Glacier Express
Encyclopedia
The Glacier Express is an express train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of St. Moritz
and Zermatt
in the Swiss Alps
. The train is operated jointly by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) and Rhaetian Railway (RhB). For much of its journey, it also passes along and through the World Heritage Site
known as the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula
/ Bernina
Landscapes.
The train is not an "express" in the sense of being a high-speed train
, but rather, in the sense that it provides a one-seat ride for a long duration travel. In fact it has the reputation of being the slowest express train in the world. As St. Moritz and Zermatt are home to two well-known mountains, the Glacier Express is also said to travel from Piz Bernina
to Matterhorn
.
The Glacier Express first ran in 1930. Initially, it was operated by three railway companies: the Brig–Visp–Zermatt Bahn
(BVZ), the Furka Oberalp Bahn, and the RhB. Since 2003, the train has been operated by RhB and a newly established company, the MGB, which arose from a merger between the BVZ and the FO.
The trip on the Glacier Express is a 7½ hour railway journey across 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels and across the Oberalp Pass
on the highest point at 2033 m (6,669.9 ft) in altitude. The entire line is metre gauge
(narrow gauge railway), and large portions of it use a rack-and-pinion system both for ascending steep grades and to control the descent of the train on the back side of those grades.
of Valais
and Graubünden
to further tourist development. In particular, a pathway was laid for the introduction of Kurswagen (through coaches) between Brig
and Chur
, and between Brig and St. Moritz.
In early June 1930, the then Visp–Zermatt Bahn was extended to Brig by the opening of a metre gauge line along the Rhone Valley between Visp
and Brig. For the first time, it was feasible to operate through coaches all the way from Zermatt to St. Moritz and return. On , the first train of such coaches set out from Zermatt to St. Moritz, under the name Glacier Express. The new train's name honoured the Rhone Glacier
, which is near Gletsch
, on the Furka Pass
.
Until 1982, the Glacier Express operated only in the summer months, because the Furka Pass and the Oberalp Pass
were both snowed over in winter. Initially, the train was made up of first to third class salon
and passenger coaches, supplied by all three of the participating railway companies. Between Chur and Disentis/Mustér
, passengers could enjoy a hot lunch in a Mitropa
dining car
. From 1933, the Glacier Express through coaches were attached to normal passenger trains between Brig and Zermatt.
In the earliest years of the Glacier Express, electric locomotives were used to haul the Glacier Express on the BVZ and the RhB, but steam locomotives were used on the FO. That changed in 1941-1942, when overhead catenary was installed on the FO, enabling completely electric operation for the full length of the route. However, no through trains were operated between 1943 and 1946, due to World War II
.
Upon the resumption of daily through trains in 1948, the dining car service was extended from Disentis/Mustér to the top of the Oberalp Pass. Between the 1950s and the 1970s, both the BVZ and the RhB introduced new locomotive classes that, when attached to the Glacier Express, enabled reductions in schedule times. Meanwhile, the dining car service was extended further, to Andermatt
.
, between Oberwald
and Gletsch. In June 1982, that FO line was replaced by the newly opened Furka Base Tunnel. As a consequence, the Glacier Express not only became disconnected from its namesake Rhone Glacier, but also could now, for the first time, be operated on a year round basis.
At that time, the BVZ, FO and RhB took the opportunity to relaunch the Glacier Express as a tourist attraction. Promotional material focused on the train's status as "the slowest express train in the world", covering 291 km (180.8 mi), 91 tunnels, and over 291 bridges. A special promotional wine glass on a sloping base emphasised the steepness of some parts of the route. Passenger numbers rose from 20 000 in 1982 to over 53 000 in 1983, and to just over 80 000 in 1984.
In 2006, a few scenes of the documentary film The Alps
were shot inside the train, and further new panorama cars were added to the Glacier Express passenger car fleet. On 7 July 2008, the Albula Railway
and the Bernina Railway
were jointly recorded in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, under the name Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina
Landscapes. Currently, the Glacier Express is especially popular with tourists from Germany
, Japan
, and, increasingly, India
.
On 23 July 2010, a Glacier Express train derailed near Fiesch
on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn line. One passenger was killed and 42 were injured. The accident was blamed on human error
.
