RhB
Encyclopedia
The Rhaetian Railway is a Swiss transport company, owning the largest network of all the private railways in Switzerland
. The company operates most of the railways in the Swiss canton
of Graubünden
as the Swiss federal railway company SBB-CFF-FFS
extend only a few kilometres over the cantonal border to the capital at Chur
. Almost the entire network is in Graubünden, with one station at Tirano
in Italy
.
The Rhaetian Railway serves a number of major tourist centres, including St Moritz and Davos
. One of the lines, the Berninabahn, crosses the Bernina Pass
to the Italian border and on to Tirano, Lombardy
, where there is a link to the Italian railways
.
In 2008 the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina
Landscapes (the part from Thusis
to Tirano
, including St. Moritz
) was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On October 20, 2011 Google
announced that the Albula-Bernina line would be the first rail line in the world to be photographed and put on Google Street View
.
systems are in use, and one 12-kilometre section between Castione and Cama was completely separate from all other railways following a landslide in the mid-20th century, before later closure. All the RhB is of gauge ("metre gauge
") and is electrified:, the Bernina Railway
(Pontresina - Tirano) is electrified at 1000 V DC. is electrified at 11 kV 16⅔ Hz (including Chur-Arosa and the new Vereina tunnel route).
The network contains 84 tunnels (the longest being the 19.042 kilometres (11.832 mi) Vereina Tunnel
, opened on 19 November 1999, and the 5.864 kilometres (3.644 mi) Albula Tunnel
), plus 383 bridges. The maximum gradient is 4.5%, except on the Bernina Railway
, where it is 7%.
Current services operated by the RhB (2008):
The annual traffic carried by the RhB (2002) is 300,000,000 passenger-kilometres, and 54,000,000 tonne-kilometres of freight. 80% of passenger income comes from tourists, although 40% of passengers are local people.
in Graubünden
is the starting point of the Rhaetian Railway, historically as part of the Landquart-Davos line, operationally as the company's main workshop, and topologically as the 0 kilometre point of the company's core network. The Landquart-Davos line is the oldest in the Rhaetian Railway network.
After leaving Landquart, the line to Davos crosses the Landquart River, and then generally follows the river upstream as far as Klosters
, crossing the river several times along the way.
Just beyond Klosters, there are two tunnels. One of these is for the Vereina line (see below). The other, the Klosters loop tunnel
, takes the Davos line at a 45 degree angle towards the west. The line to Davos then loops back towards the east, inside the Cavadürli loop tunnel, and continues through dense larch
and other coniferous
forest
s to the Davos Laret
.
Highest point on the line is the next stop, Davos Wolfgang
. Then the line leads back down and along Lake Davos
to Davos Dorf
, and the terminus at Davos Platz
.
at Filisur
passes through wild gorges, and is technically very interesting, not only due to its famous Wiesen Viaduct
.
The Davos–Filisur line is 19 km (11.8 mi) long, runs through 14 tunnels extending a total of 4200 m (13,780 ft) in length, and crosses 28 bridges. It was electrified
in 1919.
Starting in the Rhine valley, the Landquart-Thusis line runs more or less parallel with the SBB-CFF-FFS
Sargans
-Landquart
-Chur
standard gauge
line as far as Chur
(585 m or 1,919.3 ft). The line to Thusis then simply follows the course of the Rhine to Bonaduz
(655 m or 2,149 ft). From there, it enters the Domleschg Valley and follows the Posterior Rhine
from Rhäzüns
(658 m or 2,158.8 ft) to Thusis
(697 m or 2,286.7 ft).
(697 m). It continues toward Tiefencastel
(851 m) following the Albula river
and then crosses the Landwasser Viaduct
before arriving at Filisur
(1032 m). Shortly after Filisur the line passes its first spiral
tunnel then continues to Bergün/Bravuogn
(1373 m).
Between Bergün/Bravuogn and Preda
(1789 m), at the end of the valley, the line has to achieve a difference in height of about 400 meters inside a horizontal distance of 5 kilometres, without using rack-and-pinion
, but with many spirals. Then the line enters the Albula Tunnel
at 1,815 metres under the Albula Pass
. It emerges in the Val Bever, where it reaches Bever
(1,708 m) on the Engadin
plain. The line continues toward Samedan
(1,721 m) and arrives at St.Moritz
(1,775 m).
conducted in 2006 had found major degradation of the tunnel, with over 60% of the lining in need of replacement. Furthermore, the bores are small
by modern standards, and cabling, signalling and drainage all need replacement. As a result, it was announced that an inquiry would decide from two options a course action; either comprehensive renewal of the existing tunnel or the construction of a new bore to modern standards. In any case, after assessments and financing, which could be potentially complicated due to the split ownership of the tunnel, no construction will start until 2011 no matter what is decided.
line links the rest of the Rhaetian Railway network with the Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn
. It branches from the line to Thusis behind the shared Rhine bridge.
The line was opened progressively between 1903 and 1912, and has been electrified since 1922.
In contrast with the accompanying road, which rises about 500 meters towards Flims
and Laax
, the railway to Disentis/Mustér runs slowly up the narrow "Ruinaulta
gorge
". On this part of the line, its associated engineering structures dominate the otherwise pristine natural landscape.
At Ilanz
, the railway line and road merge paths once again. Their combined pathways then rise slowly and evenly to Disentis/Mustér.
The main traffic on the Reichenau–Disentis/Mustér line is Regio Express passenger trains operating at hourly intervals. Several times a day, there are Glacier Express
trains in each direction.
