Travelling on the MOB Railway (Chemin de fer Montreux – Oberland Bernois)

The Chemin de fer Montreux–Oberland Bernois (MOB) is one of SMTJ's favourite Swiss mountain railways, it's trains offer a unique travel experience and the routes they take have a wow factor.

MOB operates a number of routes from the main station in Montreux , which it promotes as ‘Golden Pass’ routes; though as can be seen below, what used to be known as the 'Golden Pass Route' is the train journey across Switzerland between Montreux and Luzern.

The main route taken by MOB trains is Montreux – Montvobon – Gstaad – Zweisimmen (in either direction).
At Zweisimmen station straightforward connections are available into trains to and from Spiez; and some of those trains also provide a direct connection with either Bern or Interlaken.

Another MOB route links Lenk with Zweisimmen; Lenk-Simmental station has access to a lift and cable car to the Lenk-Simmental winter sports area.

What is unique about the MOB Railway is that it operates four different types of train on its main route between Montreux and Zweisimmen:
1: Standard trains that travel the length of the route between Montreux and Zweisimmen, stopping at all stations.
2: Belle-Epoque (Classic) trains that resemble a miniature Orient Express, the interior of these trains is pictured above at top left.
3. The new Golden Pass Express trains, which continue beyond Zweisimmen to/from Interlaken
4: Panoramic trains which have particularly large windows.
These trains also have a lounge at the end of the train for 360 views, seats in these lounges are limited, so reservations are recommended; and a surcharge applies to the ticket price to travel in these lounges.

The timetable is arranged so that during the day there is 1 x train an hour in both directions between Montreux and Zweisimmen, but these three different direct train services between each end of this route are incorporated into this regular timetable.
So at different hours either a standard train OR a Panoramic train OR a Belle-Epoque train will be departing - and in the hours when the Golden Pass Express departs, they provide an additional service between Montreux and Zweisimmen.

Reservations can be booked for journeys on the Belle-Epoque trains and the Panoramic trains.
You can see timings of these trains when you book the reservations.

When travelling east from Montreux as far as Gstaad, the best of the views are from the right of the train; when facing the direction of travel.
There are stunning views over Lake Geneva from both sides of the train as the train twists and turns on the ascent from Montreux, but the pick of these views are on the right hand side.

Then as the railway turns inland, between Chamby and Gstaad, the best of the views over the mountain valleys are on the also on the right hand side.

However, aside from the views over Lake Geneva, the three other most epic vistas to be enjoyed on this journey are the views down over the villages of Gstaad, Saanen and Zweisimmen; and these three views are all over on the left, when heading east.
The view over Gstaad can be enjoyed just after trains from Montreux have departed from the station in the village.

The Montreux <> Zweisimmen journey is so fabulous that it has earned a place in the top half of the list of Switzerland's 15 Most Beautiful Train Rides

If you will be travelling with a rail pass, the route between Montreux and Luzern via Interlaken, is both fabulously scenic and a useful connection between Lake Geneva and central Switzerland; a great alternative to the direct IR trains between Geneva and Luzern.
And rail pass users don't have to pay any additional fees to travel on any of the trains on this alternative route.

When we first explored Switzerland by train, the 'Golden Pass Route' was the route between Montreux and Luzern, showcasing the east<>west connections by train across central Switzerland.
The connections in Zweisimmen, Spiez and Interlaken Ost stations couldn't be more straightforward, though the new Golden Pass Express service, is direct in both directions between Montreux and Interlaken.

West to east the route, the connections on which rail pass users don't have to pay reservation fees, are:
(1) MOB trains from Montreux to Zweissimen, board any train - though the departures at 09:50 and 14:50 will be 'Belle-Epoque' trains.
(2) BLS local trains from Zweisimmen to Speiz (the train will be heading to Bern) (sit on the right)
(3) The next train on from Spiez to Interlaken Ost, it could be an express train or local train (sit on the left)
(4) The Luzern - Interlaken Express between Interlaken Ost and Luzern (sit on the right)

So reverse the combination when travelling east to west.

When travelling from Montreux to Luzern the end-to-end journey will typically take around 7hr 5mins
However, when travelling in the other direction, from Luzern to Montreux the end-to-end journey will typically take around 6hr 5mins, because the waiting times between trains are shorter.

The Golden Pass route is so fabulous that it has been included in Go Go Places' list of Europe's Most Scenic Train Rides and on Days To Come's list AND on Far And Wide's list of the Most Remarkable Train Journeys in Europe.

The new 'Golden Pass Express' trains are available for direct journeys in both directions between Montreux and Interlaken.
The trains use new machinery installed at Zweisimmen station which enable them to switch between the two different sizes of railway tracks.

The trains don't restaurant cars, but lights meals are available for pre-order, plus there will be a catering services available to all passengers which will include snacks and local beers.

In addition to standard and first class seating, a Prestige class is available on each train.
It comprises 8 - 10 raised seats for maximized views, which can also be rotated so that they're facing the direction of travel, the seats are also heated and customizable,

Four trains are available daily in each direction.

Booking tickets and using rail passes

The price for a journey in either direction between Montreux and Interlaken is 56 CHF in 2nd class and 96 CHF in 1st Class, though holders of Half Fare Cards can book at a 50% discount, hence the ticket price shown on the BOB website being from 26.50 CHF.

Seat reservations are optional when travelling first and second class, but are mandatory when travelling in Prestige Class or when
using valid rail passes
The guide to travelling by these trains explains how to book them.

To travel in the Prestige Class a 29 CHF supplement is payable on the 1st class fare, plus the reservation fee of 20 CHF is also added to provide a total cost in Prestige Class for a journey in either direction between Montreux and Interlaken of 145 CHF.

Tickets for journeys on shorter distance routes, such as Montreux and Spiez, or Interlaken to Zwiesimmen are sold at cheaper rates, but the reservation fees and the Prestige supplement are a flat rate, regardless of the distance travelled.

MOB also operates 'The Chocolate Train' between Montreux and Broc; which also happens to be the only direct train between Montreux and Broc.
When travelling between Montreux and Broc via Gruyéres by ordinary train, a change of train is required at Montbovon.

Seats must be reserved in advance of travel on ‘The Chocolate Train’ at Montreux MOB station and rail passes are not valid on 'The Chocolate Train'.

The MOB trains share a station at Montreux with SBB trains from/to Brig, Geneve, Lausanne, Martigny and Sion.

At Zweissimmen cross platform connections are available to/from BLS trains that link Zweisimmen with Bern via Spiez and Thun.
A few trains per day operate direct between Zweisimmen and Interlaken in both directions.

At Spiez easy connections are also available into trains to Interlaken and to trains on two routes from/to Brig (1) via Visp and (2) the Lotschberger route via Kandersteg.

Ticket prices cost the same price, irrespective if you travel by the Panoramic, Belle-Epoque or standard trains.
Tickets can be booked online though you won't save money if you book online, but you can choose specific seats.

Rail passes including Eurail, InterRail and Swiss Travel Passes are valid on any train, including the Belle-Epoque and Panoramic* trains.
*=Rail pass users have to pay the reservation fee to travel in the lounges on the Panoramic trains, but no other journey incurs an additional charge.

So if you have a rail pass you can just hop on the train, though be aware that seats may be reserved and the reservations aren't shown by the seats.