It is operated by Südostbahn (SOB) and runs every hour as an InterRegio (IR) between St. Gallen and Lucerne, bypassing Zurich.

The trains, fir green MUs composed of CFZe 4/4 and BCFZe 4/4 (both later called ABe 4/4) motor coaches and coaches, were jointly operated by Bodensee–Toggenburg-Bahn (BT), Südostbahn (SOB), and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS).

1982 brought the clock-face timetable with a train Romanshorn–Lucerne every two hours, but also the end for buffet cars on this route.

In 1995, additional, unnamed trains every two hours operated between Romanshorn and Arth-Goldau, again with push-pull sets.

[2] The locomotive hauled trains (with white, green and blue livery) were replaced by RABe 526 EMUs.

The EMUs consist of an eight car RABe 526 100/200 set, type Traverso, with a copper and red livery (with black window frames and grey doors), running the whole route.

The Voralpen-Express runs along the Alpine foothills, stopping at stations in the Cantons of Lucerne, Schwyz, St. Gallen, and Appenzell Ausserrhoden.

Besides creating a tangential link on the southern edge of the greater Zurich area, VAE is popular for the alpine and prealpine scenery.

Several stations en route of Voralpen-Express are important junctions, offering timely connections due to the synchronized Swiss timetable.

The most important stations with connecting trains/busses, regular boat lines on the lakes, and nearby tourist destinations are: On its journey, the Voralpen-Express passes over a series of viaducts and through several tunnels.

Here are some noteworthy examples: Travelling with the Voralpen-Express also offers scenic views on the Alps and Prealps.

The route also crosses several creeks and rivers, among others the Reuss, Biber, Alp, Sihl, Jona, Thur, and Sitter.

They were afterwards sold to Le Train des Mouttes (a heritage railway) in France and MÁV Rail Tours in Hungary.