Switzerland by rail · planned from Britain
Switzerland by train, from the UK
Leave London after breakfast, reach the Alps by evening. Every great Swiss railway, what your pass really covers, and the detail British travellers need.
- London St PancrasEurostar, about 2h 20m
- ParisChange stations, allow 1h+
- Basel · Geneva · ZurichTGV Lyria, about 3–4h
- The mountainsSwiss trains take it from here
- No flights neededLondon to Switzerland by rail in about seven to eight hours, city centre to city centre.
- Pass Check on every routeExactly what the Swiss Travel Pass covers, route by route — free, discount, or seat fee only.
- Written for UK travellersPassports, border crossings and the practical detail that catches British visitors out.
Section 1: Rail journeys
The great Swiss train journeys
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Rhaetian Railway
Bernina Express
- Chur
- Tirano
Chur or St Moritz to Tirano, crossing the Alps without a rack railway.
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MGB / RhB
Glacier Express
- Zermatt
- St Moritz
Zermatt to St Moritz in about eight hours, billed as the slowest express in the world.
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MOB / BLS / ZB
GoldenPass Line
- Lucerne
- Montreux
Lucerne to Montreux, linking central Switzerland with Lake Geneva.
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Gornergrat Bahn
Gornergrat Bahn
- Zermatt
- Gornergrat
Cogwheel railway from Zermatt to 3,089m, facing the Matterhorn.
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Jungfraubahn
Jungfraujoch Railway
- Kleine Scheidegg
- Jungfraujoch
The Jungfrau Railway to Europe’s highest railway station at 3,454m.
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Pilatus-Bahnen
Pilatus Railway
- Alpnachstad
- Pilatus Kulm
The steepest cogwheel railway in the world, above Lucerne.
From the UK
From St Pancras to the Matterhorn
Switzerland is closer by train than most people think. One change in Paris, and you arrive in Basel, Geneva or Zurich without going near an airport — with your luggage beside you and the Swiss rail network waiting.
- London
- Paris
- Switzerland
Section 2: Pass Check
What your Swiss Travel Pass really covers
The pass is sold as covering almost everything. On the famous mountain routes it often does not — and UK visitors tend to find out at the ticket barrier. Here is every route on this site, best value first.
| Route | Journey | Pass Check | You pay extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoldenPass LineLucerne → Montreux | About 5 hours 15 minutes | Free with the Swiss Travel Pass | Nothing |
| Rigi RailwaysVitznau → Rigi Kulm | About 30 minutes | Free with the Swiss Travel Pass | Nothing |
| Bernina ExpressChur → Tirano | About 4 hours | Pass covers it, seat fee payable | Compulsory seat reservation |
| Glacier ExpressZermatt → St Moritz | About 8 hours | Pass covers it, seat fee payable | Compulsory seat reservation |
| Gornergrat BahnZermatt → Gornergrat | About 33 minutes | Pass gives a discount, not free | A reduced fare |
| Jungfraujoch RailwayKleine Scheidegg → Jungfraujoch | About 35 minutes | Pass gives a discount, not free | A reduced fare |
| Pilatus RailwayAlpnachstad → Pilatus Kulm | About 30 minutes | Pass gives a discount, not free | A reduced fare |
Section 3: Destinations
Where the lines lead
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Canton of Lucerne
Lucerne
Lakeside old town, the Chapel Bridge, and the gateway to Rigi and Pilatus.
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Travel in style
The Glacier Express, done properly
Eight hours, 291 bridges and the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 metres. Excellence Class adds a guaranteed window seat and a multi-course lunch served as the Alps go by. Some escorted holidays include it as standard; most do not, so check before you book.
Section 4: Where to stay
Hotels at the end of the line
Some links on Swiss City Breaks are affiliate links. If you book through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects which routes we include or what Pass Check says about them. How this works.