Luzern to Interlaken with Die Zentralbahn | Part of the Golden Pass route

The line between Luzern and Interlaken is one of those classic routes that people go on in Switzerland. Metre gauge trains go up and over the Brünig pass providing lake views and stunning views over mountains and across valleys. This really is one of those"bucket list" trips. And, for once on this trip, I got a bright sunny day!
Departure: Luzern, Switzerland
Destination: Interlaken Ost, Switzerland
Distance: 74 km / 46 miles
Duration: 1 hr 49 mins
Average speed: 41 km/h 25 mph
Example cost: Advance Adult single
1st Class: €44,20 / £37.79
2nd Class: €26,00 / £22.23
...I was riding with an Interrail pass
Date of Travel: March 2024
Operator: Die Zentralbahn (zb)
Motive power: ABeh Class 150 adhension/cog EMU
Built: Stadler (2012)
Thank you to everyone that supports the channel by subscribing, liking, commenting or just watching these videos. I really appreciate it!

[@tommay6590]

Ride this tour the other way around more than a decade ago. Great to see trains are still running.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes they certainly are and they are well loaded too. The second class seats were very busy indeed! Thanks for watching 👍

[@Fan652w]

This was an incredibly good and very informative video. Thank you for stressing the fantastic intregrated taktfahrplan, which covers all modes, not just trains. Note, eg, the connecting bus waiting at Brunig-Hasliberg. The point about large sections of second class being reserved for groups is very important. But the groups are not just foreign tourists. There will be, eg, local hiking groups and school classes. When teachers take their class on a trip, they do not hire a coach. They take them by ordinary public transport. For Swiss children, using public transport IN ALL ITS FORMS is part of their education! Note that Brienz lake boats started on 13 April. (There are limited winter services on the Thunersee, which i have used!)

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks Roger. I did see the bus driver give the train driver a cheery wave. As you say, taktfahrplan is brilliant. Makes moving around the country so much easier (and quicker!)

[@horsehollerer]

Oh wow, this one is an absolute worldie. The colour of Brienzersee in that sunshine is something else. It's on the list. Cheers!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes! Do it! Thanks as ever for watching another 👍

[@Fan652w]

On his recent visit to Glenfinnan Scots KZbinr SteveMarsh said that trains on the Wast Highland should have carriages with observation windows. I responded to the video, 'That is what they do on many lines in Switzerland! But then the Swiss are world champions when it comes to organising public transport.' This video, and the previous one to Engelberg, brilliantly illustrate my point

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, I've been on those Scottish routes and they would be much improved with panorama coaches. Mind you those trains would also be improved with just a wash of the windows every now and again! Good point.

[@lebrigand4115]

When a train ride is way more than going from point A to point B.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

It certainly is, for sure. Thanks for coming along with me 👍

[@godders7964]

Lovely video. We made that trip several times when living in Switzerland in the late 1980s. Tangentially, my mother told me of a motoring holiday with her uncle in 1925, staying at a hotel in Interlaken for five shillings with full board and lodging when £1 bought 80 Swiss francs. In those days the Swiss only made chocolate and cuckoo clocks!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Haha! And now the exchange rate is roughly 1:1.. still, although it may not be as cheap, i did manage to complete my week there at what i would call "UK prices" for both hotels and food. Thanks for the kind words and also for watching 👍

[@phronsiekeys]

Lovely ride and lovely weather! Glad you didn't have to see it thru raindrops on the windows. It's fun to see the River Aare, a popular answer to US crossword clues!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Well it certainly is a very vowel heavy name, so i can see it may be handy in word games! Highly recommend this one is you are ever in the area. Thanks for watching 👍

[@ampersand.]

Yes, wonderfully filmed as always. I was just wondering where the cows were hiding and then they popped up, haha. Thanks for the extra treat today.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

My wife says the same thing. She also keeps looking out for Heidi running through the fields. I told her that Heidi now works in IT in Zürich 😉

[@77smp]

Beautiful Journey 😊 I've always thought that the Swiss just went "mountains, snow, lakes.... better just engineer the Sh*t out of this!"

