Overview
Zug 68 is not a train you catch to get somewhere useful. It is a train you catch because the getting there is the entire point. It hauls itself out of Wilderswil, in the valley below Interlaken, and climbs steadily up to Schynige Platte, a viewpoint perched above the Bernese Oberland where the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau line up on the far side of the valley like they've been arranged for the occasion.
This is a rack railway, built for gradient rather than speed, and everything about the experience follows from that fact: the slow climb, the open views, the sense of being winched up into the mountains rather than merely driven there. It belongs to the Berner Oberland-Bahnen network and sits within the wider Jungfraubahnen family of mountain railways, so it shares that same unhurried, purpose-built character.
There is nothing to dislike about a journey with no urgency and a view like this. Zug 68 rewards anyone willing to trade speed for scenery, and the higher it climbs, the more obvious that trade becomes.
Key facts
| From | Wilderswil |
|---|---|
| To | Schynige Platte |
| Operator | Berner Oberland-Bahnen |
The route: Wilderswil to Schynige Platte
The journey begins at Wilderswil, a modest station in the valley that acts as the junction point for the climb ahead. From there the line heads upward through the wooded lower slopes of the Bernese Oberland, gaining height in the deliberate, unhurried way that rack railways do, working against gradient rather than racing along it.
As the train rises, the trees thin, the valley floor drops away, and the views open out across the surrounding peaks and pastures. By the time it reaches Schynige Platte, the train has swapped valley-level greenery for high-altitude panorama, and the sense of having earned that view, slowly and mechanically, is part of the appeal.
Timetable & how to book
Services on this line vary by season, since the railway operates on a schedule suited to mountain conditions and visitor demand rather than a fixed year-round timetable. There is no fixed departure pattern that holds true in every month, so it is not something to guess at.
The sensible approach is to check current times and book directly with Berner Oberland-Bahnen before travelling. This matters more than usual on a mountain line, where weather and seasonal operation can affect what actually runs on a given day.
Fares & classes
As with timetables, exact fares should be checked with the operator rather than assumed, since pricing structures and any seasonal offers are set by Berner Oberland-Bahnen directly. What can be said in general terms is how classes tend to differ on this kind of scenic mountain railway.
A higher class of travel typically means a more comfortable seat and a slightly less crowded carriage, giving passengers more room to move to the windows for photographs. A standard class ticket still delivers the same views and the same journey, just with a more functional level of comfort. On a route where the scenery is the main event, the difference between classes is really about comfort and elbow room rather than the experience of the landscape itself.
Which side to sit, and how to get the best views
Because the train climbs steadily along a mountainside route, the views differ depending on which side of the carriage you're on, and they also change as the train winds its way upward, so no single side guarantees the best outlook for the whole trip.
The practical approach is to stay alert rather than fixed to one seat: mountain panoramas tend to swing from one side to the other as the line curves, and standing near a window at the right moment often beats holding a specific seat number. If the carriage allows movement, use it. If it's busy, be patient — the views at the top, once you arrive at Schynige Platte, more than make up for any compromise on the way up.
Onboard experience
Trains on routes like this are generally built around the view rather than around speed or luxury fittings. Expect large windows designed to let in as much of the surrounding mountain scenery as possible, with the carriage itself kept simple so nothing distracts from what's outside.
Don't expect a full dining service on a short mountain climb like this one; any catering available tends to be modest, in keeping with a journey that's measured in one climb rather than hours of travel. The onboard experience is really about watching the landscape change as the train gains height, carriage windows doing most of the work.
Best season to travel
The Bernese Oberland changes character dramatically across the year, and a journey on this line will feel very different depending on when you go. In summer, expect green alpine pastures, long daylight, and clear, far-reaching views across the peaks opposite. Wildflowers and open meadows are part of the appeal at this time of year.
In winter, the landscape turns to snow and the mountains take on a starker, more dramatic look, though operation at this time of year is even more weather-dependent, reinforcing the need to check with the operator before planning a trip. Spring and autumn sit between the two extremes, often quieter in terms of visitor numbers, with their own shifting light and colour on the slopes.
Alternatives & onward connections
From Schynige Platte, the obvious onward activity is on foot: the summit area is a starting point for walking routes into the surrounding high ground, with the mountain panorama as a constant backdrop. This makes the railway less an end in itself and more a way of accessing walking country that would otherwise take considerable effort to reach.
Wilderswil itself connects back into the wider regional rail network around Interlaken, so travellers can treat Zug 68 as one leg of a broader day out in the Bernese Oberland, combining the mountain railway with valley trains and other regional connections as needed.
A short history and context
Mountain rack railways like this one belong to an era of engineering when reaching high alpine viewpoints by train was seen as both a technical challenge and a tourist draw in its own right. Lines of this kind were built specifically to open up panoramas that had previously been the preserve of walkers and climbers.
Today, as part of the Jungfraubahnen network of mountain railways in the Bernese Oberland, this service continues that original purpose largely unchanged: carrying passengers up into the mountains not as a means to an end, but because the climb itself, and the view it delivers, remains the whole point of the journey.
Common questions
- Do I need to book in advance for Zug 68?
- Booking requirements and availability vary by season, so it's best to check directly with Berner Oberland-Bahnen before you travel, rather than assume a walk-up ticket will always be straightforward.
- How long does the journey take from Wilderswil to Schynige Platte?
- No specific timing is given here — journey times can vary, so check current schedules with the operator directly.
- Which side of the train has the best views?
- Views shift from side to side as the line climbs and curves, so there's no single best side for the whole journey. Staying flexible, and moving to a window when the view opens up, tends to work better than fixing on one seat.
- Is there food or drink on board?
- Any catering on this kind of short mountain railway tends to be modest rather than a full service, in keeping with a journey focused on the climb and the scenery rather than on dining.
- What's there to do once I reach Schynige Platte?
- The main draw at the top is walking, with routes leading out into the surrounding high alpine terrain and the mountain panorama as a backdrop for the rest of the visit.
On the map
Sources & method
- OpenStreetMap route=train (ODbL) — route
See our methodology for how Head Your Way sources and reviews travel data.