The GoldenPass is not one train. It is three railways of two different track gauges strung between Lucerne and Montreux, and the trains that run on them range from a 1930s-style Belle Époque carriage to a leather-seated Prestige class that raises you above the driver. Choosing well is mostly about knowing which train covers which section — and that the whole thing is already included in your pass.
Planning essentials
The GoldenPass line at a glance
| Full route | Lucerne — Interlaken — Zweisimmen — Montreux |
| Total time | About 5½ hours end to end, in three sections |
| Direct option | GoldenPass Express, Montreux–Interlaken without changing, roughly 3¼ hours |
| Swiss Travel Pass | Covers the entire line, every section, at no extra cost |
| Reservations | Optional in 1st and 2nd class — compulsory in Prestige at CHF 49 |
| Track gauge | Standard gauge to Zweisimmen, narrow gauge onward to Montreux |
| Highest point | Brünig Pass, 1,008 m, on the Lucerne–Interlaken section |
| Runs | Year-round, several times daily |
The three sections, and what changes at each
Section 1 · about 2 hours
Lucerne to Interlaken Ost
The Luzern–Interlaken Express over the Brünig Pass, running alongside Lake Lucerne, then Lungern and Brienz. This is the only rack-assisted stretch of the whole line — the train grips a toothed rail to manage the gradient near Brünig-Hasliberg. No reservation is needed and none is possible on some services; you simply board.
Section 2 · about 1 hour
Interlaken Ost to Zweisimmen
The quiet middle. Regional BLS trains along Lake Thun and up into the Simmental — farmland, wooden chalets, and almost no other tourists. Most people treat this as the connecting leg, which is precisely why it is the most pleasant hour of the journey.
Section 3 · about 2 hours
Zweisimmen to Montreux
The famous half. Narrow gauge through Gstaad and the Pays-d’Enhaut, then the drop toward Lake Geneva with the vineyards and the lake opening up below. This is where the panoramic and Belle Époque carriages run, and where the scenery earns the reputation.
Which train to actually book
GoldenPass Express
The direct Montreux–Interlaken service, and the reason this line changed in the last few years. It uses variable-gauge bogies that reset themselves at Zweisimmen while you stay seated — the only train in the world doing this in regular passenger service.
Choose it if you want the journey done in one sitting, roughly 3¼ hours, with no platform change.
GoldenPass Belle Époque
Zweisimmen–Montreux in restored 1930s-style carriages: wood panelling, brass fittings, upholstered armchairs. Slower, older, and by a distance the most atmospheric ride on the line.
Choose it if the journey is the point. It runs on a limited timetable, so check the day before you commit.
The third option, the GoldenPass Panoramic, has windows extending halfway up the roof and a handful of VIP seats at the very front, above the driver, for a small supplement. Those front seats are the best value on the entire line — a fraction of the Prestige price for the same forward view.
Is Prestige class worth CHF 49?
Prestige is the top class on the GoldenPass Express: heated leather seats that recline and rotate, raised above the level of the driver’s cab so you look straight down the track. The reservation is compulsory and costs CHF 49 per person on top of your pass.
Our take: on a full Montreux–Interlaken run it is a genuinely different experience and the forward view is unmatched. On a shorter hop it is money better spent on the Panoramic’s VIP front seats, which give you most of the same view for a fraction of the fee. And if you are travelling in 1st or 2nd class, no reservation is required at all — walk up and board.
Where to break the journey
Doing Lucerne to Montreux in one day is easy and slightly wasteful. Three stops worth building in:
- Brienz — wood-carving village on a turquoise lake, with the steam rack railway up the Rothorn. Twenty minutes from Interlaken on section one.
- Gstaad — better as a walking base than a celebrity-spotting one; the valley paths above the village are excellent and empty in summer.
- Montreux — do not just change trains. The lakeside promenade and Chillon Castle are a short walk and a short bus ride from the station.
When the GoldenPass is the wrong pick
The most common mistake here is treating the line as one continuous panoramic experience. It is not.
- It is several services, not one train. Which train you happen to board decides most of what the day feels like. Booking “the GoldenPass” without checking which service you are on is how people end up on an ordinary commuter run wondering what the fuss was about.
- The scenery is concentrated, not evenly spread. Parts of the line are pleasant rather than remarkable. If you only have one scenic day in your trip, other routes deliver more per hour.
How this fits the rest of your trip
The GoldenPass is the western arm of the Grand Train Tour of Switzerland, and it connects naturally to the Lucerne–Interlaken Express at one end and Lake Geneva at the other. Travelling on toward Graubünden instead? The Glacier Express picks the route up from Zermatt.
Interlaken is the obvious place to stop for a few days — our 3-day Interlaken itinerary covers Thun, Brienz and the Schilthorn, and Grindelwald First is an easy add-on. Before booking any supplements, check what your pass already covers: boats, buses and mountain discounts catch most people out on this side of the country, because the Lake Thun and Lake Brienz ferries are included.
GoldenPass line questions travellers ask
Is the GoldenPass line covered by the Swiss Travel Pass?
Yes, the entire line from Lucerne through Interlaken and Zweisimmen to Montreux is fully covered, including the GoldenPass Express. The only extra costs are optional seat reservations and the compulsory CHF 49 Prestige class reservation.
Do I need to reserve a seat on the GoldenPass Express?
Not in 1st or 2nd class — reservations there are optional, though sensible in July, August and over Christmas. Prestige class is the exception: reservation is compulsory and costs CHF 49 per person.
Do I still have to change trains at Zweisimmen?
Not on the GoldenPass Express. It uses variable-gauge bogies that change between standard and narrow gauge automatically at Zweisimmen while you stay in your seat. Other services on the line still require the change.
How long does the whole GoldenPass line take?
About five and a half hours from Lucerne to Montreux if you connect straight through, split into roughly two hours to Interlaken, one hour to Zweisimmen and two hours down to Montreux. The direct GoldenPass Express covers Montreux–Interlaken in about three and a quarter.
What is the difference between the GoldenPass Express, Panoramic and Belle Époque?
The Express is the modern direct train between Montreux and Interlaken. The Panoramic runs Zweisimmen–Montreux with windows curving toward the roof and VIP seats at the front. The Belle Époque covers the same section in restored 1930s-style carriages — slower, and the most characterful of the three.
Which section of the GoldenPass is the most scenic?
Zweisimmen to Montreux, without much argument — the narrow-gauge descent through Gstaad and the Pays-d’Enhaut ends with Lake Geneva and the vineyards opening up below you. If you only have time for one section, make it that one.
Ride the GoldenPass Express
Check Montreux–Interlaken departures, compare classes and reserve your seats.