The line we're looking at today was originally two lines, built and run by separate operators. The Spiez Erlenbach railway was opened in 1897, after the Thunerseebahn between Thun and Interlaken had been inaugurated in 1893. The line aimed to link markets, especially the trading of livestock in Erlenbach with other parts of Europe.

In 1902, a second railway company (EZB) built a railway from Erlenbach to Zweisimmen, where a narrow gauge connection would be opened in 1905 to Montreux. In 1942, the two companies merged, before merging with the BLS in 1997.

As with most of the Swiss network, freight traffic has seen a decline over the past decades, with currently only 1 or two stations still being served on the line. There is an hourly commuter train serving all stations and also an hourly RegioExpress, which couples to the RegioExpress from Brig in Spiez and continues as one train to Bern thus allowing the direct connection to Bern from Zweisimmen. The line is also part of the Goldenpass service, which is a connection from Montreux directly to Interlaken, with special coaches that can are adaptable for both gauges.

At the start of our journey, you'll see the Niesen summit to the left, a popular destination for tourists that allows a panoramic view of a large part of the Bernese highlands. The Lötschberg line runs in the valley on the other side of this mountain. In a future video, we'll be boarding a funicular that will take us all the way to the peak, from the valley station in Mülenen.

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