(1775 m (5,823.5 ft)) in Graubünden
, the train passes Samedan
and Bever
on the high Engadin
plateau. There it continues in the Val Bever before entering the Albula Tunnel
at 1815 m (5,954.7 ft) under the Albula Pass
. After the tunnel, the train passes through Preda
, the first station in the Albula valley
and continues toward Bergün/Bravuogn
. Between these two villages the train has to go through many spirals
because of the high difference of altitude within a short distance (400 m (1,312.3 ft) for 5 km (3.1 mi)).
After another spiral, the train reaches Filisur
at the end of the valley at (1032 m (3,385.8 ft)). From there, the train passes on the Landwasser Viaduct
, the most emblematic landmark of the railway line and continues toward Thusis
(720 m (2,362.2 ft)) where it reaches the Posterior Rhine and follows it to the city of Chur
(585 m (1,919.3 ft)).
and climbs slowly the valley toward Ilanz
(698 m (2,290 ft)), Disentis/Mustér
(1142 m (3,746.7 ft)) and Sedrun
(1404 m (4,606.3 ft)). From Sedrun the line becomes steeper to finally reach its summit, the Oberalp Pass at 2033 m (6,669.9 ft). From there the train enters the Canton of Uri
in Central Switzerland
and continues down to Andermatt
(1447 m (4,747.4 ft)).
valley passing the villages of Hospental
(1452 m (4,763.8 ft)) and Realp
(1538 metres (5,045.9 ft)). From there the train enters the Furka Base Tunnel, leaving the old railway line which climbs the Furka Pass
(operated today by the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
), to emerge in Oberwald
(1368 m (4,488.2 ft)) in the Goms Valley, in the Canton
of Valais
. The train then continues toward the Brig
following the course of the Rhone
and passes along the villages of Ulrichen (1346 m (4,416 ft)), Münster-Geschinen
(1359 m (4,458.7 ft)) and Fiesch
(1049 m (3,441.6 ft)), before going through another spiral.
(651 m (2,135.8 ft)), then enters the valley of Mattertal
and goes up, passing the villages of Stalden
(799 m (2,621.4 ft)), St. Niklaus
(1127 m (3,697.5 ft)) and Randa (1408 m (4,619.4 ft)), where a spectacular debris avalanche
completely disconnected the railway and road in 1991. Täsch
(1450 m (4,757.2 ft)) is an important station as it is the end of the open road, and therefore a terminal for motorists. After a steeper section the train finally arrives in Zermatt
at 1616 m (5,301.8 ft), after nearly 8 hours of travel.
St. Moritz (Rhaetian Railway station)
St. Moritz is a railway station in St. Moritz, Switzerland. It is the southern terminus of the Albula Railway line from Chur. Hourly services operate on this section of the line. There is also an hourly service on the Bernina Railway line from St. Moritz to Tirano, Italy...
and Zermatt
Zermatt railway station
Zermatt railway station is a metre gauge railway station serving the car-free mountaineering and ski resort of Zermatt, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is the southern terminus of the BVZ Zermatt-Bahn , which connects Zermatt with standard gauge lines at Visp and Brig...
in the Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
The Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
. The train is operated jointly by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) and Rhaetian Railway (RhB). For much of its journey, it also passes along and through the World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
known as the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula
Albula Railway
In 1890, the Davos hotelier Willem-Jan Holsboer proposed the construction of a rail link from Chur via Davos, and through a tunnel under the Scaletta Pass, to St Moritz, and then onwards via the Maloja Pass, to Chiavenna in Italy. Holsboer later had to abandon this planned Scalettabahn, in favour...
/ Bernina
Bernina Railway
The Bernina Railway is a single track metre gauge railway line forming part of the Rhaetian Railway . It links the spa resort of St. Moritz, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, with the town of Tirano, in the Province of Sondrio, Italy, via the Bernina Pass...
Landscapes.
The train is not an "express" in the sense of being a high-speed train
High-speed rail
High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S...
