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| Interlaken Ost | |
|---|---|
| Name | Interlaken Ost |
| Country | Switzerland |
| Elevation | 567 m |
| Owned | Swiss Federal Railways |
| Lines | Brünig railway line, BLS Lötschberg connecting lines, Wengernalp Railway connections historically |
| Opened | 1872 |
Interlaken Ost is a major railway station serving the town of Interlaken in the Canton of Bern. It functions as a hub for regional, national and international services linking the Bernese Oberland with Bern, Lucerne, Zürich, Basel, and cross-border routes toward Italy and Germany. The station combines infrastructure operated by Swiss Federal Railways and private companies such as BLS AG and the Jungfraubahn AG network, and sits adjacent to historic hotels such as the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa and transport nodes including the Aare riverfront.
Interlaken Ost opened during the expansion of Swiss alpine railways in the 19th century and became integral to tourism following connections established by the Jungfraubahn and the completion of the Brünig railway line. Early development involved companies like the Swiss Central Railway and later consolidation under Swiss Federal Railways and BLS AG. The station played a role in facilitating access to alpine resorts popularized by writers and visitors tied to Lord Byron, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Mary Shelley and other 19th‑century tourists, and during the Belle Époque supported grand hotels such as the Hotel Interlaken and Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa. Wartime and interwar periods saw transport adjustments influenced by treaties and events including the Congress of Vienna era infrastructure planning; post‑World War II reconstruction and tourism booms expanded capacity and modernized signaling systems as part of national projects by SBB and regional initiatives by BLS AG.
The station complex comprises multiple platforms, bay tracks and through tracks serving rolling stock from Swiss Federal Railways, BLS AG and rack railway operators linked to Jungfraubahn AG. Facilities include ticket offices formerly managed by national operators like SBB CFF FFS, digital departure displays consistent with European Train Control System implementations, waiting rooms and luggage services historically used by customers bound for destinations such as Wengen, Mürren, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. Retail outlets and hospitality points reflect partnerships with hospitality groups behind the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Hotel Interlaken, and local restaurateurs serving visitors en route to Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn. Accessibility upgrades align with standards promoted by institutions including the Swiss Federal Office of Transport and comply with train operator requirements from SBB and BLS AG.
Interlaken Ost is served by long‑distance trains such as the InterCity services linking Zürich HB and Lucerne via the Brünig line as well as panoramic services connecting to alpine destinations promoted by tourism bodies including MySwitzerland.com and the Swiss Travel System. Regional services operate on routes to Bern, Thun, and mountain lines run by Zentralbahn and Jungfraubahn AG to Jungfraujoch summit and Schynige Platte by connecting mountain railways. Seasonal panoramic trains and excursion services like those associated with the GoldenPass Line and historic alpine routes provide tourist links to Montreux, Gstaad and Luzern, while international rail corridors from Basel and Geneva feed into Interlaken Ost via interchange with Bern and Spiez. Night services and charter trains have operated during festival periods tied to events at venues such as Beatushöhlen and regional cultural festivals endorsed by the Bernese Oberland Tourism office.
The station sits on the eastern edge of Interlaken between the Aare and Lake Thun and provides surface connections to local transport such as buses run by PostBus Switzerland and private shuttle services to resorts including Wengen, Mürren, Grindelwald and Kandersteg. Boat services on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz connect with operators like BLS AG lake shipping; road links include access to the A8 motorway corridor and canton roads toward Thun and Spiez. Nearby tourist infrastructure comprises the Höhematte park, the Casino Interlaken, and historic establishments like the Kurhaus Interlaken; regional air links are available via Bern Airport and international connections through Zürich Airport and Geneva Airport.
Operationally, the station functions as a multimodal interchange balancing commuter flows, tourist traffic, and freight coordination overseen by companies including SBB and BLS AG. Its strategic location anchors tourism economies in the Bernese Oberland, supports events tied to organizations such as the Jungfrau Region Tourism, and acts as a nucleus for mountain railway operations that include the Jungfraujoch rack railway and feeder lines to Schilthorn. Infrastructure investments and timetable coordination involve stakeholders like the Federal Office of Transport, local municipalities of Interlaken and Wilderswil, and private operators managing hospitality and excursion services. The station remains pivotal in Swiss transit planning for alpine accessibility, contributing to heritage rail preservation efforts linked to historic lines and rolling stock exhibited in museums such as the Swiss Museum of Transport.
Category:Railway stations in the canton of Bern Category:Interlaken