Wilhelm Tell Express
Route: Lucerne - Lake Lucerne - Flüelen - St Gotthard - Bellinzona - Locarno/Lugano
The Wilhelm Tell Express connects two of the prettiest parts of Switzerland; Central Switzerland with its dramatic mountains and glorious lake contrasting with the Italian
New for Summer 2010 - Wilhelm Tell Express 'Premium'
During summer 2010 you can enjoy a unique new experience - the Wilhelm Tell Express 'Premium'.
The 'Premium' service is offered on the 11.12 departure from Lucerne or the 09.30/09.45 service from Lugano/Locarno.
Wilhelm Tell Express suggested holiday itinerary
Summer Timetable 1st May - 17th October 2010
All Lake steamers stop at Weggis and Brunnen
Lucerne to Locarno/Lugano
Locarno/Lugano to Lucerne
All passengers travelling to or from Lugano change trains in Bellinzona
Boat
Train
Lucerne
depart
09.12
11.12
Lugano
depart
09.30
11.30
Flüelen
arrive
11.55
13.55
Locarno
depart
09.45
11.45
Train
Flüelen
arrive
11.42
13.42
Flüelen
depart
12.15
14.15
Boat
Locarno
arrive
14.13
16.13
Flüelen
depart
12.00
14.00
Lugano
arrive
14.27
16.27
Lucerne
arrive
14.47
16.47
Winter Timetable 18th October 2010 - 30th April 2011 New winter service
All Lake steamers stop at Weggis and Brunnen
Lucerne to Locarno/Lugano
Locarno/Lugano to Lucerne
All passengers travelling to or from Lugano change trains in Bellinzona
Boat
Train
Lucerne
depart
10.12
Lugano
depart
10.30
Flüelen
arrive
12.55
Locarno
depart
10.45
Train
Flüelen
arrive
12.42
Flüelen
depart
13.15
Boat
Locarno
arrive
15.13
Flüelen
depart
13.00
Lugano
arrive
15.27
Lucerne
arrive
15.47
Wilhelm Tell Express Costs.
Based on half fare card which is included in all our holidays (except self drive).
First class - reserved first class seats on lake steamer including a hot or cold dish of the day, reserved seats in the panorama coach or first class coaches on the historic Gotthard route from Flüelen to Locarno/Lugarno or vice versa..
£70 per adult and children (6-16 years) traveling with an adult £27.
Premium class (summer service only) - reserved first class seats on the lake steamer including three course set meal in the first class restaurant. Travel in the unique first class swivel-chair coach 'le salon liberte' on the historic Gotthard route from Flüelen to Locarno/Lugarno or vice versa, with a welcome drink on board the train.
£97 per adult and children (6-16 years) traveling with an adult £53.
First Class Travel all the way...!
Which ever fare you choose it's first class all the way from Lucerne, you board a nostalgic paddle steamer or motor vessel and cruise to Flüelen on Lake Lucerne in about 2½ hours, while you enjoy meal as stunning scenery glides past. The information pack and on board commentary will also help you enjoy the places of interest throughout your journey.
In Flüelen, you board your first class air-conditioned carriges of the Swiss Federal Railways to Bellinzona and on to Locarno. Travelers to Lugano change in Bellinzona.
This journey can be reversed for travel from Lugano or Locarno
Route: Lucerne - Lake Lucerne - Flüelen - St Gotthard - Bellinzona - Locarno/Lugano
Wilhelm Tell - Switzerland's National Hero
You are about to travel through his homeland, the area where he grew up and spent his life. Throughout history, he has remained a symbol of Swiss liberty and independence. In Altdorf - where you will be passing through - he is commemorated by a memorial and a chapel. Near Altdorf, the main town of the canton of Uri, is the village of Bürglen with the Tell Museum.
Lucerne
A wonderful centre thanks to its wonderful position on the lake, encompassed by gentle wooded hills to the north and east and looking out on to an impressive Alpine panorama to the south. Lucerne was an important crossroad as early as the Middle Ages, as can be seen today in the old city, the Chapel Bridge with its Water Tower and the ancient city wall with nine towers.
Cruising on Lake Lucerne
Kreuztrichter
As we leave Lucerne, Central Switzerland spreads out in all directions, revealing its incredible variety of natural beauty. To the east you will see Mount Rigi (1,797m) where the oldest cog railway in Europe takes you effortlessly to the summit from Vitznau, or a cable car whisks you to the top from Weggis. Looking towards the south we see the Bürgenstock (874m) which also has a nostalgic funicular and to the west is the spectacular Mount Pilatus (2,129m) which is reached by the world's steepest cog railway from Alpnachstad.
