The GoldenPass Express to Gstaad

The GoldenPass line climbs from Montreux on Lake Geneva through the Pays-d'Enhaut to Gstaad and Zweisimmen. Three kinds of train use it. The GoldenPass Express runs the whole way from Montreux to Interlaken Ost, 115 km through Vaud, Fribourg and Bern; at Zweisimmen its bogies switch from metre gauge to standard gauge, so you do not change trains. The GoldenPass Panoramic, with big windows, and the GoldenPass Belle Époque, with period-style carriages, run only between Montreux and Zweisimmen, so for Interlaken you change at Zweisimmen.

Every GoldenPass Express is accessible, with space for two wheelchairs. The Belle Époque carriages are not accessible for wheelchair or walker users.

The GoldenPass Express has three classes: 2nd, 1st and Prestige. Prestige seats are heated and adjustable, sit 40 cm higher than the rest of the train for the view, and are turned by the crew to face the direction of travel. To sit there you need a 1st-class ticket and a Prestige reservation of CHF 49 per seat. Food and drinks are served at your seat in every class, best ordered in advance and paid on board by card.

On the GoldenPass Express, a reservation is not compulsory in 1st or 2nd class, but MOB strongly recommends one: a ticket alone does not guarantee a seat. The reservation costs CHF 20 per person per journey on the Express and CHF 10 on the Panoramic and Belle Époque, whatever the distance or class. Groups of 10 or more must reserve.

The Gstaad tourism office warns that Express seats are limited and that the Gstaad Card does not guarantee one, so reserve as soon as your dates are fixed. You can also reserve at the station up to 2 hours before departure. Children under 6 travel free but need a reservation if they take their own seat.

On the January 2027 timetable, the Express takes 1 hour 24 minutes from Montreux to Gstaad, about 1 hour 50 from Gstaad to Interlaken Ost and about 3 hours 15 for the whole run. There are four a day in each direction, leaving Gstaad for Interlaken Ost at 08:58, 10:57, 13:57 and 15:58, and for Montreux at 10:59, 12:59, 15:59 and 17:59 (sample Tuesday, 12 January 2027). Between the Express trains, direct MOB trains run hourly from Montreux to Gstaad in about 1 hour 38.

Until 12 December 2026, buses replace the Express between Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost because of works; from the timetable change on 13 December 2026 the trains run through to Interlaken Ost again.

The Swiss Travel Pass, the GA travelcard and the Half Fare card are all valid on the GoldenPass line with no train supplement, as are Eurail and Interrail; only the seat reservation is extra. The Magic Pass is not valid on the Montreux to Zweisimmen line. Children aged 6 to 15 pay half fare.

The Express is the one MOB train with staff who sell tickets on board, at a CHF 10 surcharge; on every other MOB train you need a ticket before you board. Within the Saanenland, the Gstaad Card covers 2nd-class travel on the line between Zweisimmen and Rougemont.

From Geneva Airport, take the train along the lake to Montreux and change onto the GoldenPass line; with an Express connection the whole trip takes about 3 hours. From Zurich or Bern, go to Spiez and pick up the Express there, or change at Zweisimmen; Bern to Gstaad takes about 1 hour 55 with one change. The Express has luggage racks and ski racks, and small dogs in a carrier travel free.

Glacier 3000 runs a bus, the Glacier 3000 Express, timed to meet the GoldenPass Express in Gstaad for Col du Pillon. Several Gstaad hotels are a short walk from the station, and others will collect you.

If you want the train ride itself rather than the fastest connection, the Belle Époque carriages run between Montreux and Zweisimmen through Gstaad, and a short ride from Gstaad to Zweisimmen gives a taste of the line.