A STUNNING ride through the Swiss Alps in First Class!

[@transitcaptain]

I recently learned about the trains in Switzerland, and they have the best in Europe, because of their insane coverage and the beautiful places they go to.

[@nicoyu2447]

I worked 5 years ago for the SBB and it's every year really hard to maintain the tracks, trains, stations in winter especially the higher ones in Zermatt for example, but in the end the trains are very on time. My favorite spot is from Bern to Lausanne and you enter the Lake of Geneva. But there tons of good places especially around lakes like Thunersee, Zürisee...

[@transitcaptain]

@@nicoyu2447 sounds like you guys worked extremely hard to keep the trains amazing

[@eastexotic]

@@nicoyu2447 What would be a SBB route that's beautiful and scenic without taking Bernina?

[@nicoyu2447]

@@eastexotic from Fribourg to Lausanne (lake of Geneva), from Thun to Interlaken (lake of Thun and abit of mountains, Lucerne to Flüelen (lake of Lucerne and mountainsview)

[@jmsmilfajt]

Czech and Slovak trains are very similar in that sense (huge coverage, large amount of rail operators, beautiful places the trains go to) but of course Swiss rail network is ahead technologically. But.. I would still recommend to travel from Cheb to Prague via Pilsen in Czechia - this particular line runs through famous European spa towns, a beer capital of the world Pilsen to a very touristy city of Prague... or Slovak mountain railways between Poprad and Strba (operated by Swiss Stadler trains).

[@harrisonsnazel7482]

Glad to see your back

[@vaughnwilliams1208]

In English that's a big Insult

[@harrisonsnazel7482]

@@vaughnwilliams1208 what

[@heidirabenau511]

@@vaughnwilliams1208 This comment is in English and as a native English speaker, I don't think that that is offensive at all.

[@harrisonsnazel7482]

@@vaughnwilliams1208 he is from Huddersfield

[@vaughnwilliams1208]

In English that means that you are glad that he's leaving , implying you don't like him with you and you're happy not to see anymore of his videos. In Huddersfield they speak good English

[@rbrouns9569]

Hello Dylan, good to see you in good health. The best train channel is back!

[@DarrylECarr]

Glad you're back! And thank you. Your videos were sanity saving relief during a difficult couple of years. Please stay well. ✌🏽

[@michaelformaini7053]

Great to see you back on track, Dylan. I, too, am recovering from a nasty chest infection (predominately bronchitis, not COVID thank goodness). As you may have heard through International news reports, Australia has had a crazy summer this year and this weekend alone, the Queensland coast has been roasting with the usual monsoonal humidity up north, while parts of the Victorian Alps have had snow and just a few kilometres northwest from there, the normal dry, baking heatwave continued. Anyway, your coverage of this trip across the north of Switzerland in January matches what I would have expected. Sad about the seats though. Hopefully your derriere didn't suffer too much. Looking forward to more of your adventures by rail. Cheers from Michael in Melbourne downunder.🙂

[@danielboulter6135]

A little fun fact. Since the last timetable change, SBB implemented a new service from Geneva to Chur. It runs on the weekends only. This is the service that Dylan is taking in this video.

[@simonholliday9874]

Beat me to it. The Genevas usually run to Romanshorn.

[@gentuxable]

I was courius, thanks for clarifying.

[@Thiermos]

I think that SBB should implement more service to Chur and not only two train per day only in the weekend...

[@Thiermos]

@@simonholliday9874 No, there's is no direct train between Geneva and Romanshorn, however there is InterCity train between Geneva and Rorschach (wich is a city right next to Romanshorn

[@gentuxable]

@RABDe500 well there are plenty of trains between Geneva and Chur, only not direct. Changing once shouldn't be a problem.

[@elainefarrar]

We missed you! Glad you are better and looking forward to more great videos 😁🏔️🚞🚠

[@celbuod]

I lived in Geneva a few years during my childhood, so seeing Gare Cornavin here takes me back!

[@shirleynitka5030]

Very good to have you back Dylan. I checked often & I was concerned. Short & sweet. I'll be looking for a new one later today.

[@John_Fugazzi]

Welcome back Dylan. I was beginning to think yoi'd retired. Looking forward to new trips.

[@huwlewis9059]

Welcome back. Given the prices of stuff in general in Switzerland, I think £96 is quite good value. 10 years ago, I paid £33 for a margarita pizza in a shopping mall in Zurich!

