Intro

The gentle side of Switzerland: It’s not all 4000-metre mountains and deep ravines. On the Voralpen-Express, visitors discover a different kind of Switzerland – undulating hills, picturesque villages and lovely orchards.

Voralpen-Express is the most appealing way to travel between Eastern and Central Switzerland. Starting from Eastern Switzerland’s urban centre of St. Gallen, whose Abbey district is a UNESCO world heritage site, the train traverses the 99 metre high Sitter viaduct and the rolling landscape of “Toggenburg”. Passing by Rapperswil and the impressive upland moor near Rothenthurm, the journey ends after a little over two hours in historic Lucerne on the shores of Lake Lucerne.

Facts

Route: St. Gallen – Wattwil – Rapperswil – Arth Goldau – Luzern
Distance: 125 km
Duration: 2 h 18 min

Excursion tips

St. Gallen and surrounding area
  • Abbey district and Abbey library
  • Säntis – one of the most breathtaking panoramas of Switzerland at 2505 m a.s.l.
  • Appenzell region – tradition is important between Bodensee and Säntis
Rapperswil and surrounding area
  • Rapperswil castle
  • Lake Zurich Navigation – 2 steamboats and 12 motor boats regularly navigate Lake Zurich
Lucerne
  • Lion’s Monument – in memorial of Swiss citizens who died in 1792 during the French Revolution
  • Lake Lucerne boat tours
  • Landscape and Animal Park Goldau – refuge for stags, wolves, lynxes and other wild animals

Food & Beverages

Each train has a bistro coach with catering services.

Timetable

All connections here

Ticket

This route is fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) and GA travelcard.
Book tickets

Offers

Book here

Reservations

No seat reservation possible – free seating.

Discover the surroundings

Overview

Hint

Overview
Lucerne
Lucerne – Lake Lucerne
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Travel information: Lucerne

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  • Lucerne "Event night yacht charter" with skipper

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    valid: 23.05.2025 - 14.11.2025

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  • Lucerne Catamaran cruise on Lake Lucerne from Lucerne

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    Offer details


    valid: 23.05.2025 - 19.10.2025

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  • Lucerne Adventure Kitchen (Outdoor Kitchen) at a location of your choice

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    Offer details


    valid: 26.05.2025 - 31.12.2025

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  • Lucerne Swiss Museum of Transport: All Day Pass

    With a single ticket, you gain access to the museum, the movie theater, the planetarium, and the... from CHF 66.33
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    Learn more about Swiss Museum of Transport: All Day Pass
  • Lucerne "Rotten Apple" virtual reality game in Lucerne

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    valid: 23.05.2025 - 20.05.2026

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    valid: 12.06.2025 - 21.05.2026

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  • Lucerne Swiss Chocolate Adventure Admission Ticket

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  • Lucerne Lucerne Best Guided Walks

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