, but rather, in the sense that it provides a one-seat ride for a long duration travel. In fact it has the reputation of being the slowest express train in the world. As St. Moritz and Zermatt are home to two well-known mountains, the Glacier Express is also said to travel from Piz Bernina
Piz Bernina
Piz Bernina is the highest mountain of the Eastern Alps and the highest point of the Bernina Range the highest peak in south Rhetic Alps. It is also the farthest easterly mountain higher than 4,000 m in the Alps, the highest point of the Swiss canton of Graubünden, and the fifth-most prominent...
to Matterhorn
Matterhorn
The Matterhorn , Monte Cervino or Mont Cervin , is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy. Its summit is 4,478 metres high, making it one of the highest peaks in the Alps. The four steep faces, rising above the surrounding glaciers, face the four compass points...
.
The Glacier Express first ran in 1930. Initially, it was operated by three railway companies: the Brig–Visp–Zermatt Bahn
BVZ Zermatt-Bahn
The Brig-Visp-Zermatt-Bahn – officially known between 1991 and 2002 as the BVZ Zermatt-Bahn – is a metre gauge railway in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. Its 44 kilometre long line links the communities of Brig and Visp in the Rhone Valley with Täsch and the car free holiday resort of Zermatt...
(BVZ), the Furka Oberalp Bahn, and the RhB. Since 2003, the train has been operated by RhB and a newly established company, the MGB, which arose from a merger between the BVZ and the FO.
The trip on the Glacier Express is a 7½ hour railway journey across 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels and across the Oberalp Pass
Oberalp Pass
Oberalp Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the cantons of Graubünden and Uri between Disentis and Andermatt.-Winter closure:...
on the highest point at 2033 m (6,669.9 ft) in altitude. The entire line is metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
(narrow gauge railway), and large portions of it use a rack-and-pinion system both for ascending steep grades and to control the descent of the train on the back side of those grades.
Early years
The completion of the final portion of the FO in 1926 opened up the CantonsCantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Valais
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
and Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
to further tourist development. In particular, a pathway was laid for the introduction of Kurswagen (through coaches) between Brig
Brig railway station
Brig railway station is an important railway junction in the municipality of Brig-Glis , in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland...
and Chur
Chur railway station
Chur railway station serves the city of Chur, capital of the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. Opened in 1858, it is the most important railway junction in Graubünden....
, and between Brig and St. Moritz.
In early June 1930, the then Visp–Zermatt Bahn was extended to Brig by the opening of a metre gauge line along the Rhone Valley between Visp
Visp railway station
Visp railway station is a junction station at Visp , in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It has a modern station building completed in 2007, and is served by two standard gauge lines and a metre gauge line....
and Brig. For the first time, it was feasible to operate through coaches all the way from Zermatt to St. Moritz and return. On , the first train of such coaches set out from Zermatt to St. Moritz, under the name Glacier Express. The new train's name honoured the Rhone Glacier
Rhône Glacier
The Rhone Glacier, or sometimes Rhône Glacier is a glacier in the Swiss Alps and the source of the Rhone River and one of the primary contributors to Lake Geneva in the far eastern end of the Swiss canton of Valais...
, which is near Gletsch
Gletsch railway station
Gletsch railway station is a metre gauge railway station serving the village of Gletsch, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland.-History and operations:...
, on the Furka Pass
Furka Pass
Furka Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Gletsch, Valais with Realp, Uri. The Furka-Oberalp-Bahn line through the Furka Tunnel bypasses the pass...
.
Until 1982, the Glacier Express operated only in the summer months, because the Furka Pass and the Oberalp Pass
Oberalp Pass
Oberalp Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the cantons of Graubünden and Uri between Disentis and Andermatt.-Winter closure:...
were both snowed over in winter. Initially, the train was made up of first to third class salon
Lounge car
A lounge car is a type of passenger car on a train, where riders can purchase food and drinks. The car may feature large windows and comfortable seating to create a relaxing diversion from standard coach or dining options...
and passenger coaches, supplied by all three of the participating railway companies. Between Chur and Disentis/Mustér
Disentis/Mustér railway station
Disentis/Mustér is the eastern terminus of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn line from Brig via Andermatt, and the western terminus of the Rhaetian Railway line from Landquart via Chur and Reichenau-Tamins....
