What is the new scenic train in Switzerland?

The new Golden Pass Explorer train can ride on different track widths. Combining elegance and comfort with 21st century technical excellence, Switzerland's newest panoramic train journey finally starts on December 11 – three years later than planned and 150 years after it was first proposed.



The most significant "new" scenic train in Switzerland is the GoldenPass Express, which launched its full direct service between Montreux and Interlaken in late 2022 and has become a major highlight for 2025–2026 travelers. What makes this train revolutionary is its "gauge-changing" technology; previously, passengers had to change trains in Zweisimmen because the tracks changed from standard to narrow gauge. The GoldenPass Express features specialized bogies that actually expand or contract their wheels while the train is moving, allowing for a seamless 3-hour and 15-minute journey. The train offers a "Prestige Class" with heated, rotating leather seats that face the window, providing panoramic views of Lake Geneva, the Swiss Riviera, and the Bernese Oberland. It is considered one of the most technologically advanced and luxurious scenic routes in Europe, joining the ranks of the legendary Glacier Express and Bernina Express as a "must-do" rail experience for visitors to the Swiss Alps.

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The Glacier Express - known as the 'Slowest Express Train in the World' (and arguably the most scenic) - connects the mountain resort towns of Matterhorn adjacent to Zermatt and St Moritz in the Swiss Alps.

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The Bernina Express is a scenic train route that runs from Chur, Switzerland to Tirano, Italy. It is a narrow-gauge railway that covers a distance of 122 kilometers (76 miles) and takes around four hours to complete.

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The Bernina Express runs throughout the year. The special panoramic carriages leave Chur in the morning once daily, and return from Tirano in the early afternoon. Times vary according to day and season.

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When is the best time to go?
  • The Bernina Express route runs all year round. Visit in spring to see green fields and farming villages in all their colorful beauty.
  • Visit during winter, and frozen lakes, snow-covered mountains, and local skiers are the main sights. In short, any time is a good time to take this ride!


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1. The Bernina Pass: This is where the train climbs to its highest point, offering some of the most iconic vistas of snow-capped peaks, rugged terrain, and alpine lakes. 2. Brusio Spiral Viaduct: Located between Poschiavo and Tirano, this remarkable spiral viaduct is a highlight of the journey.

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The Glacier Express is primarily designed to be a scenic journey from start to finish (from Zermatt to St. Moritz or vice versa), rather than a hop-on, hop-off service. The train passes through several towns and cities, including Brig, Andermatt, Chur, and Davos, among others.

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Guests are able to purchase food on board the train, choosing from a 'plate of the day' (CHF30) or three-course lunch (CHF43). All food is freshly prepared on the train, hence the high price, and meals can be paired with wines from an extensive list featuring many Swiss wines.

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You can enjoy the Bernina Express as a day trip - this is the highest railway across the Alps, yet the train negotiates 55 tunnels, 196 bridges and steep inclines with ease. The carriages have panoramic windows so that you can enjoy unrestricted views of the stunning landscape through which you are travelling.

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The Glacier Express runs between the two major Swiss mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt and takes you through the three cantons of Valais, Uri and Graubünden.

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Both trains follow the same track. The express stops at fewer stations along the way, but since the trains travel quite slowly, there is not much lost time over the entire route. The observation cars have high windows that give a very panoramic effect to the trip, allowing you to take in both the earth and sky.

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