Monday 8 September 2025 - Travel from Zurich to Yverdon-les-Bains

More whimsey on an SBB Twindex

Today we traveled from Zurich to Yverdon-les-Bains. Our first stop was Spiez, we went with a change at Olten. These trains were nowhere near as crowded as the direct trains via Bern.

At Spiez we spent some time watching the trains, particularly freight trains. One train was hauled by a Euro 9000, there were two headed by SBB Vectrons, both double-headed, as well as a BLS train of empty tank cars. On top of that, one of the few remaining green SBB 4/4s came through and we also spotted the brown BLS 4/4 that we saw last Friday. 

It was noticeable that whenever a freight train came to a stand in the platform to change drivers the exiting driver would clean the handrails with a piece of paper or cloth for the new driver

Date nails are used frequently in wooden ties

We had an early lunch at the Migros restaurant just outside the station and then caught a BLS train to Zweisimmen. 

The view over lake Thun from our table

We have noticed a large number of school parties traveling by train. There was one today, the small kids all distinguished by a special hat so that the teachers could keep an eye on them. They went all the way to Zweisimmen changed to the narrow gauge and got off near Saarnen.

The school party waiting for the train at Speiz

We chose this particular routing to avoid the tourists who travel on some of the Golden Pass Trains. This way we had to make a cross-platform transfer at Zweisimmen but it was relatively clear of tourists, in fact we had our first class car to ourselves practically the whole of the trip. 

The narrow gauge portion of this trip to Montreux is always a spectacular ride, however it was spoiled somewhat by very low cloud in the mountains. However we were able to see the lake and the ride down the side of the hill to Montreux was as exciting as ever. 

At Montreux we took a train to Lausanne and then an ICN train to Yverdon-les-Bains.  At Lausanne we noticed a locomotive with a vinyl for coffee, maybe by Nespresso.

It was a long day and we took a short walk in the evening. 

An old Yverdon - Ste-Croix car at Yverdon-les-Bains