Paul Merton - Driving Amazing Trains In Switzerland

In the programme, Paul boards the famous red train in St. Moritz and travels as far as Andermatt. As well as the exclusive view from the driver's cab, you can enjoy plenty of shots of the Glacier Express as it winds its way slowly through the stunning Swiss landscapes. He is treated to a glass of Champagne in the VIP Excellence Class carriage (pictured here) and settles down for lunch in a 1st class carriage, all the while enjoying the views through the panoramic windows. 

The next journey is very special. This historic railway track over the Furka mountain pass is only available in the summer - indeed it has a unique collapsible bridge which is removed every winter - and can be enjoyed on a magnificent steam train. The refurbished engine is over 100 years old and affords a glimpse of a bygone era, with the unmistakeable whistle and the smell of the coal. The train can manage the steep gradient only thanks to the rack-and-pinion track, and passengers have glorious views from over 2,000m altitude as they cross the pass.

Very familiar to Sherlock Holmes fans, the Reichenbach Falls cascade down the mountains above the town of Meiringen, for this is where Holmes and Moriarty battled to the death. In the programme, Paul Merton travels up the steep gradient (61%) on the historic 126 year old funicular and enjoys the view from the top station. If you would like to visit yourself, you can choose to continue on foot and see the spot where the battle took place. Back down in the village, the Sherlock Holmes museum is worth a visit for its memorabilia, and from Meiringen you have the whole Haslistal Valley.

The ever popular Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe is a must do excursion for many people while they are on holiday in Switzerland. In the episode we see Paul on the train from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg, with glorious summer views. From there it's the Jungfrau train itself - an engineering marvel which travels inside the heart of the mountains to the highest station in Europe at 3,454m. You can then go up even higher, and experience the awe-inspiring views of the immense Jungfrau-Aletsch Glacier and breathe in that fresh Alpine air.

We include a Half Fare Card or a Swiss Travel Pass with our holidays. These will give you access to discount journeys on the Glacier Express, Furka Steam Train and Jungfraujoch as part of your package.

Glacier Express - this journey is extremely popular and is booked up well in advance, so please contact us as soon as you know you would like to include it in your holiday. The full journey takes 8 hours and therefore requires a stay at either end, although there is a 4 hour shorter section available. If you would like to experience Excellence Class, there are only 20 seats per day in each direction and it must be booked for the full journey. The Glacier Express runs all year (aside from 6 weeks mid October-early December) so can be enjoyed with hugely different seasonal scenery. Where to stay? Try our Supreme Glacier Express Holiday or the Essential Glacier Express Holiday. 

Furka Line Steam Train - this journey operates on selected days June-September and must be pre-booked. You can choose to travel as a return trip on the steam train, one way via diesel, or just one way and continue your journey from the arrival station. Where to stay? Try Andermatt or Brig. 

Reichenbach Falls Funicular - available May-September. Does not need to be pre-booked. Appropriate footwear is needed if would like to follow the trail up to the top of the falls, where you will have spectacular views over the valley. Where to stay? Try Meiringen, Interlaken or Bönigen.

Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe - this day trip is perhaps one of the most popular in Switzerland. We can pre-book it if you wish, or you can do it locally once you have an idea of the weather forecast. Either way, if you are visiting May-October you will need to make a seat reservation. Where to stay? Try Interlaken, Bönigen, Wilderswil, Wengen, Grindelwald or Mürren.