, passengers could enjoy a hot lunch in a Mitropa
Mitropa
Mitropa is a catering company best known for having managed sleeping and dining cars of different German railways for most of the 20th century. Since its reorganization in 2002, the company only provides stationary food services for rail and road customers. The name Mitropa is a derivative of ""...
dining car
Dining car
A dining car or restaurant carriage , also diner, is a railroad passenger car that serves meals in the manner of a full-service, sit-down restaurant....
. From 1933, the Glacier Express through coaches were attached to normal passenger trains between Brig and Zermatt.
In the earliest years of the Glacier Express, electric locomotives were used to haul the Glacier Express on the BVZ and the RhB, but steam locomotives were used on the FO. That changed in 1941-1942, when overhead catenary was installed on the FO, enabling completely electric operation for the full length of the route. However, no through trains were operated between 1943 and 1946, due to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Upon the resumption of daily through trains in 1948, the dining car service was extended from Disentis/Mustér to the top of the Oberalp Pass. Between the 1950s and the 1970s, both the BVZ and the RhB introduced new locomotive classes that, when attached to the Glacier Express, enabled reductions in schedule times. Meanwhile, the dining car service was extended further, to Andermatt
Andermatt railway station
Andermatt railway station is an important railway junction on the metre gauge Furka Oberalp Bahn . It serves the municipality of Andermatt, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland...
.
Year round operations
In 1981, a Glacier Express era came to an end, with the final closure for the winter of the FO line over the Furka Pass and through the Furka Summit TunnelFurka Summit Tunnel
The Furka Summit Tunnel is a long railway tunnel in southern Switzerland. It lies at an altitude of . The summit tunnel was completed in 1925, and first opened on 3 July 1926...
, between Oberwald
Oberwald railway station
Oberwald railway station is a metre gauge station serving the village of Oberwald, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. The station is close to the western portal of the Furka Base Tunnel, on the Furka Oberalp Bahn , which connects Brig in Valais, via the base tunnel and Andermatt in Uri, with...
and Gletsch. In June 1982, that FO line was replaced by the newly opened Furka Base Tunnel. As a consequence, the Glacier Express not only became disconnected from its namesake Rhone Glacier, but also could now, for the first time, be operated on a year round basis.
At that time, the BVZ, FO and RhB took the opportunity to relaunch the Glacier Express as a tourist attraction. Promotional material focused on the train's status as "the slowest express train in the world", covering 291 km (180.8 mi), 91 tunnels, and over 291 bridges. A special promotional wine glass on a sloping base emphasised the steepness of some parts of the route. Passenger numbers rose from 20 000 in 1982 to over 53 000 in 1983, and to just over 80 000 in 1984.
Recent developments
In 1985, the Glacier Express timetable was completely revised. Between 1986 and 1993, the BVZ and the FO invested nearly 40 million Swiss Francs in constructing 18 new first class panorama cars for the train. By 2005, more than 250,000 passengers were travelling on the Glacier Express each year.In 2006, a few scenes of the documentary film The Alps
The Alps
The Alps is a 2007 American documentary film about the climbing of the north face of the Eiger in the Bernese Alps by John Harlin III, son of John Harlin who died on the same ascent 40 years earlier...
were shot inside the train, and further new panorama cars were added to the Glacier Express passenger car fleet. On 7 July 2008, the Albula Railway
Albula Railway
In 1890, the Davos hotelier Willem-Jan Holsboer proposed the construction of a rail link from Chur via Davos, and through a tunnel under the Scaletta Pass, to St Moritz, and then onwards via the Maloja Pass, to Chiavenna in Italy. Holsboer later had to abandon this planned Scalettabahn, in favour...
and the Bernina Railway
Bernina Railway
The Bernina Railway is a single track metre gauge railway line forming part of the Rhaetian Railway . It links the spa resort of St. Moritz, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, with the town of Tirano, in the Province of Sondrio, Italy, via the Bernina Pass...
were jointly recorded in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, under the name Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina
Bernina Railway
The Bernina Railway is a single track metre gauge railway line forming part of the Rhaetian Railway . It links the spa resort of St. Moritz, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, with the town of Tirano, in the Province of Sondrio, Italy, via the Bernina Pass...