The Gersau basin
After Vitznau, we pass through a chasm between two nose-like promontories and arrive in Beckenried. From here, an aerial cable car takes walkers up to Klewenalp, famed for its hiking area. Directly opposite, nestling in the sun on the side of the mountain is Gersau, once an independent republic.
Brunnen and Treib
We are now entering the historical heart of Switzerland, both places were regular meeting points for the 'Envoys of the Federal Townships', a loosely organised alliance of states which evolved into the federal state of Switzerland in 1848. Beyond Brunnen and towered over by two mountains, is Schwyz, where the 'Bundesbriefe', the ancient basis of the Swiss constitution, has been preserved in the archive. A little railway winds its twisting way up from Treib into the remote and romantic Seelisberg region.
The Lake of Uri
This end of the lake becomes Lake Uri, with its awe-inspiring perpendicular cliffs soaring up from the water encompassing the lake, where we see Fronalpstock, Rophaien and the Bristenstock amongst others mountains dominating the skyline.
Rütli
On this almost inaccessible stretch of meadow land the ancient canton's of Unterwalden, Uri and Schwyz confirmed their pact of 1291 and swore to defend themselves against all forms of foreign domination. Today, the Rütli belongs to the school children of Switzerland, who collected money to save the historic meadow from being sold for a building development.
The Schiller Stone
This monolith rising out of the water is a memorial to the author of Switzerland's national epic. The inscription reads 'To him who sang Tell's glory, F. Schiller - The Original Cantons 1859'.
Tell's Rock
It was on this spot that Tell managed to escape his captors. Over the centuries, Tell's Rock and Chapel have thus been a shrine not only for the religious but also for the patriotic.
Wilhelm Tell
It is said to have taken place on the shores of Lake Uri, that Tell refused to bow in respect before a hat set up in Altdorf by the Habsburg invaders. When the Austrian governor, Gessler, decreed that Tell shoot an apple off his son's head using a crossbow, he promptly did so.
He then turned his crossbow on Gessler, for which he was arrested and bundled onto a ship. The trip turned stormy and Tell was able to escape by leaping courageously onto a platform of rock - known today as Tell's Rock.
He immediately set off for Küssnacht, where he ambushed and killed the tyrant Gessler on a lonely wooded stretch of road known as the Hohle Gasse.
Flüelen
At this spot where hauliers used to load their wares from barges on pack mules, it is only a few steps from the paddle steamer to the first class railway carriages.
Rail to Locarno/Lugano
Start of the Gotthard approach
Erstfeld is known as a 'railway-man's village'. It marks the beginning of the long climb to the Gotthard, with its gradients of up to 26%. To the right, the Schossberg and Schossberg Glacier which crosses over to Engelberg.
The church of Wassen and the Devil's Bridge
A famous part of the route, where Wassen Church is viewed three different times as the train meanders up the gorge through various tunnels. The Devil's Bridge, which you cross before entering the Gotthard Tunnel, has its own legend, that the Devil himself wanted to destroy the bridge, which was built in three days in the Schöllenen Gorge, because instead of a sacrifice of a human soul he had demanded, he got the soul of a billy goat.
Gotthard Tunnel
The 13km tunnel was opened in 1882 and takes 12 minutes to pass through. The farsighted resolution to build the tunnel was passed in 1869 and because of its high specification it is still today of outstanding international importance. Work began on both ends in 1872 and it took eight years to pierce the tunnel through the Gotthard massive. Thirty men lost their lives during the building work, among them the engineer in charge, Louise Farve, who died of a heart attack in July 1879. He therefore did not live to see the successful breakthrough on the 29th February 1880.
Welcome to the Ticino the Italian canton
When you leave the tunnel and arrive at Airolo, it is clear that you are in a totally different part of Switzerland, with a different language on the station signs and the general feel about the country. You will also enjoy the series of four spiral tunnels, that were a great engineering feat in the 1870's, that take you down the Leventina Valley. It is in Faido that the Italiantià casts its spell over you, chestnut and mulberry trees, vines and beautiful palazzi to a large extent gives this Swiss valley the evocative appeal of Italy.
Biasca
Only 301m above sea level, the railwayman's village of Biasca, is the equivalent of Erstfeld on the north side of the Gotthard. Here a second engine used to be coupled to trains going up to the Gotthard. Above the station, on a rocky terrace, stands the little church Santa Petronilla. From Biasca to Bellinzona this Ticino valley bears the name 'Riviera' and you will notice that the flora now has a southern character.
Wilhelm Tell Express suggested holiday itinerary
