The jingle of Swiss railway is a simple tritone. But: it is different for each of the three main languages (SBB doesn’t operate where Rumantsch is spoken). The abbreviation for each language is taken as notes, with E flat standing in for S because its German name is Es which is also how you pronounce the letter s.

So, the tritone is E♭ B B for German SBB, C F F for French CFF, and F F E♭for Italian FFS.

There is a version replacing the last note with its cord, which is used for announcing major stops.

This detour over Monte Ceneri is worth doing. As the train climbs up to the pass, you have great views over the wide Ticino valley all the way to Locarno and Lago Maggiore.

In Bellinzona, there’s a connection to a Eurocity directly to Venice.

Ha!

Instead, I am changing in Giubiasco to this TILO train because, to do this properly, I also have to go over Monte Ceneri which got its own, lesser known base tunnel.

These new copper trains* are nice. But doing this run in a first class EW II with its lounge chairs as the first carriage behind an Re 4/4 II and a driver who feels offended by running a couple minutes late is where it’s at.

* Officially they are called Traverso, in case you want to look them up.

Coming out of the tunnel and definitely being in Ticino is … a bit emotional to be honest.

Decided to take the time and travel the scenic route across San Gottardo. It is one of the great mountain railways of this world and taking the base tunnel feels heretic.

Obligatory picture of the church of Wassen.

At checkout, the lady asked if I am continuing to Italy on foot. we agreed that I really should but that the train is also nice.

Off to the bahnhof!

I might have had a stange too many, but I am very happy with my choice. What a lovely little town Brunnen is.

Also, I think this is Rigi up there.

I saved this one for the trip. And yes, the bookmark is a Stena cabin key. Seems apt.

I’ve passed through Brunnen by train hundreds of times and it always looked rather inviting in its little nook of the lake. Finally, I’m stopping.

Lake Lucerne. Over there, I think on the meadow low on the second mountain on the left, this whole Switzerland thing started.

Reached my destination for today. I show you why in a minute, but first I have to check into the hotel, the receptionist wants to go home.

I see my connecting train is on time.

Is the IC21 supposed to go via Küssnacht? The app says via Rotsee which makes me think it should go via Rotkreuz?

Good to know that the quiet area is a joke in Switzerland as well.

I hope those guys are just out and about to enjoy the sun.

Be ironic if SBB now fell apart completely.

Basel SBB one minute early. Yeah, I don’t know what’s going on either.

You don’t pay attention for one second and Freiburg is painted with ETCS stop markers.

Are they doing both ETCS and LZB here? Surely not?

ICE trunk line Frankfurt – Basel. Admittedly, they are working on it.

Made good time to Mannheim but then had to wait for the cross-platform exchange with the train from Berlin which was behind us. And then they let it go first! Which I suppose makes sense given that it goes straight at full speed to Stuttgart while we have to turn off the high speed line to get to Karlsruhe.

But still.

Boo!