[@Paul_Templer]

Thanks for the vid! Glad you're back. Was getting worried! 😉

[@brimar63]

Welcome back! Glad to see youback!

[@Out_and_About_with_Dave63]

Brilliant video Dylan, always love seeing Switzerland and the scenery is stunning

[@JISJ1964]

Welcome back Dylan! As you are in Switzerland in this episode it might be good mentioning " never be too late for a train there".

[@roundandroundmyworld]

Truth. I had one train during my last visit to Switzerland which ran all of 5 minutes late, because a careless smoker tried to light up in the washroom just as we were about to leave Basel. It set off the smoke alarm, and we had a five-minute delay at the first stop while the police came on board and removed him. Afterwards, the conductor came through and offered all of us a credit voucher for the inconvenience!

[@quirllin]

Very good trip report. A bit of context that might help make sense for first time swiss train travelers: Switzerland's train vision is to have the whole country (not that big) be connected like an S-Bahn service. Hence they strive torwards

[@johnburke5384]

Ah... Fridays are back to normal, excellent video Dylan and yes please Paris-Geneve, 0oh la la mais oui !

[@howarddent1222]

Great that you're back. Hope you're soon fully recovered. You and Mark Smith (The man in seat 61) have inspired my wife and I , both now in our 70s ( she an ex-Armitage Bridge girl ) to do Eurostar to Paris, Paris to Munich, Munich to Venice then back to Paris by Frecciarossa, so all by rail, at Easter. All rail tickets now booked except for the Wigan - London, London-Wigan bit - I'm having trouble booking those on-line. Hey ho. Howard.

[@VOFilms1908]

Glad to see you again. I'm looking forward to watching more reports soon!. p.s: I wish you a speedy recovery.

[@Tbpker22]

So very nice to se you traveling again, Dylan - we have missed your reports.

[@BlckJack123]

Having been to both Geneva and Chur by train this video brought back great memories of the SBB and the Geneva train station. I was in 1st class too. I remember the seats having a "1" on them.

[@barryroberts2196]

Nice to see you back.😁

[@edwinleslie1330]

Happy to see your back..... Thought for one horrible moment you'd given up.😮. As a Brit living in Austria and thanks to you decided to travel (mainly to and from "The Island") by rail having travelled by plane and twice by car.... And was looking for a new way to travel with meals and views whilest travelling to different countries.

[@maimadha]

Swiss Alps is scenic and amazing

[@davidwilliams8405]

Welcome back Dylan-dude, long time no see! Hope you've completely recovered from that chest ailment, sounds like it was a nasty experience. Right now I'm making my final preparations for my Scottish excursion. Like I did when I made the Coast-to-Coast hike, I'll be flying into London, and after a few days take a train up to Edinburgh. I believe it will be the same train I took from York to King's Cross in London. Anyways, glad to see you again, keep on keeping on dude!

[@rinusvandenberg3041]

Glad to have you back on track. I missed the weekly reports very much. Very nice video to restart with, nice ride with ourstsnding views. Thanks for sharing. Till next week. Kind regards Rinus 🚂

[@blkbass]

Welcome back, you have been missed

[@BobTravellin]

Welcome back. I love SBB and have done the Zurich - Geneva trip many times when working there. Best rail system and rolling stock in the workd IMO.

[@baumgrt]

At 10:45, we briefly see Roter Pfeil (red arrow), a very iconic historical train built in the 1930s that has been restored to its original glory

[@john07973]

Nice video, glad to see you back

[@peblojack9267]

Welcome back, Dylan. Nice scenery. Most times i feel your trips are good value compared to the amount i pay to visit a local town or city here in the UK.

[@andredonnelly8521]

Welcome back Dylan, good to see you back with your videos

[@robb2mus]

Oh, how we've missed the Dylan smile and wave. Great travel report. Welcome back

[@bryanlorang417]

Nice to have you back. Thanks!

[@Ed_Okin]

Welcome back Dylan. Great work as always!!

[@aviano72]

I love Switzerland, i'm going back this summer can't wait Yes please do a TGV Lyria ride

[@cheetahjab]

Glad to have ya back, I look forward to your narrow gauge review!

[@thegallivanthropologists]

Welcome back Dylan. The trains in the Alps are all so clean and smooth. Have you done the Rhatian Railway. It is my favorite so far. Wish I was vlogging when I visited. Cheers! - Turtle

[@jamesmitchell3422]

Good to see you back🚃

[@deeser]

Welcome back, fella! I've missed the patented "Dylan's Wet Waves"

[@UKTransportExplorer]

The man is back

[@42034EMTHawk]

Yay! You're back! Mom and Dad were worried that something had happened to you!

