Jungfraubahnen cogwheel trains travel to Europe’s highest railway station (Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe Bahnhof) in the Alps above Interlaken where Switzerland is at its most beautiful — a dream train journey for many travelers. The new Eiger Express cable car ride shortens the journey.
The Jungfrau area near Interlaken is amongst the most beautiful regions of Switzerland and hugely popular with travelers and tourists from all parts of the world. Since 1912, taking a cogwheel mountain train from Interlaken Ost to the Jungfraujoch has been a quintessential element of a trip to the Swiss Alps. Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe Bahnhof, at 3,454 m above sea level, is the highest railway station in Europe and offers spectacular views of the Jungfrau and Mönch Alpine peaks, glaciers, valleys, and on a clear day, all the way to the Black Forest in Germany and the Vosges in France.
The new Eiger Express cable car from Grindelwald-Terminal to Eigergletcher shortened the journey time by around 45 minutes to only 90 minutes travel time from Interlaken to the Top of Europe. The traditional trains-only route remains popular too — the costs are the same. Many day-trip tours to the Jungfraujoch region depart from many parts of Switzerland to add cheap transportation from Luzern or Zürich. Buy train tickets online or from any Swiss Railways sales outlet.
By Cogwheel Mountain Train to the Jungfraujoch, Switzerland
The Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe station is at 3,454 m (11,333 ft) the highest mountain railway station in Europe. From Kleine Scheidegg at 2,061 m (6,762 ft), a 7 km (4 mile) long tunnel was dug through the rock of the Eiger and Mönch Alpine mountain peaks for cogwheel trains to reach the Jungfraujoch (Jungfrau Saddle or Col). The train travels on gradients up to 25%.
The cogwheel railway track to Jungfraujoch was completed in 1912 and has been in continuous use ever since. As trains arrive every half hour or so, annually around half a million tourists travel to the Top of Europe and enjoy the beautiful views of the Alpine panorama without having to break out in a sweat.
Day Trip from Interlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe
Most travelers on day trips to Jungfraujoch start their assault on the Alps by train from Interlaken Ost station. From here, traditionally three trains of the Jungfraubahnen train network are needed to get to the Top of Europe station. From 2021, the new Eiger Express cable car provided a faster option but the total price remained the same.
The traditional route with cogwheel trains is Interlaken-Ost to Kleine Scheidegg with a train change at either Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen. From Kleine Scheidegg, the Jungfraubahn trains go through the mountain to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe station. The total traveling time from Interlaken-Ost to Jungfraujoch is just over two hours.
The new faster route is by train from Interlaken-Ost to Grindelwald-Terminal. Then by Eiger Express cable car to Eigergletscher station and then on the Jungfraubahn trains through the mountain to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe station. The total traveling time on this route is just over 90 minutes.
Many travelers, especially day-trip tour groups, prefer reaching the Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe station via Grindelwald Terminal and the Eiger Express tricable car. However, the traditional trains remain an option in either (or both) directions and it is possible to combine the two travel methods freely. (The total cost remains the same, i.e. not cheap.) Depending on the season, travel on both routes is usually possible hourly or twice hourly.
By Train and Eiger Express Cable Car from Interlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe in 2024
Railway journeys from Interlaken to the Jungfraujoch start on the Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) trains from Interlaken Ost station. To use the new faster route, take the train from Interlaken Ost toward Grindelwald but get off at Grindelwald Terminal station — 30 minutes traveling time.
Grindelwald Terminal is a new very modern station, one stop before the traditional Grindelwald in-town station. Grindelwald Terminal station has modern facilities, shops, and restaurants, and is the starting point for two cable car lines — take the cable car for Eigergletcher, not Männlichen.
The 26-seat tricable gondolas of the Eiger Express cable car transport travelers from here in 20 minutes to the Eigergletscher (Eiger Glacier station). The final 26 minutes of travel from here on the Jungfraubahn train is via a long tunnel carved inside the rock of the mountain to the Top of Europe station. This final train is the only part of the journey for which a timed seat reservation is possible.
Traditional Trains from Interlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe
The traditional trains-only option remains a good and popular choice for traveling from Interlaken to the Jungfraujoch. As the price is the same, railway enthusiasts may use the trains one way and the cable car on the return trip if preferred. The panoramic views from the Eiger Express cable cars are magnificent but the views from the regular trains are not shabby either.
From Interlaken Ost (567 m / 1,860 ft), two traditional routings are available to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe station – either travel via Lauterbrunnen (796 m / 2,612 ft) or via Grindelwald (1,034 m / 3,094 ft). The time needed and the ticket prices are the same for both route options and it is possible to travel up via one route and return via the other.
Railway journeys from Interlaken to the Jungfraujoch start on the Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) trains from Interlaken Ost station. Enter the correct carriage as the train splits in Zweilütschinen with different wagons traveling to Lauterbrunnen (20 minutes) or Grindelwald Terminal (30 minutes, change here if using the Eiger Express cable car) and Grindelwald (35 minutes, change here if using the train to Kleine Scheidegg).
At either Grindelwald (Grund) or Lauterbrunnen (via Wengen), change to a WAB cogwheel train heading towards Kleine Scheidegg. The train from Grindelwald takes just over half an hour while the trains from Lauterbrunnen need around 45 minutes to reach Kleine Scheidegg.
From Kleine Scheidegg, the Jungfraubahn trains go through the mountain to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe station. This last section of the route takes around 30 minutes and includes a stop at the station Eigergletscher for passengers using the Grindelwald Terminal cable car station.
Tips for Taking the Train from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe
Traveling by train from Interlaken-Ost to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe station is fairly simple. Train connection times are well-coordinated and departure times will be delayed if a train arrives a few minutes late.
On busy days, it is best to get onto the train as early as possible to get a seat. At really busy times, a second train may depart immediately after the regularly scheduled train.
The majority of passengers use the faster cable car option when traveling to Jungfraujoch. As a result, the trains may become less frequent but still at least hourly and with great connections to avoid delays. Train passengers get onto the final cogwheel railway train at Kleine Scheidegg, one station before cable car users, so they have a better choice for unreserved seats than travelers arriving on the Eiger Express.
Travelers arriving from other parts of Switzerland may save queuing time in Interlaken-Ost by buying tickets online or at any other Swiss train station or agency selling railway tickets. (However, some special Jungfraujoch deals are often only available from stations in the region but are mostly suitable only for those sleeping in the region.)
Seat reservations are not obligatory and only possible on some trains on the Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe line. The reservation fee is CHF10 return (one-way reservations are no longer possible). Reservations are possible at Jungfraubahnen irrespective of where, or indeed if, tickets were bought.
The standard round-trip ticket fare from Interlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe station is around CHF250 (summer months) and CHF220 for most of the year. Most Swiss railway passes (including the Swiss Half Fare Card, Swiss travel pass, the Junior Card (free travel for children), and further Jungfraujoch discount offers are available to make traveling to the Top of Europe station cheaper.
Many day-trip tours combine a visit to Jungfraujoch with other seasonal activities that could bring the total price down if traveling from Lucerne or Zürich. Group discounts can make tours very price competitive with making own railway reservations.
If arriving at Interlaken by car, consider parking at the large new park-and-ride garage at Matten bei Interlaken. It is the first stop on all trains from Interlaken-Ost heading for the Jungfrau mountains. A great way to arrive at Interlaken Ost is on the Golden Pass Express panoramic train (no obligatory reservation surcharge!) from Montreux on Lake Geneva.