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

That does appear to be their attitude! Thanks for watching 👍

[@paulmark63]

Hi Johnny thank you so much for the videos Switzerland is such a beautiful place looks so clean and Green keep up the great work you are doing. Paul in Kent

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks very much Paul. Thank you so much for watching too 👍

[@user-mo3ch3ol1h]

Switserland is great, as you said luzern interlaken is one of the most stunning rides! keep up the good work!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you, you are very kind to say so. And thank you so much for watching 👍

[@TheJG3870]

I hopped off the train at Sachseln and sat on one of those red benches by the lake to eat my lunch and hopped back on the next train to continue my journey 😊

[@Fan652w]

And with the Taktfahrplan, it is so easy to just hop off and have your lunch, or just admire the view for an hour!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

A very good idea indeed! I think i should consider breaking up journeys like these a bit more, as there's so many lovely places that i just pass through otherwise. Best wishes to you and thanks for watching 👍

[@markusstudeli2997]

Glad you saved the good weather for the most scenic of your train journey up to now. As a Swiss I can still appreciate the Panoramic Express on my occasional trips to Meiringen-Hasliberg, one of my preferred ski resorts.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes, i had a lovely day. It was a great train service. Thank you so much for watching 👍

[@transportlegend.shorts]

Oooooh, 2 videos in the one day? 😋 what a treat ! 😁

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I know - I'm spoiling you... 😉

[@transportlegend.shorts]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels absolutely 😁

[@pattokchannel]

Amazing report, well done! And you're approaching the 10.000 subscriber mark, the equal of a small town can now enjoy your weekly videos! Great stuff, keep them coming!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Let's not get too excited yet. Not even managed the 9000 yet. But yes, it is already enough people to fill a decent sized UK lower league football ground, so i can't complain. Thanks for your continued support. As the saying goes, "you keep watching 'em, and I'll keep making 'em" 👍

[@melvynbuckton6881]

I did it mid winter with snow everywhere. Even more beautiful. But you did extremely well getting practically all the good views in.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks Melvyn. I would like to go back for some snowy Swiss rides. Maybe next winter! But yes, i was lucky with the weather on this one. Thanks for watching 👍

[@johncrwarner]

We were based in Brienz for a holiday one because it was cheaper than Interlaken but also because there was the Brienzer Rothornbahn and over the lake one of the oldest funicular railways at a hotel on the other side. I was reading Goethe's Swiss Journey at the time and he mentions Brienz and stayed there LOL as did Byron and several German romantic poets It was the first bit of European tourism Meiringen - is of course associated with Sherlock Holmes and the Reichenbach Falls are not far away. There is an Anglican church in Meiringen too to cater for the nineteenth century British tourists!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I went for a walk around the lake that afternoon. I would happily stay at Brienz too. As you say, there's lots I have not seen or done in that area... thanks for those ideas and thanks also for watching 👍

[@johncrwarner]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels We stayed in Interlaken once and it was interesting to visit but a bit of a cultural desert and full of tourists and boutiques full of overpriced stuff. On our first visit we stayed in a hotel near Interlaken West and we came down to breakfast and there was a group in the hotel They were speaking German but it was very clear High German not a Swiss variant or either a southern German or Austrian dialect so I could understand them. The weird thing for me was their manners and social→nteractions were definitely more south German because they did not have the reserve I associate with the North Germans. Turned out they were a visiting choir from Chur in Graubünden the Romansch speaking area and their German was much more correct. BTW doing Chur and the Rhätische Bahn 1 metre gauge railways is a treat even if you end up doing it in a low cloud and the Tanoy explains the beautiful vistas in FOUR languages and you can't see the trees next to the line never mind the lake or distant glacier!

[@robertshaw7523]

Your videos are always great. I love traveling in Switzerland.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thank you. That is lovely of you to say. I still have maybe three Switzerland videos left to edit. I've enjoyed making all of them!

[@grahambignell8500]

Great video! We travelled from Interlaken to Luzern on a slightly different route on the recommendation of the tourist guide. We reversed at Brienz and went up and over the mountains, which was a fabulous route too. There are so many joys travelling on Swiss railways and I want to go back soon!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes indeed i had a lovely time and only scratched the surface. Thanks for watching 👍

[@melvynbuckton6881]

There is only the brunig pass route.

[@garrytuohy9267]

I am sorry I chose to drive that route, but it was spectacular too.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I'm sure it was. I prefer the train because i can concentrate on the views rather than driving. But driving does give you that forward view t that the train doesn't give you! Thanks for watching 👍

[@MikeS29]

I've enjoyed three of your Switzerland videos today, absolutely stunning. Looking forward to exploring it myself! Thanks, Johnny!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Well done for watching three in a day! I highly recommend Switzerland. And, if you are careful, it can be no more expensive than the UK. Thanks again for watching them 👍

[@aoilpe]

3:10 The Alpnachersee is still a part of the Vierwaldstättersee… 4:06 The “red” benches in and around Basel are green…😂 9:57 Fun fact ; In Meiringen , Meringue in French, was invented the famous Meringue-dessert…and it is were Sherlock Holmes died… 10:59 We call them Lake Boats- they circle on a line and stop at multiple locations in the warmer days -as they do on the Thunersee - on schedule. The blue and yellow train pulling out would bring you to the Jungfrau region and - with two additional trains - to the “Top of Europe”….