Landscapes. Currently, the Glacier Express is especially popular with tourists from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and, increasingly, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
On 23 July 2010, a Glacier Express train derailed near Fiesch
Fiesch railway station
Fiesch railway station is a metre gauge station serving the municipality of Fiesch, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. The station forms part of the Furka Oberalp Bahn , which connects Brig in Valais, via Furka Base Tunnel, Andermatt in Uri, with Göschenen, Uri, and Disentis/Mustér, Graubünden...
on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn line. One passenger was killed and 42 were injured. The accident was blamed on human error
Human Error
Human Error is the stage name of Rafał Kuczynski , a polish electronic musician, working mostly in the ambient music genre, produced only with a computer...
.
Itinerary
Albula line
Shortly after leaving St. Moritz stationSt. Moritz (Rhaetian Railway station)
St. Moritz is a railway station in St. Moritz, Switzerland. It is the southern terminus of the Albula Railway line from Chur. Hourly services operate on this section of the line. There is also an hourly service on the Bernina Railway line from St. Moritz to Tirano, Italy...
(1775 m (5,823.5 ft)) in Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
, the train passes Samedan
Samedan (Rhaetian Railway station)
Samedan is a railway station in Samedan, Switzerland. It is an important interchange station between the Albula Railway line and the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp line. Hourly services operate on each line....
and Bever
Bever (Rhaetian Railway station)
Bever is a station on the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp railway line. Hourly services operate on this line. Trains on the Albula Railway line between Chur and St.Moritz stop at this station during the early morning and late evening only.-Rhaetian Railway services:...
on the high Engadin
Engadin
The Engadin or Engadine is a long valley in the Swiss Alps located in the canton of Graubünden in southeast Switzerland. It follows the route of the Inn River from its headwaters at Maloja Pass running northeast until the Inn flows into Austria one hundred kilometers downstream...
plateau. There it continues in the Val Bever before entering the Albula Tunnel
Albula Tunnel
The Albula Tunnel is the centrepiece of the Albula Railway, which forms part of the Rhaetian Railway network, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland...
at 1815 m (5,954.7 ft) under the Albula Pass
Albula Pass
Albula Pass is a Swiss mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden. It lies in the Albula Range of the Alps...
. After the tunnel, the train passes through Preda
Preda (Rhaetian Railway station)
Preda is a railway station in Preda, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE1/R11 - 1tph...
, the first station in the Albula valley
Albula River
Albula is a river of Switzerland, a tributary of Hinterrhein . Length: 36 km , Basin: 950 km² ....
and continues toward Bergün/Bravuogn
Bergün/Bravuogn (Rhaetian Railway station)
Bergün/Bravuogn is a railway station in Bergün/Bravuogn, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE1/R11 - 1tph...
. Between these two villages the train has to go through many spirals
Spiral (railway)
A spiral is a technique employed by railways to ascend steep hills.A railway spiral rises on a steady curve until it has completed a loop, passing over itself as it gains height, allowing the railway to gain vertical elevation in a relatively short horizontal distance...
because of the high difference of altitude within a short distance (400 m (1,312.3 ft) for 5 km (3.1 mi)).
After another spiral, the train reaches Filisur
Filisur (Rhaetian Railway station)
Filisur is a railway station in Filisur, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line...
at the end of the valley at (1032 m (3,385.8 ft)). From there, the train passes on the Landwasser Viaduct
Landwasser Viaduct
The Landwasser Viaduct is a single track six-arched curved limestone railway viaduct. It spans the Landwasser River between Schmitten and Filisur, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
, the most emblematic landmark of the railway line and continues toward Thusis
Thusis (Rhaetian Railway station)
Thusis is a railway station in Thusis, Switzerland. It is the terminus of the Landquart-Thusis railway line. Hourly services originating from Chur on that line also continue along the Albula Railway line to St. Moritz.-Rhaetian Railway services:...
(720 m (2,362.2 ft)) where it reaches the Posterior Rhine and follows it to the city of Chur
Chur railway station
Chur railway station serves the city of Chur, capital of the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. Opened in 1858, it is the most important railway junction in Graubünden....
(585 m (1,919.3 ft)).
Oberalp section
From Chur the train follows back the course of the Rhine through the gorge of RuinaultaRuinaulta
Ruinaulta is a canyon created by the Vorderrhein in the debris of the Flims Rockslide just upstream of its confluence with the Hinter Rhine at Reichenau, Eastern Switzerland. It is sometimes known as the Rhine Canyon, or Swiss Grand Canyon...
and climbs slowly the valley toward Ilanz
Ilanz (Rhaetian Railway station)
-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE3/R31 - 1tph-External links:*...
