05.06.2020

Jungfrau Railways: Ready for the restart after a three-month break

Saturday 6 June 2020, will be a historic day on the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe: For the first time since the First World War, the Jungfrau Railway has stood still for a long period. After a break of three months, visitors to the Jungfrau Region can easily reach Interlaken’s local mountain Harder Kulm or Grindelwald-First again by funicular or aerial gondola. The Schynige Platte Railway begins summer operations on 1 July 2020.

Jungfrau Railways Director Urs Kessler is delighted about the re-start. “The current market situation means that the Jungfraujoch and all of our experience mountains belong to the Swiss people for once.” The view from the Sphinx terrace or from the plateau onto the Aletsch Glacier, part of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage site, are just as impressive as the ice figures in the Ice Palace or the "Alpine Sensation" exhibition inside the mountain, should the weather not play along.

The Jungfrau Railway has been travelling the 9.3-kilometre route from Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch since 1912. The railway was opened in 1912, 16 years after construction began. Its construction is a pioneering work in the history of railways in the Swiss Alps. In 2012, it celebrated its 100th anniversary.

Various offers

Anyone planning a trip over several days or a recurring stay in the Jungfrau region in the coming weeks and months can take advantage of various offers. With the new Jungfrau Corona Pass, returning guests can take advantage of an unlimited number of trips over the entire Jungfrau Railways network, including Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, until the end of November 2020.

The Jungfrau Railways have created the Top of Europe Pass for stays over several days. With the pass, guests can enjoy any journey on three consecutive days in the Jungfrau Railways area of validity. To top it off, a unique return trip to the Jungfraujoch is also included in the offer.

Protective measures

To ensure that your stay and travel on the Jungfrau Railways network, at mountain restaurants and shops is a safe experience, the appropriate protective measures are in place everywhere. For the railways, the measures regarding hygiene and distancing are based on those for public transport. Where a distance of two metres cannot be maintained, wearing masks is recommended. If you don't have a mask with you, you can buy a mask at most at railway stations and stations of Jungfrau Railways at cost price.

Jungfrau Railways staff, who are in direct customer contact and are not protected by a plexiglass screen or similar device, protect guests by wearing masks. Through various posters, announcements and notices, visitors are made aware of the correct behaviour. “We are convinced that our guests will show solidarity with their fellow travellers and take personal responsibility”, explains Jungfrau Railways Director Urs Kessler.

Positive impetus for winter

Jungfrau Railways will provide a positive impetus for the Jungfrau Region, the canton of Bern and Switzerland later in the year with the opening of the V-Cableway generation project. A new tourist era begins in December with the modern terminal in Grindelwald Grund with public transport connections, a car park, shopping facilities and the “Eiger Express” tricable gondola.