TMR
TMR runs the Mont-Blanc Express from Martigny to Chamonix and Saint-Gervais, and links to the Saint-Bernard Express. CHF only; SNCF runs the French leg.
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- Switzerland
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TMR, based in Martigny, is best known for the Mont-Blanc Express, the panoramic train that climbs out of the Rhone valley and crosses into France. If you want to reach Chamonix by rail without a car, this is the train.
Where the Mont-Blanc Express runs
The line runs from Martigny up through the Trient valley to Le Châtelard and Vallorcine on the Swiss-French border, then continues to Chamonix and on to Saint-Gervais-les-Bains Le Fayet. TMR operates the Swiss section. SNCF takes over for the French side. A single named train, two different operators, and your ticket needs to account for that.
Most daytime departures run to a normal timetable and need no reservation. The exceptions are the last two trains of the day from Martigny, at 23:22 every night and 00:17 on Fridays and Saturdays only. Those late services run purely on request: reserve online up to 30 days ahead, and get the form in at least 30 minutes before departure. The reservation only covers the uphill direction, from Martigny towards Le Châtelard. Miss that window and there is no late train waiting for you.
Tickets and how to buy them
Buy your ticket through cff.ch, the Mobile CFF app, the FAIRTIQ app, a TMR point of sale at Orsières or Le Châble station, TMR Voyages in Martigny, or a ticket machine at any TMR or RegionAlps station. For international Mont-Blanc Express journeys into France, the same channels work, plus any station equipped with the CASA sales system; call TMR directly if you need help with a cross-border booking.
An e-ticket is tied to your name, so carry photo ID or a SwissPass to prove it is yours at a check. Buy a ticket for a specific departure through the live timetable search, and it is usually only valid from that departure onward, not any train that day.
All fares are in Swiss francs.
Bikes and dogs
Space for bikes is limited, so reservation through cff.ch is compulsory, and you pay a half-fare bike ticket per journey. A day pass for a bike costs CHF 10 on TMR's own network or CHF 15 nationally. If a bus replaces a train because of disruption, bikes are not allowed on board. Check disruption notices before relying on a bike connection.
Dogs need a 2nd class half-fare ticket, or the applicable minimum fare such as a dog day pass, and must stay under your seat. A small dog, up to 30 cm at the shoulder, travels free in an enclosed carrier as hand luggage, provided it stays inside.
Beyond the Mont-Blanc Express: the Saint-Bernard Express
TMR's own network reaches into the Entremont valley too, where local stations and ticket machines are branded for the Saint-Bernard Express, the rail and bus corridor running toward Orsières and the Grand-St-Bernard pass. TMR buses connect from Martigny through Sembrancher, Orsières, Verbier, Champex and La Fouly, feeding travellers to and from that corridor. Groups of eight or more need to book ahead by phone, at least two working days before departure.
Where to book
Train tickets
Frequently asked questions
Does TMR run the whole Mont-Blanc Express line?
No. TMR operates the Swiss section, from Martigny to Le Châtelard and Vallorcine on the border. SNCF operates the French section onward to Chamonix and Saint-Gervais-les-Bains Le Fayet.
Do I need to reserve a seat on the Mont-Blanc Express?
Not for regular daytime trains. Only the last two departures from Martigny each day, at 23:22 and, on Fridays and Saturdays, 00:17, run on reservation only, booked online up to 30 days ahead and at least 30 minutes before departure.
What is the Saint-Bernard Express?
It is the branded name for the rail and bus corridor running from Martigny into the Entremont valley toward Orsières and the Grand-St-Bernard pass, with stations and ticket machines on TMR's own network carrying the Saint-Bernard Express name.
Can I bring my bike on the Mont-Blanc Express?
Yes, but space is limited and reservation through cff.ch is compulsory. You pay a half-fare bike ticket per journey, and bikes are not carried if a bus replaces the train.
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