(698 m (2,290 ft)), Disentis/Mustér
Disentis/Mustér railway station
Disentis/Mustér is the eastern terminus of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn line from Brig via Andermatt, and the western terminus of the Rhaetian Railway line from Landquart via Chur and Reichenau-Tamins....
(1142 m (3,746.7 ft)) and Sedrun
Sedrun railway station
Sedrun railway station is a metre gauge station serving the village of Sedrun, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. The station is at the eastern end of the Oberalp Pass...
(1404 m (4,606.3 ft)). From Sedrun the line becomes steeper to finally reach its summit, the Oberalp Pass at 2033 m (6,669.9 ft). From there the train enters the Canton of Uri
Canton of Uri
Uri is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland and a founding member of the Swiss Confederation. It is located in Central Switzerland. The canton's territory covers the valley of the Reuss River between Lake Lucerne and the St. Gotthard Pass. German is the primary language spoken in Uri...
in Central Switzerland
Central Switzerland
Central Switzerland is the region of the Alpine foothills geographically the heart and historically the origin of Switzerland, with the cantons of Uri, Schwyz, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Lucerne and Zug....
and continues down to Andermatt
Andermatt
Andermatt is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.With Realp and Hospental, it is located in the Urseren valley, south of Altdorf.-Geography:...
(1447 m (4,747.4 ft)).
Furka section
From Andermatt the train goes forward in the UrserentalUrserental
The Urserental is the valley of the upper Reuss River in Uri, Switzerland, running southwest to northeast, from Realp to Hospental and Andermatt....
valley passing the villages of Hospental
Hospental
Hospental is a municipality in the canton of Uri in Switzerland.-History:Hospental is first mentioned in 1285 as Hospenthal. In 1499 it was mentioned under its latin name as Hospicium, and in 1616 as Spithal.-Geography:...
(1452 m (4,763.8 ft)) and Realp
Realp railway station
Realp railway station is a metre gauge station serving the municipality of Realp, in the Canton of Uri, Switzerland. The station is close to the eastern portal of the Furka Base Tunnel, on the Furka Oberalp Bahn , which connects Brig in Valais, via Andermatt in Uri, with Göschenen, Uri, and...
(1538 metres (5,045.9 ft)). From there the train enters the Furka Base Tunnel, leaving the old railway line which climbs the Furka Pass
Furka Pass
Furka Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting Gletsch, Valais with Realp, Uri. The Furka-Oberalp-Bahn line through the Furka Tunnel bypasses the pass...
(operated today by the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway
The Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway is a company which operates a railway line between Realp and Oberwald...
), to emerge in Oberwald
Oberwald railway station
Oberwald railway station is a metre gauge station serving the village of Oberwald, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. The station is close to the western portal of the Furka Base Tunnel, on the Furka Oberalp Bahn , which connects Brig in Valais, via the base tunnel and Andermatt in Uri, with...
(1368 m (4,488.2 ft)) in the Goms Valley, in the Canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Valais
Valais
The Valais is one of the 26 cantons of Switzerland in the southwestern part of the country, around the valley of the Rhône from its headwaters to Lake Geneva, separating the Pennine Alps from the Bernese Alps. The canton is one of the drier parts of Switzerland in its central Rhône valley...
. The train then continues toward the Brig
Brig railway station
Brig railway station is an important railway junction in the municipality of Brig-Glis , in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland...
following the course of the Rhone
Rhône
Rhone can refer to:* Rhone, one of the major rivers of Europe, running through Switzerland and France* Rhône Glacier, the source of the Rhone River and one of the primary contributors to Lake Geneva in the far eastern end of the canton of Valais in Switzerland...
and passes along the villages of Ulrichen (1346 m (4,416 ft)), Münster-Geschinen
Münster-Geschinen
Münster-Geschinen is a village in the district of Goms in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It was formed in 2004 from the union of the municipalities of Münster and Geschinen.-History:...
