Train Vevey – Les Pléiades: the rack railway climb to the summit

A little rack railway up to the summit of Les Pléiades

From Vevey CFF station, a regional train climbs through Saint-Légier, Blonay and Lally up to Les Pléiades, a summit at about 1,360 m of altitude. On some sections, the line uses a rack to tackle the slope. In spring, the train crosses fields of blooming daffodils, an iconic sight of the region. Along the way, you discover views of Lake Geneva on one side and Lake Neuchâtel on the other, with the Rochers-de-Naye as a backdrop. At the summit, an educational trail about the solar system, walks and, in winter, sledging await families.

What your children will discover

Your children will love the feeling of the train climbing along the mountainside, with the landscape transforming as you go up. At the summit, they can walk the AstroPléiades educational trail, devoted to the solar system and the stars, already featured on Kidora. Depending on the season, they discover the daffodils in spring, the hiking trails in summer, or sledging and snowshoeing in winter.

What you do there and the atmosphere on site

The train runs hourly every day (to be confirmed on the 2026 CFF timetable). You go up from Vevey or, higher up, from Blonay. At the summit, you hike, follow the AstroPléiades trail, enjoy the panorama and can eat at the mountain restaurant, open all year round. In winter, the resort turns into a small area for sledging and snowshoeing. The atmosphere is family-friendly and mountain-like, with no difficult access since everything is done by train.

Before you go

• Recommended age: all ages (family train excursion)
• Duration: travel time not specified in official sources, to be confirmed on the CFF timetable
• Price: indicative return Vevey – Les Pléiades CHF 37.20 adult and CHF 18.60 child (2nd class); from Blonay CHF 28.40 adult and CHF 14.20 child. Check the 2026 fares and children's discounts (CFF Junior card) on CFF/MOB.
• Booking: none (public transport ticket, online purchase possible)
• Pushchair accessibility: regional rail stock is generally accessible; to be confirmed
• Transport: departure from Vevey CFF station; stops at Saint-Légier, Blonay, Lally then Les Pléiades
• What to bring: good shoes, warm clothing (summit at ~1,360 m), a picnic if you like
• Best season: all year round; daffodils in spring (May), sledging and snowshoeing in winter

Tips from parents

• In spring, aim for the daffodil bloom (usually in May) for an unforgettable sight.
• Bring warm clothing: it is cooler at the summit, even in summer.
• Combine the trip with the AstroPléiades trail to turn the walk into a discovery of the solar system.
• To shorten the excursion with young children, you can go up from Blonay rather than Vevey.
• Check the timetable and any children's discounts on CFF before you leave.

Useful information

• Address: departure from Vevey CFF station; MVR line operated by GoldenPass Services (MOB)
• Official website: https://www.lespleiades.ch and https://www.mob.ch
• Times: hourly, every day; travel time to be confirmed. Check the 2026 timetable on CFF.
• Access: Vevey CFF station; stops at Saint-Légier, Blonay, Lally, then Les Pléiades. Possible to go up from Blonay.

Why we recommend it

It is the easiest mountain excursion to organise from Vevey: no car needed, no long approach walk, just a train that drops you at the summit. The variety of the seasons (daffodils, hikes, sledging) and the AstroPléiades trail make it an outing that renews itself all year round, perfect for families.

In a nutshell

A rack railway that climbs from Vevey up to Les Pléiades (~1,360 m), between daffodils in spring, hikes in summer and sledging in winter, with the AstroPléiades trail at the summit.