[@hitenmehta6506]

Such wonderful trains and it would be great to return and travel the trains once more in Europe. I look forward to it. Nice video of the journey.

[@katherinedraus9211]

Glad you're feeling better and thanks for the video!

[@lindavainomae3489]

Welcome back Dylan and thanks for the nice Swiss rail review. Hope you are recovering well and look forward to the next video.

[@jjns5600]

Great analytical coverage Dylan....really enjoyed it thoroughly! Took the SBB in 2014 from Zurich to Zermatt!! Hope to do it again!

[@christophernoble6810]

Welcome back young Dylan. Hope you are now recovered. I seem to recall that these sets were a bit troublesome at first. Seats look ok, but clearly not that comfortable. Excellent video, keep up the good work.

[@monseigneurLambik]

Bedankt

[@DylansTravelReports]

Thank you 😁

[@didisinclair3605]

Yay! Welcome back, Dylan!! You were missed.

[@mickhedger9625]

Gee I'm glad you are back Dylan. Another great VLOG thank you

[@rezaalan3991]

Great trip. And finally after two months, you are back. Speed recovery and back to the rail again. Looks like some regional train in Switzerland doing extra jobs, running as intercity Train.

[@htschmerdtz4465]

Yes, please do a vid on the lyria train.

[@transportlegendshorts]

Excellent video keep it up Dylan

[@ctyl5686]

Good to see you back Dylan and best wishes for 2023.

[@theobrattinga500]

Great video !!

[@TheJohnscot]

Look after your health my friend. I enjoy these trips into Osterreich, Deutschland und Der Schweiz.

[@trainmanbob]

Welcome back. Hope you are well recovered.

[@arokh72]

Good to see you back Dylan, I've missed your videos 😀 I love how you say a journey of ~400km is a "long journey". Western Europeans are funny like that, considering in my state in Australia, one of the smaller ones, being NSW, is larger than your trip alone. I recall in 2005 taking some European school students on a trip from Sydney to Uluru, and they freaked out when we got to the town of Nyngan, and I told them we'd basically crossed Switzerland and were only halfway across the state, and barely started the trip to out final destination. Sydney to Uluru is just over 2800km, for anyone thinking of visiting 😄

[@cogman62]

At 14:25 “cheesed off” made me laugh.

[@davidaarthur]

Nice clean design, even second class looks (or at least feels?) uncrowded. But the mountains are a lot more appealing than the prices!

[@DISCOPlayz]

I remember watching you and I really like the Trains

[@heidirabenau511]

Nice to have you back!

[@The0070049]

Hy Dylan - glad to have you back on YT again - hope you’ll recover properly asap Nice to see you covering this infamous «top dog» train of my home region … class 502. It was suposed to be a tilting train - but other than - BR610ff(Germany), ETR450ff(Italy) or class 500(SBB) - it failed. It’s physically not possible to connect the heavy Duplex and the light Pendolino advantages. In addition the combination of a tilting clearance profil and accessebility would demand exhorbitant infrastructure expansions. The WAKO project is a huge fail. Irony of history: the responsable chief for passenger transport at SBB at the time of the contract signature was brought back to run SBB as CEO just these days the facts turned out to be unavoidable ... what a start for this trained IT-man ... WAKO&COVID What was supposed to save money and time ("technology instead of concrete") turned into the complete opposite. The way of proven quality design(more regular cadence combined with an elevated comfort) would have been a lot more efficent to level the lines' attraction along to the rest of the national network. There’s some misunderstanding in the title: «through the swiss alps in first class» … a first class ride through the swiss alps from Geneva to Chur would lead towards Brig and along the Glacier Express route. That’s where you get things like a proper 1st-cl.-fauteuil(«Executive class» etc) Geneva-Zurich-SanktGallen(Rorschach)/Romanshorn/Chur is more like commuters network and standards. Most passengers don’t spend more than an hour in these trains. The roads around are busy enough - so there’s obviously no special need for more attraction to compete … 1st class is generally quite a pricy affair in Switzerland but keep in mind - that many passenger there get their ride paid (parlament, management etc). The viaduct-crossing you filmed just after Fribourg is the famous Grandfey(«Roeschtigraben»; german/french). Just a couple minutes afterwards you’d have passed also the Sense viaduct which is another meaningfull crossing (roman cath./evang. protest. Fribourg/Berne) … just remembering you being from a place not too far away from «Hadrianswall» … This bordercrossing railway line number 250 (Bern-Lausanne) is rather slow but less congested - thanks to its hilly relief - less cargo conflicts than on line 210(Lausanne(-Triage)-Biel/Bienne). Therefor quite favoured for special traffic (steam, test runs etc) Some impressions: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6G3laNmm9NmeJI (Lavaux) kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWPZnZ93eZ2la5o (btw: the 1D1-engine is british-owned nowadays ... WilliamCook-Newcastle) kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnPIdKZuo72BipI kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXTWYX5joNCNpMk kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJ_WkGCZoN18f9U kzbin.info/www/bejne/rom0l5muepifbNk concluding: class 502 is a quite efficent 21st century commuter product - as mentioned otherwhere "long-distance-service" isn't really common in compact Switzerland. 400m train results in 1300 seats ... accelaration ... rapid passenger exchange via generous doors etc etc

