Brienzersee Transportation

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Ballenberg-Bahn is an old steam-train that you may see in Interlaken Ost in a shed at the end of track #4 (follow the sign-posts !) when you are lucky, there will be someone there to let you in, otherwise you may see at least the old wagons in front of the shed or return on a friday at 02.00p.m., because every friday afternoon the shed is open for visitors !!
In summer the steam-train will make special tours according to these timetables :
www.dampfbahnen.ch - and click on "Fahrplan"
for prices click on "Preise" - it is a pity everything is just in german, but I guess you may understand these infos anyway.
Several train-rides are done each year in July, September and October between interlaken Ost and Giswil ( that is halfway between Brienz and Luzern - with a scenic ride over the Brünig-Pass)
Be careful, I spoiled one of my jackets , when I touched the steam-train in order to make the picture of the driver's place - coal-dust is everywhere !!

In case that you stay for at least 3 days with a perfect weather in the area around Thuner- and Brienzersee , it really makes sense to buy the "Regionalpass Berner Oberland" :
It is valid 7 (220,-sfr) or 15 days (265,-sfr) and during 3 of the 7 or 5 of the 15 days you may use that ticket for unlimited travels, only for Jungfraujoch you pay 50 sfr extra and for Schilthorn 30 sfr extra - the Brienz Rothorn is included !!
The tickets are for 7/15 consecutive days, BUT you may choose any 3 (or 5) days of unlimited travels by yourself - you simply stamp your ticket at any trainstation into a machine on these days.
During the rest of the days you pay half of the ordinary prices.
This ticket includes also all trains and ships around Brienzersee and Thunersee, trains till Brig, Lenk i.S., Adelboden, Meiringen, Gstaad and halfprice all days to Zermatt, Luzern, Bern etc...
I had such a ticket with 7 days and could save a lot of money, although I had only 3 days with excellent weather-conditions !!.
See more details about that ticket on my link below !!

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Brienz Rothornbahn is one of the greatest mountain-trains that you may use in Switzerland. It dates back to the year 1891 and many of the trains of that time are still in use today. In the 19th century it was the highest train-station in the world.
On top of Rothorn you may enjoy 2 restaurants , walk up to the peak of Rothorn and go down to Soerenberg at the north-side of Rothorn by cablecar. On the way to the top of Rothorn there are 3 stations with passing-places for the oncoming trains, and at the 1st such station ( Planalp) the trains get fresh water and oil and you may get out for 5 minutes in order to take pictures !
Try to be at the station 20 minutes before the trains are leaving !
The seats at the left will offer the best views in my opinion !
The 1st and maybe 2nd train in the morning are Diesel-trains !
Don't forget rain-gear and good walking-shoes !!
The weather may change all of a sudden on top of Rothorn !
The trains run between may 21st and October 23rd in 2005
for other years : take a look at the web-page below !
An ordinary return-ticket is 62 sfr / Halbtax: 50 sfr ! , and it is 100% included
in the "Regionalpass Berner Oberland"
the details are in my next transportation- tip !