Train Travel

Lausanne lies on a major train route between Bern and Geneva, with express trains connecting from Basel and Zürich. Regional trains along the waterfront, connecting major lake towns, are frequent and swift unless you board one of the S-trains that stop at every village. Travel time between centers like Geneva and Nyon, or Lausanne and Vevey, is about 15 minutes; count on doubling that on an S-train.

There are also several private rail systems leading into small villages and rural regions, including the Montreux-Oberland-Bernois (MOB) Railroad's Golden Pass, which climbs sharply behind Montreux and cuts straight over the pre-Alps toward Château-d'Oex and the Berner Oberland. Reserve space in one of their glass-dome, panoramic cars and take in the countryside with food and beverage service brought to your seat. The historic Blonay-Chamby Railroad has steam-powered seasonal excursions, as does the Rochers-de-Naye line.

Train Contacts

Blonay-Chamby Railroad (021/9432121. www.blonay-chamby.ch.)

Montreux-Oberland-Bernois Railroad (0840/245245. www.goldenpass.ch.)