In the Swiss Alps, train passengers briefly take a helicopter ride | outside

Track maintenance? NMBS requires passengers to take the bus if the train is not running. People in Germany, commuting between construction sites in Berlin and Cottbus, also reluctantly participate in this kind of Ersatzverkehr. In wealthy neighboring Switzerland, they handle things differently.

Swiss travelers living in the Alpine canton of Glarus will take the helicopter ride this month. This is the same as the Braunwaldbahn fare – 7.20 Swiss francs, which equates to about 7.50 euros. This cable car, which extends 1,367 meters, will be out of service until November 17 due to a comprehensive renovation.

The cost of shuttle trips ranges between 30,000 and 40,000 Swiss francs (between 31,000 and 41,000 euros), according to estimates by Markus Hoppe, director of Braunwaldbahn, to the regional media “Südoschweiss”.

However, passengers must take the bus to the parking lot, where the helicopter is ready to depart. This sometimes leads to funny situations. “Sorry, you can’t stop below. I have to get my helicopter,” a woman said to a bus driver this week, as the man looked up in surprise.

The driver then responded to the passenger’s wishes and took a turn. Flying a little seems decadent. But travelers who want to take a helicopter ride will have to be patient. The number of people the plane can carry is only four people.

However, the helicopter is five minutes faster than Braunwaldbahn. The cable car takes 7 minutes to reach a height of 600 metres. On this peak is Braunwald, a completely car-free Swiss village and a popular holiday resort for skiers and hikers. During this period, school children and residents are given priority over tourists, who are asked to travel to Braunwald only in emergency cases.