(1359 m (4,458.7 ft)) and Fiesch
Fiesch railway station
Fiesch railway station is a metre gauge station serving the municipality of Fiesch, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. The station forms part of the Furka Oberalp Bahn , which connects Brig in Valais, via Furka Base Tunnel, Andermatt in Uri, with Göschenen, Uri, and Disentis/Mustér, Graubünden...
(1049 m (3,441.6 ft)), before going through another spiral.
Mattertal line
From Brig (678 m (2,224.4 ft)) the train continues to VispVisp railway station
Visp railway station is a junction station at Visp , in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It has a modern station building completed in 2007, and is served by two standard gauge lines and a metre gauge line....
(651 m (2,135.8 ft)), then enters the valley of Mattertal
Mattertal
The Matter Valley is located in southwestern Switzerland, south of the Rhone valley in the canton of Valais. The village of Zermatt is the most important settlement of the valley, which is surrounded by many four-thousanders, including the Matterhorn.-Geography:Located in the Pennine Alps, the...
and goes up, passing the villages of Stalden
Stalden, Valais
Stalden is a municipality in the district of Visp in the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It lies at the foot of the Mischabelhörner and Dom .-History:Stalden is first mentioned in 1213 as Morgi. In 1224 it was mentioned as Staldun.-Geography:...
(799 m (2,621.4 ft)), St. Niklaus
St. Niklaus
St. Niklaus is a municipality in the district of Visp in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.-History:St. Niklaus is first mentioned in 1233 as chousun. In 1272 it was mentioned as ecclesia Sancti Nicholai de Chouson, Gebreitun de Gazun, 1388 in villa sti nicolai de chosun, fr...
(1127 m (3,697.5 ft)) and Randa (1408 m (4,619.4 ft)), where a spectacular debris avalanche
Landslide
A landslide or landslip is a geological phenomenon which includes a wide range of ground movement, such as rockfalls, deep failure of slopes and shallow debris flows, which can occur in offshore, coastal and onshore environments...
completely disconnected the railway and road in 1991. Täsch
Täsch railway station
Täsch railway station is a metre gauge railway station serving the municipality of Täsch, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It forms part of the Brig-Visp-Zermatt railway , which connects the car-free mountaineering and ski resort of Zermatt with standard gauge lines at Visp and Brig .Since ,...
(1450 m (4,757.2 ft)) is an important station as it is the end of the open road, and therefore a terminal for motorists. After a steeper section the train finally arrives in Zermatt
Zermatt railway station
Zermatt railway station is a metre gauge railway station serving the car-free mountaineering and ski resort of Zermatt, in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. It is the southern terminus of the BVZ Zermatt-Bahn , which connects Zermatt with standard gauge lines at Visp and Brig...
at 1616 m (5,301.8 ft), after nearly 8 hours of travel.
See also
- Albula RailwayAlbula RailwayIn 1890, the Davos hotelier Willem-Jan Holsboer proposed the construction of a rail link from Chur via Davos, and through a tunnel under the Scaletta Pass, to St Moritz, and then onwards via the Maloja Pass, to Chiavenna in Italy. Holsboer later had to abandon this planned Scalettabahn, in favour...
- Furka Oberalp Bahn
- Brig-Visp-Zermatt-Bahn
- Furka Cogwheel Steam RailwayFurka Cogwheel Steam RailwayThe Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway is a company which operates a railway line between Realp and Oberwald...
- Bernina ExpressBernina ExpressThe Bernina Express is an express train connecting Chur in Switzerland with Poschiavo and Tirano in Italy, by crossing the Swiss Alps from north to south. For most of its journey, the train also passes along and through the World Heritage Site known as the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina...
- Swiss AlpsSwiss AlpsThe Swiss Alps are the portion of the Alps mountain range that lies within Switzerland. Because of their central position within the entire Alpine range, they are also known as the Central Alps....
- Swiss Pass
- Table of turn tunnelsTable of turn tunnelsLists of spiral tunnels and tunnels on a curved alignment on railway lines worldwide.A part of a line is bracketed , if it is located in a country other than that mentioned in the specific table:...
External links
- Glacier Express official website
- Glacier Express A personal trip on the Glacier Express with photographs
- Rail Plus Australia Australian website providing Glacier Express Tours & Information
- Glacier Express Feature article on Unusual Travel Destinations