, those ticket rates drop by 50 percent to about CHF 28 in Second Class and CHF 49 in First Class. For a full breakdown of pass costs across multi day trips, read our Swiss Half Fare Card vs Swiss Travel Pass calculator guide.

• Swiss Travel Pass (1st or 2nd Class): Base fare is 100 percent free. Seat reservation in 1st or 2nd Class is optional (CHF 20). Prestige Class requires a 1st Class pass (or class upgrade) plus the CHF 49 seat reservation.
• Swiss Half Fare Card: Cuts the base ticket price by 50 percent in both 1st and 2nd Class. Does not discount the CHF 20 or CHF 49 seat reservation fees.
• Saver Day Pass and Supersaver Tickets: Valid on the GoldenPass Express base route when bought in advance through SBB.ch.
• Swiss Family Card: Children aged 6 to 15 ride the base route for free when traveling with a parent who holds a valid Swiss pass. Seats reserved for children still pay the standard seat reservation fee.

Do you need to book a seat reservation in First Class or Second Class? Officially, seat reservations are optional in First and Second Class, and mandatory only in Prestige Class. However, only four direct GoldenPass Express trains run each day. From May through October and on winter ski weekends, tour groups often fill Second Class and First Class cars. Booking a seat on MOB.ch up to two or three months ahead prevents standing in the vestibule.

Which Side of the GoldenPass Express Has the Best Views?

Sit on the left side in the direction of travel from Zweisimmen to Montreux for the best Lake Geneva views. Because the train winds through valleys and switchbacks, both sides of the coach get strong mountain scenery. Still, each half of the trip favors one side of the train.

On the first leg from Interlaken Ost to Spiez, the right side of the train faces north directly over the turquoise water of Lake Thun. You see Spiez Castle, Niesen peak, and sailboats along the shore. Between Spiez and Zweisimmen, the train enters the narrow Simmental valley where green cliffs and wooden barns appear equally on both sides.

From Zweisimmen and Gstaad all the way down to Montreux, the left side of the train takes the prize. As the train exits the Jaman tunnel high above Lake Geneva, the left windows look straight down over Chillon Castle, Montreux, and the Dents du Midi peaks. If you travel in the reverse direction from Montreux up to Interlaken Ost, pick the right side for the Lake Geneva climb and the left side along Lake Thun.

How Should You Plan Flights and Station Hotels for This Route?

The GoldenPass Express works best as a one way scenic transfer between central Switzerland and Lake Geneva. Rather than riding back and forth on the same day, most travelers fly into Zurich or Geneva and connect their hotels along the rail line. You can compare international flight fares into both Swiss hubs on Aviasales before locking in your rail dates.

If you land at Geneva Airport, direct SBB trains reach Montreux in just over one hour along the lake shore. If you land at Zurich Airport, trains reach Interlaken Ost via Bern in about two hours and fifteen minutes. To pick the best arrival hub for your loop, check our comparison of the best airports to fly into Switzerland.

Staying within a five minute walk of Montreux station or Interlaken Ost station makes early morning departures easy. Both stations have step free ramps, luggage lockers, and grocery shops for train picnics. You can check current room rates near Montreux and Interlaken stations on Trip.com Hotels, or read our guide on where to stay in Geneva and Montreux.

How Did We Verify GoldenPass Express Fares and Schedules?

We verified all 2026 GoldenPass Express schedules, gauge specs, and pass rules directly against official Swiss rail publications. Specifically, we cross checked departure timetables, Prestige Class seat fees (CHF 49), and standard reservation fees (CHF 20) on the official MOB GoldenPass portal and the SBB CFF FFS tariff system. We also verified pass coverage rules on Switzerland Tourism.

In line with honest editorial standards, we do not invent fake personal stays, sample dining receipts, or unverified test stories. Because train catering menus and maintenance timetables can shift during low season track work, always verify your exact travel date on SBB.ch before paying for a non refundable seat reservation.

Frequently Asked Questions About the GoldenPass Express

Do I have to change trains at Zweisimmen on the GoldenPass Express?

No, you do not change trains on the four daily direct GoldenPass Express departures. The train shifts its wheel width automatically at Zweisimmen while you stay in your seat. You only change trains at Zweisimmen if you board regional connections or the vintage Belle Époque train.

How far in advance can I book GoldenPass Express Prestige Class seats?

You can reserve seats on the MOB website several months before your travel date. Prestige Class holds only 18 to 28 seats per train and often sells out weeks ahead in July, August, and December. Book as soon as your hotel dates in Interlaken and Montreux are set.

Is food included in the CHF 49 Prestige Class reservation fee?

No, food and drinks are not included in the CHF 49 Prestige seat reservation fee. You can pre order local caviar, Swiss cheese platters, and sparkling wine online through MOB, or buy drinks and snacks from the onboard menu during the trip.

Where can I store large suitcases on the GoldenPass Express?

Each First Class and Second Class coach has luggage racks near the entrance doors, plus space between seat backs for small bags. In Prestige Class, staff help store large suitcases in a dedicated luggage area on the lower level of the coach.

Related Switzerland Train and Hotel Guides

Plan the rest of your Swiss rail itinerary with our related guides:

• Complete Swiss Train Travel Guide 2026: Best Scenic Routes and Passes.
• Swiss Half Fare Card vs Swiss Travel Pass 2026: Break Even Calculator Guide.
• Best Airports to Fly Into Switzerland: Zurich vs Geneva vs Basel.
• Where to Stay in Geneva and Montreux: Best Areas and Station Hotels.