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What trains do I have to add a journey and create a travel day in a mobile pass, so I can take Bernina Express? How do I know which trains in eurail planner, are from Bernina Express?

The bus Lugano-Tirano is covered, but needs a reservation (CHF 16).


Thank you for replying, rvdborgt and thibcabe. 

1) The Gotthard train and Bernina train are covered 100% by our Eurail Pass, so in spite of the Boat and the Bus situation of only partial coverage, we would still be using two travel days is my understanding. I entered the boat and bus journeys, but it’s good to know that they won’t even transfer to the Pass.  Correct?

2) thibcabe, thanks for letting me know that I can PAY for the Gotthard Boat NOW!  When we got reservations for seats in the restaurant, it wasn’t possible to get tickets for the ride. Probably was too early, as we had to do the restaurant reservations in July. I will check into that TODAY!!

Sorry for my delay; was recovering from my new Covid vaccine. Ugh. 


The Lucerne - Flüelen boat ticket will be 41 CHF. You can either get it online now (using the half-fare discount) or at the counters yes.

Looks good for the rest. Enjoy! :)


  1. For journeys where you only get a discount, you don't need an active travel day and you don't need to add the journey to your pass. In fact, journeys "Not in pass network” can't be added to the pass at all.
  2. Correct, the pass is your ticket. In the app, it's the generated QR code for each travel day.

Thank you, thank you, thibcabe and rvdborgt!

It really helped to see the screenshot of Flueelen-Lugano.  I realized that I had a filter on for “no direct trains,” because for most of our trip, we want slow trains to see the countryside.  Once I selected “direct trains only,” I could do Flueelen-Lugano  AND  Lugano, Stazione Nord - Tirano Statzione Bus AND Tirano - Chur.  I saved those 3 journeys in My Trip.

On the 13 October 2024 Gotthard boat part of the trip, I put in Luzern - Flueelen (See), and at 11:12 - 13:55, it says “Not in Pass Network”, which makes sense.  But do I still save that journey in my Planner?  And should it be “Flueelen (See) or just Flueelen? I won’t save that, until I get your answer.

I believe we pay for the tickets AT the Bahnhofquai -- the 50% we have to pitch in.  

Newbie Question: (1) Since I have, obviously, not validated my Pass yet, I’m not sure what I’m going to see.  Directions say to go to My Trip and tap one of my saved journeys and I’ll find my ticket in My Pass.  Will this work for the Luzern Bahnhofquai to Flueelen (See) journey, too, when the Pass only covers 50%?  And also for the Bernina Bus from Lugano to Tirano on 15 October 2024?

     (2) So the “Saved Journeys” are like tickets when they connect to the Pass?  Therefore, we don’t need to BUY any tickets from a machine; just pay out-of-pocket for the Boat for the other 50%.

You asked about our reservation costs; we have 1st Class Global Eurail Flexi Passes for Seniors x 2

  • We paid CHF 48.00 for the Gotthard Panorama Express - Surcharge incl. seat reservation
  • We have Confirmation for the 1st Class Restaurant seats on the “Gotthard” Boat
  • We paid Reservation Fees for the Bernina Express CHF 104.00; we think that cost is for the bus and the train seat reservations.

Can’t thank you enough for your help!  😊

 


Again for Lugano - Tirano the Rail Planner app can't find the bus. Add it manually.

It's in the app but you have to choose "Tirano Stazione Bus”. It looks like the app doesn't know that's next to Tirano station.

@Eurail Community Moderator are these 2 not joined in the app?

I will check internally. 

Camilo


Again for Lugano - Tirano the Rail Planner app can't find the bus. Add it manually.

It's in the app but you have to choose "Tirano Stazione Bus”. It looks like the app doesn't know that's next to Tirano station.

@Eurail Community Moderator are these 2 not joined in the app?


@blfsg Rail Planner is very picky with station names. Nothing to do with SBB.

What's the travel date towards Lugano? I can see Flüelen (or rather Flueelen on Rail Planner) - Lugano by filtering direct trains.

Note that your Eurail Pass is not valid on the boat section. You only get 50% discount. How much did you pay the reservation (to check if you have a ticket or not)?

Again for Lugano - Tirano the Rail Planner app can't find the bus. Add it manually.

On the other hand I can find Tirano - Chur without issues. Let me know.


We have our digital Eurail Planner app and have been putting in all journeys. We have 1st Class Eurail Global Passes. We have reservations for the 11:12 Gotthard Boat & Panorama Scenic Train from Luzern-Lugano and Reservations for the Restaurant on the Boat.  PLUS, we have the 10:00 Bernina Express Bus & Scenic Train from Lugano/Tirano-Chur reservations.  My question (that I haven’t seen an answer to) is:

***  How do I attach these two SCENIC TRAINS to the EURAIL PLANNER??

On SBB, it does not appear to acknowledge these trains.  And they don’t appear to be particularly fond of Eurail Passes, so don’t give any guidance on those.  This is our first time traveling purely by train and with digital.  I know there are other “NON-Scenic” trains that you can take following the same routes, but we only want the Gotthard Panorama and Bernina Scenic Express trains that we have reservations for!!  Don’t want to risk taking the wrong trains! 

Has anyone figured this out, please?

Thanks for your time!


If you want to take nice pictures it might be best to use the reservation free cars where you should be able to pull down the windows. To get nice pictures of the whole train it is best to sit either at the end or at the front of the train. The reservation free cars should be just behind the engine.


Apologies for my misleading reply. What I should have said is there is compulsory reservation and a supplement for travel in the panorama cars on this train.


The Eurail app is often not accurate. Look on the SBB app. It leaves from Chur at 08:32  This train requires compulsory reservation and you pay a supplement.

You only need to pay a reservation fee if you travel in the coaches needing a reservation. There are always coaches on the BE where no reservation is needed. 


To answer your original question, you simply add the train you plan to travel on from your trip to your pass. It doesn’t matter whether it is a Bernina Express requiring reservation or a reservation free option. Resevations are always separate from your pass.

If you travel on any trains not included in the pass and Eurail offer a discount, and you do not travel on any trains using your pass that day, then you do not need to activate a travel day. You simply pay for your ticket and show your pass to claim the discount. There are several private railways in Switzerland doing this.

 


The Eurail app is often not accurate. Look on the SBB app. It leaves from Chur at 08:32  This train requires compulsory reservation and you pay a supplement.

AFAIK, all Bernina Express trains have normal reservation-free seats in the front of the train, in the pulling train set/railcars.


Yes, and I have searched for a journey from Chur to Tirano, but the trains that show the app for that route, does not specify if they belong to Bernina Express.

Your pass is valid on all trains there. If you want to know which trains run as Bernina Express, check here:

https://www.rhb.ch/en/panoramic-trains/bernina-express#info

Check "Timetable 2022” and "Timetable 2023”.


The Eurail app is often not accurate. Look on the SBB app. It leaves from Chur at 08:32  This train requires compulsory reservation and you pay a supplement.


Yes, and I have searched for a journey from Chur to Tirano, but the trains that show the app for that route, does not specify if they belong to Bernina Express.


Did you follow the steps mentioned here?

https://www.eurail.com/en/eurail-passes/eurail-mobile-pass/getting-started


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