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks for all that extra information. I've just started editing another video and, as you say, there are different coloured benches in different places! And thank you so much for watching too 👍

[@enricomonti156]

You saw a great part of Brienzersee. I went to Iseltwald, a small village situated on the southern bank of Brienzersee and it is reachable.with a short PostAuto bus ride from Interlaken Ost or by the BLS ferries (which however in my opinion have not the best schedule ever). Even there I loved the scenery

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes it was lovely passing through there. As i said at the end, i went back out and walked along the lake in the late afternoon and it was wonderful. Best wishes to you and thanks for watching 👍

[@cd82156]

Love Switzerland, train travel amazing! Been on both the Bernina(highly recommended) and part of Glacier express. Both Jungfrau and Piz Gloria worth the trip! Don’t miss Zermatt and the Gonergrat(sit on the right). Stunning country, I’m stuck in the UK for now but Switzerland beckons. The mountains are calling and I must go!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks for that list. All now on MY list. This was just a quick first visit, but i am hooked now too! Thanks for watching 👍

[@paulgibsonphotography]

Great Video Johnny

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks Paul 👍

[@The0070049]

Perfect day for such a ride - congrats ! The Brünig roads are my yearly summerly "shortcut" on the homestretch from Italy-Ticino to Fribourg . Though it would theoretically be even faster in traveltime than along the often jammed A2-A1 motorways - I always grant myself a little eternity just admiring the simple beauty of this piece of earth )

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I think you make a very wise choice. What a lovely route it would be by either rail or road. Thank you for watching 👍

[@WINGSANDRAILS]

Gonna do Station Biel/bienne to Geneva in a few weeks.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I hear that is a good route. I look forward to the video 👍

[@stewartflatt9412]

My wife and I have visited Interlaken for several holidays, and always with use of a Jungfrau Runabout Ticket, which gives excellent value journeys over a wide area, including buses, boats and chairlifts. A truly beautiful part of Europe. Thanks for reminding us of a happy experience.

[@Fan652w]

You make an extremely important point regarding the Jungfrau Runabout Ticket. If your visit to Switzerland involves just one region of the country such as the Luzern area or the Bernese Oberland do not buy either an Interrail or a Swiss Travel Pass. Just buy the relevant MULTIMODAL regional 'Runabout' ticket. Note that it is good idea to have the version with first class on the boats. This gives you access to the upper decks, and therefore much better views.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks for that. I did not know about that ticket. It was a pleasure to make the video, so I'm very happy that it was able to rekindle some good memories. Thanks for watching 👍

[@andyml1]

Great video as always….particularly like travel in German speaking Europe…following your adventures with interest. 🤓

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks. Lovely of you to say. I think German speakers are looking forward to me going to somewhere where i stop mashing up their language though!! Thanks for watching the Switzerland stuff 👍

[@garrygreen3210]

Outstanding Johnny lad. Berner Oberland is my favorite area of Switzerland. Stay in Wilderswil, visit Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Grindelwald etc. Take the train to Jungfraujoch, not cheap but superb. Also try the Brienzer Rothornbahn....super cog railway. So much choice there, you’d need months to cover everything! Cheers, thanks for bringing us along.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I shall add all those to the list. I will return, although in order to keep some variation on the channel, it won't be straight away! Thanks for watching and saying nice things. It helps to keep me going on to the next one! 👍

[@peterwijenberg6538]

I've been there many many times and still enjoy this route very much!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Yes it was wonderful. I would happily ride it again and again! Thanks for watching 👍

[@walterfillingham]

Betweeen you and Steve Marsh, the videos both of you doing are just making me itch to go out and travel. Steve with his Northern Spain videos, you and trips like this with just jaw dropping scenery, this would be an absolute dream to do. Thank you

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You are very welcome Walter. I must say, I have always fancied Northern Spain and the FEVE too, so Steve is giving me ideas too! Thanks for sticking with me 👍

[@Eurobazz]

Another beautiful video Johnny. I find your German pronunciation amusing with certain words 😊

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

My German pronunciations are terrible. hopefully they cause more amusement than annoyance! Thanks for the kind words 👍

[@markusstudeli2997]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels Indeed amusing, but not quite as badly as in your last one when you tried to pronounce "Wolfenschiessen". We would have had to beep it if you pronounced it that way on a German video.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@markusstudeli2997 ah yes. There seemed a lot of laughs to be had from my complete mispronunciation of that word!