[@judithstuart9631]

Thank you, very enjoyable!

[@andreawoelke]

Great to see you and your reports again! I want to know what that old train just outside Zurich station at 10:45 was.

[@donbone4322]

SBB „Red Arrow“ build in the 1930

[@nicoe.9354]

It's the RAe 4/8 1021 also called red arrow "Churchill"

[@drdr73]

Welcome back,dylan....was wondering what happened to your regular friday uploads

[@thomasreiser]

Definitely go for the Lyria report

[@j3xk72r9]

The seats look a lot better than what pass for seats on modern British trains!

[@mariavandenbosch2723]

Welcome back, we've missed you! Question: You started in Geneva, are we going to get a trip report from your travel UK to Geneva?

[@robertmcglinchey3347]

As always Dylan, your reporting is perfect. Amtrak just ended a special deal for the DownEaster Boston North Station to Brunswick Maine for $10 each way that’s about a 3 1/2 hour trip. I gave that up and will wait when there’s a lot of snow and for a senior rate it is normally only $14.50 each way. I have taken the Downeaster at least 10 times recently it’s just a pleasant ride. There are things to do in Brunswick, Freeport, Portland, old Orchard Beach, and just about anywhere along the route. Having taken a dozen or so long distance, trains - last year was over 11,000 miles -I’m a little concerned on how the new long distance train’s comfort will be. Personally sleeping and coach isn’t much of a problem for me. The one long distance trip I took in a sleeper wind out to be very uncomfortable because the bed wasn’t set up.

[@carolkeenan1650]

Welcome back.

[@btuckervideos4705]

Good to have you back Dylan. Looks like a very scenic route, may be one that I have to do one day

[@scottishtrainspotter7209]

Switzerland sour has them such beautiful scenery .

[@kevinellis8869]

Great to see you're back, looking forward to more excellent videos.

[@louisthetravelspotter]

brilliant review dylan mate

[@baseballfan99]

I used a 1st class Swiss Rail Pass 3 years ago and thought it was excellent value especially as it effectively guaranteed me a seat on some very busy trains. They say you should travel twice to Switzerland, once during Winter and once during the Summer. I travelled in Winter so I guess will have to do Summer in the future. The other bonus of the pass is I could take advantage of up to 50% off mountain railways and gondolas. I also took the Bernina Express which whilst not quite as spectacular as the Glacier Express was still amazing. I took a local train back which meant I had almost the whole train to myself, this also allowed me to ride some old emu stock and I could easily move from side to side for the best scenery.

[@avgeekinfotainment7776]

Great to have you back, Dylan! And you really made the full journey without any problems? No jammed doors, no malfunctioning ETCS or software issues?😂😂😂 Those trains do not have the best reputation here in Switzerland, being infamous for lots of technical problems, albeit it seems that it went for the better lastly. Nevertheless, nicknames like Bomb, Bombshell (hence its manufacturer), NOPEDEXX, TWINFAIL or similar will likely stay for a while😜 Nice btw, that you had the chance to spot the famous "Churchil-Arrow"👍

[@Andrewjg_89]

The Swiss Alps is still the best place to visit by train. As Switzerland is such a incredible country in Europe.

[@foamingbob]

I'm surprised at how much I have missed this channel. It's wonderful to have you back!

[@SMILEVIDEOTRAINS]

nice to see. cheers

[@TheSitruc46]

Enjoyed the trip and glad to see you back!

