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Basel / Bâle to Brig / Brigue by train
How to take the rail journey from Basel to Brig, where connections are available towards Andermatt
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Routes
From Basel SBB/Bâle CFF to Brig
Journey Summary
2hr 9min
Daily
Travel Information
Final Destination: Brig (the IC trains), Milano (the EC trains)
Connect at Brig for MGB trains to Morel, Betten, Andermatt, Oberwald and Disentis/Muster.
All trains also call at: Thun and Spiez (connect for trains to Zweissimen; from where you can take trains to Montruex via Gstaad; and trains to Visp on the more scenic route via Kandersteg) and Visp (connect for Zermatt)
These direct trains typically depart from Basel in even hours only.
On most departures the train will be an IC train; the double deck IC trains are used on this route - the brand new LD/Twindexx trains should be gradually introduced to this route during 2022.
However, on some departures, an EC train heading to Milano replaces the IC train.
If possible avoid the EC trains as they're busier.
Set off from Basel in odd hours and you will have to make a change of trains in Bern; though those connections with a change of train can be cheaper.
1 x train every other hour
Tickets
Book early and save: Yes - If you book Supersaver tickets (more info is available on the SBB ticket guide below)
You may need to search through the departures to find them using the ‘earlier’ and ‘later’ buttons; the Supersaver tickets tend to sell out particularly quickly on this route.
Online bookings open: up to two months ahead of the travel date
Try and be flexible with your departure and arrival times, book as near to 60 days ahead as possible and don't be overly concerned whether you will be taking an IC or EC train (though on this route taking an indirect journey can be a money saver; and the IC trains tend to cheaper than the EC trains.
If you will be making a day trip to Brig from Basel, be open to the possibility that Saver Day Passes are likely to be a cheaper option than booking return tickets.
Seat reservations:
Seat reservations are optional on Swiss IC trains; and for the journey by EC trains as it's wholly within Switzerland, so seats won't be automatically assigned when booking online.
You can book reservations online, AFTER you have booked a ticket, by using the SBB (Swiss national railways) seat reservation service OR request and pay for a reservation when booking at a station ticket office.
Travelling with a rail pass:
Rail pass users can jump on any train, without having to make reservations.
Where to book
| Ticket Provider | Approximate Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| SBB | * | |
| Trainline | * | |
| Happy rail | * |
On this journey
Travelling On
Journey Features
Good to Know
The trains on this journey reverse direction at Bern
Journey description:
Now that these trains use the Lotschberg Base Tunnel this journey is not as scenic as it once was.
But from the left of the train (when facing the direction of travel) there are views over the Thunersee between Thun and Speiz.
The trains on this journey reverse direction at Bern so when boarding in Basel take a seat on the right hand side if you want to see these views of the Thunersee.
On departure from Thun station...
...and then on departure from Speiz station...
... though these videos were taken from a train travelling in the opposite direction, but they showcase how fine the views can be on a sunny day...
Then after exiting the Lotschberg Base Tunnel, the train will travel through a steep valley for the final part of the journey on to Visp and Brig.
If you're travelling with a rail pass, an option is to leave these trains at Spiez, in order to connect into Lotschberger trains, which do still take the much more scenic older route to Brig via Kandersteg.
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