[@genoobtlp4424]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels the famous village of wolfcrapping…

[@Elibuwu]

Next time, and if it's a bit warmer, take the small train in Meiringen, get out at the station in the tunnel and walk back to the previous one (or the other way around)

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah. Great idea. I've added it to the very long list! Thanks for watching 👍

[@genoobtlp4424]

Fun fact, there are no four car units; there’s the double ended three car units (160, iirc) and the single ended three car units usually combined into a a double ended train (161, iirc) with an optional double ended reinforcement unit. And then there’s the completely separate bistro car usually coupled inbetween the two single ended units for a 7/10 car train

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah - thanks for the clarification. and thanks for watching! 👍

[@genoobtlp4424]

@@JohnnyHooverTravels you’re welcome, really enjoy the series

[@andyml1]

Not only is Meiringen where Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty met their deaths but also where meringues were invented! So I believe…

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

... are you having me on there? 😀

[@Kulla1berg]

Interesting to follow your travel in the foture, from Interlaken are there many possibility, you might hitting for a "top journey" to Eiger and the -Jungfrau Railway

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Not this time. Maybe in the future. There was so much to see with my Interrail ticket that i did not need to spend more on this journey. However, i will return to Switzerland again in the future for sure! Thanks for sticking with me 👍

[@margaretha1967]

Go to meiringen in may

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah maybe next year. I'm somewhere else this May! Best wishes to you and thanks for watching 👍

[@berberbro]

Sorry Johnny, but the most beautiful Swiss lakeside station for me will always be Miralago (memories...). Though have to admit, have not seen them all yet : ) Thanks again for a nice trip report. Wonder what the next adventure will be.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Ah well, I probably can't compete with your "memories". 😄 There are so many though. Maybe we should just keep going back until we've seen them all... Thank you so much for watching and for the kind words 👍 Btw if I said "Gotthard Pass", you will keep it to yourself... 😉

[@peterdnreynolds777]

Brilliant video and excellent scenery!! Been meaning to ask, how do you get sround filming and not getting reflrction in through windiws. Hope all is well, take care

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Thanks Peter. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZaTfYdqmqh0rsksi=VZo_Q_58LyVDyoOI I havea home made lens cover/cowl for the gopro. It doesn't work perfectly, but it is a bit improvement for sure. If you jump to about 3:30 in the Geneva to Zürich video you can see it...

[@PaulGodfrey]

Great video. Glad to see the weather has improved. I did the trip the other way around starting from Interlaken on the ferry. Did you get a chance to go to the steam cog railway at Brienz ?

[@Fan652w]

The steam train up the Brienzer Rothorn only commences running in June.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

No. But when i return it will be on a now massive long list of things to do! Thanks for watching 👍

[@DeletedDelusion]

The Giessbach waterfalls across the lake from Brienz are also worth a visit. From the lake there is a funicular up to the belle epoque Grand Hotel Giessbach next to beautiful cascading waterfalls.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@DeletedDelusion thanks. I have added it to my (very long) list!

[@praisane]

I'm fascinated by your pronounciation of German. "Interlaken" is pronounced in the German way, yet "Die Zentralbahn" as if it was English.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

That's purely because I'm hopeless at German... 😀 Thank you so much for watching and suffering my appalling language skills. 👍

[@CameronReape]

0:39 didn’t notice in the original video, but didn’t Johnny get a haircut?

[@CameronReape]

Also, the parent comment was the first

[@CameronReape]

Love your videos!

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

I do go for haircuts every now and then you know. but not whilst travelling on the train! If it looked short it was probably just "hat hair" 😉

[@CameronReape]

@@JohnnyHooverTravelsprobably that then Completely forgot that the time difference between the last video and this was next to noe

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

@@CameronReape No worries 🤣

[@andyml1]

I don’t think so - honestly. German has got to be easier than Dutch surely? 😂😂

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

You would have thought so, but I seem to be able to mash them both! Thanks for watching 👍

[@rickolson3114]

No way the train system could exist without government funding... Also, who's mowing all that acreage, the government? Stop saying 'free'... It's not free when you're paying about 65% in taxes. I will say that I enjoyed the trip but Americans are always about lower taxes and less government.

[@JohnnyHooverTravels]

Well of course it is paid for through public spending! That is the European way. As a result they have an excellent public transport system. My personal opinion is that is much better than the American way of doing things. Bit different cultures can freely choose different paths... Thanks so much for watching 👍

[@genoobtlp4424]

Well, somehow Switzerland still counts as a tax haven… riddle me that, and the highest taxes I’ve seen around here are in the 30-40% range for the mostly rich, above a certain point, people start to negotiate with local governments (and tax offices) where they’ll move their money to… And in terms of less government, try digging Infrastructure through mountains without government, I dare you. It’s a necessary evil and if done properly (by giving the people a direct veto power and the power to bypass politics with enough popular support) leads to mostly reasonable and sane outcomes (or as sane as the average guy, which sadly ain’t much, apparently)…