[@Faizan-ze8tg]

Peace be upon you brother with love ❤️❤️🇵🇰❤️❤️

[@deco983]

Beautiful route and Trains!

[@josbouhuis1718]

Good to have you back!!

[@tonguepiercing]

On the Walensee part of the journey you will find a Heidiland named station. Contrary to the more menacing or impressive higher mountains, this station gives access to a very gentle, romantic and lovely part of the Alps. It is also where the famous story of “Heidi” is set.

[@simonholliday9874]

SBB are notoriously mean with their WiFi, offering free use at stations only. I see the preserved Red Arrow was sat outside Zurich, presumably on a charter.

[@royhumphrey49]

Welcome back. We've missed you!

[@Humberto-F7]

Today basic wi-fi it's an esential service. The trip was good, nice landescapes. And Bernina Express is another level ... thanks and speedy full recovery folk. 🇺🇾

[@bluelucky2865]

I disagree. In Switzerland's case most passengers have unlimited data on their phones, therefore SBB invested in signal boosters along the rail lines. Adding Wifi would only increase ticket prices for all passengers, while the wifi service would see limited use only. Sucks for tourists, but the vast majority of SBB passengers are domestic commuters anyway.

[@luisstransport]

Great trip report

[@1380beagle]

I’d love to see Lucerne to Paris. ❤

[@buzzukfiftythree]

Enjoyable video, thanks Dylan. The SBB Twindex units are not proving popular with the Swiss. They were delivered very late and have a poor ride quality, according to reports I’ve read. I gather that SBB have pretty much decided not to use Bombardier in the future, so unhappy are they with these trains. We’ve travelled fairly extensively in Switzerland and, to be honest, their first class offering is really not worth the extra bucks unless you’re travelling in rush hour. The seats are hard on most trains nowadays in the country (as they are in most British trains IMHO).

[@kathienally9574]

Oh we HATE the TWINDEXX here! They are very uncomfortable and smell odd. The older IC2000's are all being refurbished and are far more comfortable for intercity travel.

The table extending only halfway for a bay of 4 is a big no for me.

[@samtrak1204]

HOWDY PARTNER! And welcome back. So glad you are back on trackI was afraid you weren't coming back.

[@michaelinlondon]

Welcome back Dylan. We've missed you.

[@johncrwarner]

Have done the Zürich to Chur part of the route and the Lausanne to Bern bits The Swiss design their public transport on the clock principle so punctuality is key.

[@raleedy]

Love these travelog videos, but seriously: I don’t think I am alone in feeling that I have seen enough train trash bins and toilets.

[@roundandroundmyworld]

I travelled the opposite direction on the route from Chur to Zurich, after my trip on the Glacier Express. If you plan to use any mountain railways, the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, etc., you should NOT get the Eurailpass but get the Swiss Travel Pass. It includes all railways, buses, scheduled boat trips on the lakes and the Glacier and Bernina trains which are not on the Eurailpass. It also gives you either free rides or half-fare rides on such scenic mountain railways as the Gornergrat (Zermatt), the Pilatus and Rigi (Luzern), and many more.

[@nicoe.9354]

The hard and unconfortable seats are a common problem also on other new intercity train types from the SBB such as the RABe 501 "Giruno". Hope the SBB will improve the seat comfort in its future trains or during refurbishments of their existing fleets. It's a big step back compared to the older "Einheitswagen".

[@bluelucky2865]

I feel like this is a general problem with new trainsets, not only in Switzerland. Manufacturers just don't make train seats like they used to anymore.

[@nicoe.9354]

@@bluelucky2865 It's actually not the manufacturer who decides which seat is installed, it's train operator who orders the trains.

[@The0070049]

Agree ... easy to clean - cheap etc etc

[@Joel-sq7ro]

The thing about the seats, in Switzerland the IC trains may also be used for regional services. All trains in switzerland are thought for all lines. Its also rare that people take trains for longer journeys than 3h so the seats are more built for practical matters than comfortable matters. TGV Trains for example are only used for longdistance services and peoples sit in the seats for longer than 3h. As a matter of fact in switzerland you also dont pay more for takeing faster trains. You only buy a ticket and then it doesn't matter if you take a RE, IR, or IC.

[@AndreiTupolev]

Something good about the Twindexx, then, which has been probably Switzerland's most controversial train

[@PlaneandTrainWindowSeat]

The windows didn’t seem to be very clean which is very rare in Switzerland. Welcome back 😊