Excellence Talk: Pure prestige aboard the GoldenPass Express
Travel Switzerland’s Excellence Talk series brings you more exciting insights into Swiss public transport. Our latest episode goes aboard the GoldenPass Express from Interlaken to Montreux – a journey shaped by a rich history, bold innovation, and picture-perfect Alpine scenery. Discover the unique blend of technology and tradition behind one of Switzerland’s most remarkable railway lines.
A journey through three centuries
As early as 1873, railway pioneers envisioned linking Lake Geneva with Gstaad, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz – an idea that would become the GoldenPass Express.
Travelling in ultra-comfort
In this episode, we experience the GoldenPass Express at its most prestigious. We follow Lea and Henry, two travellers on their first GPX journey from Interlaken Ost to Montreux. They enjoy the full Prestige Class experience: oversized seats, heated backrests and sweeping panoramic windows offering immersive views of the steep slopes of the Bernese Oberland.
Exploring Rochers-de-Naye
In Montreux, Travel Switzerland’s excursion experts Danielle and Andy set off to discover the lakeside town’s local mountain, the 2,042-metre-high Rochers-de-Naye. Here, a historic cogwheel railway operated by the MOB climbs high above Lake Geneva to the summit, where the pair enjoy views of Lavaux’s UNESCO vineyards and the surrounding Alps. Whether in summer or winter, the mountain is a highlight for families, hikers and nature lovers.
Back in time aboard the Bell Époque
This episode of Excellence Talk also turns its focus on another train operate by the MOB, the Belle Époque. Andi and Danielle marvel at its beautifully restored carriages that evoke the elegance of rail travel’s early-20th-century golden era. The pair enjoy a journey that runs from Montreux to Zweisimmen – and back in time.
Château-d’Oex and Swiss cheese tradition
Hopping off the Belle Époque mid-route in Château-d’Oex, Andy and Danielle check out “Le Chalet”, a restaurant, museum and cheese dairy. They enjoy a cheese platter and reward themselves for their efforts on the Rochers-de-Naye with a hearty fondue.
Engineering excellence in Zweisimmen
In Zweisimmen, we discover a truly unique piece of engineering: the GoldenPass Express’s variable-gauge bogie system. Truly one-of-a-kind, this incredible technology enables the GoldenPass Express to seamlessly transition between two track widths and platform heights in a few seconds – without passengers even noticing.
