There’s something all visitors to Switzerland who wish to be well-informed should know about the fare system of the Swiss railways. Regardless of whether it’s a public or private company that runs a certain route, the price of the trip is always standardised. However, private train companies are free to set whatever “reservation fee” they want. This leads to unusually high reservation fees on the Glacier Express (especially in it’s top categories where it can cost hundreds of Francs in addition to the ticket price) and other thematic train journeys like the Bernina Express.
First class carriage 
First class booth
On the other hand, it also means that passengers can use their rail passes or regular tickets to cover the cost of a railway journey on less-well-known thematic train rides like the Voralpen Express, the Luzern-Engelberg panorama train, the Gotthard Panorama Express, and the GoldenPass Line. These only require a standard reservation up to CHF 20 or no reservation fee at all. So I guess… prices depend on which line you are on.
Special departure 
Breakfast on the train
Switzerland’s famed Chocolate Train operates partially on the existing GoldenPass Line from Montreux to Zweisimmen, but passengers change at Montbovon 45 minutes into the journey onto a private tour bus that takes them to the Gruyères cheese factory and the Cailler chocolate factory. Don’t be fooled by the name, the whole day trip from 8:44am to about 4:00pm only consists of a train ride in the first leg. The misleading name is a common complaint on TripAdvisor and other online travel communities.
I could think of at least a half-dozen other names that would be less misleading but still just as enticing. Names like the “Swiss Culinary Journey”, “Cheese and Chocolate Express”, or “Gruyères Discovery Tour”. I’d very much like MOB to think about it and I’m sure I’m not the only person thinking about it.
The view
Though the train ride may be short, it can be done properly in first class. The Belle Epoque train is reminiscent of a more gilded era at the turn of the century, not unlike the Belle Epoque paddle board fleet on Lake Geneva. The plush green armchairs and carved wooden interior are adorned with bronze fittings, though the bumpy ride leaves much to be desired. If you ignore the seasonal influx of Chinese tourists the train is relatively spacious, I traveled with my own pair of seats so I didn’t need to rub shoulders or play footsie with a neighbour.
Gruyères Castle
The trip takes you on the Gruyères’ cheese factory where Gruyère cheese comes from and informs visitors on the cheesemaking process. You’ll get a free sample pack and are welcome to sample cheeses up to 18 months old. The town of Gruyères itself has a castle, a museum on Tibetan culture, and plenty of restaurants in the main town plaza.
Gruyères 
Gruyères
Though you get to taste cheese and learn about its manufacture, the “Chocolate” part of the Chocolate Train trip also takes you to the famed Cailler Chocolate Factory on its last point of interest. Cailler is the first mass-produced brand of Swiss chocolate and celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, in 2019.
If you are interested on riding the Chocolate Train, remember to book at least two months in advance. I had to secure my space five weeks in advance to get a seat in first class and only got it because I missed the world’s largest techno music festival, Street Parade, in Zürich, which is a bigger draw then that Chocolate Train for most visitors. If you have a GA, it will be much cheaper and first class will only cost CHF 5 more than second class, breakfast and museum entries are also included in the fare.
