How to use GA Travelcard + GA Duo Partner to enjoy all of the Switzerland Panorama Trains

[swissbio]

How to take all of the Switzerland Panorama Trains?

• Glacier Express
• Bernina Express
• Grand Train Tour of Switzerland
• GoldenPass Line
• GoldenPass Express
• Gotthard Panorama Express
• Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe 
• Voralpen-Express

Are there other express and Panorama trains not on this list? Do we need to pay the extra cost? Is there a need for a reservation? Are they all available now during Christmas to New Year season?

[swissbio]

I am not able to find the  PE trains on the SBB website or the Apps. It only shows me IC, RE and EC.

For example, I tried to search from Interlaken West/Ost to Montreux and only find trains going to Spiez-Visp-Montreux and Golden Pass trains were not found.

The MOB's Gold Pass Express is also not being found via SBB Apps. How to plan for these trips?

[RolandP]

@swissbio 

Yes, they are found. The direct line Interlaken Ost- Montreux is operated starting from 11 December 2022. See the connection at 09:08 AM on 11 DEC 22.
Other PE trains (e.g. the Golden Pass Panoramic) are only operating between Zweisimmen-Montreux.

Best regards,
Roland

[RolandP · Accepted solution]

Hello @swissbio 

The GA grants you free access to all these trains except Jungfraujoch. The Gotthard Panorama Express is not running in winter, though.

When you look up schedules on www.sbb.ch/en, you will find panoramic trains marked as PE on the timetable. For Bernina Express, Gotthard Panorama Express, Golden Pass Line, Jungfraujoch, and Voralpen-Express, there are regular trains running on these lines, too. 

• Glacier Express | free with GA | needs seat reservation | out of operation until 10 Dec 22 | Glacier Express - BVZ Holding
• Bernina Express | free with GA | seat reservation required | running all year | Bernina Express - Rhaetian Railway RhB
• Grand Train Tour of Switzerland (not a train)
• GoldenPass Line | free with GA | seat reservation not required, but recommended | running all year | GoldenPass Line
• GoldenPass Express (same as GoldenPass Line, from 11 Dec 2022) | GoldenPass Express – MOB – compagnie du chemin de fer Montreux Oberland Bernois
• Gotthard Panorama Express | free with GA | seat reservation required, 1st class seats only - class upgrade required | not running in winter | Gotthard Panorama Express ticket | SBB
• Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe | 50% reduction with GA | seat reservation not required, but recommended | running all year, it is a regular train | Prices and tickets | jungfrau.ch
• Voralpen-Express | free with GA | seat reservation required | running all year, it is a regular train | Gotthard Panorama Express ticket | SBB

Other beautiful lines are Chemin de fer du Jura, Train de Vignes, Rocher de Nayes, Mont-Blanc Express, Mt. Rigi railways, Mt. Pilatus cogwheel train, but, in fact, there are many more. You can find more information on each single train by using Google. There are excellent websites available. My absolute favorite in winter is Bernina Express (Chur-Tirano). Take a stop at "Alp Grüm" station for lunch.

I suggest to check the GA validity map (see Downloads box) to understand the area of validity of your GA (same map applies for GA Duo Partner). Then, once you have chosen a train, it might be a good idea to visit a SBB travel centre. The colleagues there can answer specific questions on the train as well provide you the timetable. Alternatively, you can ask the colleagues at the SBB contact center: Phone 0848 44 66 88 (CHF 0.08/Min.)

Best regards,
Roland