"Excuse me, is this the special train to the bike park?" Udo Lindenberg's special train to Pankow pops into the musical memory of older people when they think of the latest prank at the Lenzerheide destination: the Bike Kingdom Train. Only the sequel "I just have to go there" is still a little lacking.

Just two people bought the day ticket for the entire Chur-Lenzerheide-Arosa bike region with rail transport from Zurich to Chur and back. The fact that twelve seats could be filled was due to the fact that SBB spontaneously offered other travelers with bikes to take a seat on the Bike Kindgom Train - which is actually a wagon attached to the Intercity.

Those responsible are now trying to find out why. One thing is certain for Bike Kingdom Brand Manager Pascal Krieger: "The communication of the offer was very well received, we received a lot of praise and not a single negative response. But it's still a few steps from finding it good to booking it."

Almost 30 francs discount and a sore point

A reminder of the Bike Kingdom Train offer in detail: In addition to the train ticket including bike transportation, the day pass is valid for the following trains: Chur - Känzeli - Brambrüesch (Alpine Bike Park), for all lifts open to bikers in Lenzerheide as well as in Arosa (Weisshorn up to 2nd section, Hörnli, Urden). The package costs CHF 89 for everyone, with or without a Half-Fare travelcard.

Zurich - Chur return with Half-Fare travelcard and bike (bike day pass, 2x bike reservation) costs 59 francs. The day pass for the bike area is available for 59 francs - so the 89 francs means a discount of almost 30 francs. Pascal Krieger adds: "Even if you calculate zero depreciation on your car, you pay more for the ride from Zurich to Lenzerheide and back plus the day pass for the bike park."

However, the package does have one drawback: the Postbus from Chur to the valley station of the Rothorn cable car is not included. So if you just want to do laps in the bike park, you have to book the bus separately. The whole procedure with bike ticket and reservation must then be completed and paid for. "We tried to get Postauto AG on board, but it was too complicated," says Pascal Krieger, explaining why this obvious gap in the offer remained open.

The partners Lenzerheide, SBB and Protect Our Winters (POW) are now responding with further communication measures and are trying to attract more passengers for the special train among their existing customers and contacts.

Will the Bike Kingdom Train also be riding in 2023?

The five Saturdays in summer 2022 on which the Bike Kingdom Train will ride are the pilot phase. The aim is to find out to what extent Lenzerheide will continue the offer in 2023. "If we find that demand is too low and we just add to it, the Bike Kingdom Train will no longer exist in 2023." He points out that it is still too early to draw this conclusion after a single ride. "Our partners at SBB in particular know how long it takes for a new service to become established."

The aim is to attract mountain bike guests who travel to Lenzerheide by car to take the train, says Pascal Krieger. He estimates that 90 percent of bike customers currently ride to the area by car. "There's nothing wrong with that, but of course it would be more sustainable if more people used public transport."

The next Bike Kingdom Train departs from Zurich on Saturday, July 23 at 8.07 am. It offers a relaxed ride with legroom in a loosely occupied carriage.

Bike Kingdom Train