Timetabled goods trains also operate on the line to serve industry in the Vorderrhein area and supply cement for the construction of the normal gauge Gotthard Base Tunnel
with train IDs starting with 5. Usually three pairs of trains serve Disentis/Mustér with a Ge 6/6 II and a few additional trains go only to Ilanz with a Ge 4/4 II.
valley, was constructed in two stages. The Samedan
–Pontresina
section was opened on by the Rhaetian Railway on 1 July 1908, simultaneously with the Pontresina–Morteratsch
section, which formed part of the then-independent Bernina Railway. The actual Engadin line, between Bever
and Scuol-Tarasp
, was opened on 1 July 1913, and was the first Rhaetian Railway line to be electrified from the start at 11 kV 16⅔ Hz AC
.
Since the opening of the Engadin line, Pontresina has been a dual system station, as the Bernina Railway operates on 1,000 V DC
. Track 3 at Pontresina station has a switchable catenary, and is used for trains, such as the Heidi Express, operating through the station and needing to change from one of the two electification systems to the other.
Between Samedan and Bever, the Engadin line shares its track with the Albula Railway. With the opening of the Vereina Tunnel
and line in November 1999, the Engadin line, at both Lavin (Sagliains
car shuttle train
station) and Susch
(Sasslatsch II car shuttle train station), acquired a direct connection to the Prättigau
at Klosters
, on the Landquart–Davos line.
and heads towards Pontresina
(1,774 m) in the Val Bernina. It ascends progressively the valley to the Bernina Pass
passing the Morteratsch station
(1,896 m), where the traveler can see the glacier
of the same name and the highest summit of the Eastern Alps
, the Piz Bernina
. Before arriving at the pass the line runs through Bernina Diavolezza
(2,093 m) where an aerial tramway leads to Diavolezza
. The line reaches its highest point - at 2,253 metres ASL - near to the Ospizio Bernina
station above the Lago Bianco
; this is also the highest point on the entire RhB network.
Alp Grüm
(2,091 m) is the first station south of the Alps
, situated above the Lago Palü
and right below the Piz Palü
and its glacier
. After many hairpin turn
s the line reaches Cavaglia
(1,693 m) above the Val Poschiavo, then the Swiss Italian
-speaking town of Poschiavo
at 1,014 meters.
The line then follows the course of the Poschiavino
and stops at Le Prese
(964 m) and Miralago
(965 m) both on Lake Poschiavo's shore. After Miralago it continues its descent toward Brusio
(780 m), where it passes the spiral of the Brusio Viaduct. Shortly after having passed the Italian
border at Campocologno
(553 m) the line reaches Tirano RhB
station at 430 meters.
to Arosa
is known as the Arosabahn (or Arosa-Bahn), and is often abbreviated as "ChA" (Chur-Arosa). Work began in 1912 on the route and the line opened on 12 December 1914. The railway leads up from Chur to Arosa (a total climb of 1155 m (3,789 ft)) via a number of tunnels, bridges and other structures, including the Langwieser Viaduct
- a structure of national importance. In 1942 the line became part of the RhB company and network; however the line ran on a separate electric system to the remainder of the network until 1997. Before then it was 2400 V DC
- now it is 11 kV 16.7 Hz AC
. The gauge
has always been (metre gauge
) as per the rest of the RhB network.
It is a single track
railway, with the exception of a short double track section along Engadinstrasse in Chur, with a number of passing loop
s along the route: at all stations with the exception of Chur Stadt (and formerly Sassal), as well as at Chur Sand depot and at Haspelgrube near Arosa. The maximum incline is 6% but there is no rack-and-pinion
used.
A short section of the line runs along the streets
of Chur and is known as the Chur stadtbahn ("town railway"). In Chur, the line starts on Bahnhofplatz, in front of the main railway station, where that station's platforms for the Arosabahn are, though there is a second stop in Chur only 760 metres from the main station.
A 5-kilometre tunnel through the Mittenberg had been planned as an alternative route for the lower section of the line, avoiding running through the centre of Chur. This plan was finally dropped in 1996 as the considerable expense could not be justified.
Currently the train service (Regio) R4 provides the passenger service on the line and is shown as timetable 930 in the Swiss national timetables. It is well used by tourists coming to and from the resort at Arosa. The line also carries a substantial amount of freight.
for tourists over 13 km out of the original 31 km of line.
in Chur, at Bahnhofstrasse 25.46.8517°N 9.5325°W
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. The company operates most of the railways in the Swiss 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 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...
as the Swiss federal railway company SBB-CFF-FFS
SBB-CFF-FFS
Swiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
extend only a few kilometres over the cantonal border to the capital at Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
. Almost the entire network is in Graubünden, with one station at Tirano
Tirano (Rhaetian Railway station)
Tirano is one of two stations in Tirano, Italy. It is the southern terminus of the metre gauge Bernina Railway line from St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tph-See also:...
in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
The Rhaetian Railway serves a number of major tourist centres, including St Moritz and Davos
Davos
Davos is a municipality in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has a permanent population of 11,248 . Davos is located on the Landwasser River, in the Swiss Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Range...
. One of the lines, the Berninabahn, crosses the Bernina Pass
Bernina Pass
The Bernina Pass is a high mountain pass in the Bernina Range of the Alps, in the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. It connects the famous resort town of St. Moritz in the Engadin valley with the Italian-speaking Val Poschiavo, which ends in the Italian town of Tirano in Valtellina....
to the Italian border and on to Tirano, Lombardy
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, where there is a link to the Italian railways
Ferrovie dello Stato
Ferrovie dello Stato is a government-owned holding which manage infrastructure and service on the Italian rail network. The subsidiary Trenitalia is the main rail operator in Italy.-Organization:Ferrovie dello Stato subsidiaries are:...
.
In 2008 the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina
Bernina Express
The 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...
Landscapes (the part from Thusis
Thusis
Thusis is a municipality in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Geography:Thusis has an area, , of . Of this area, 18% is used for agricultural purposes, while 58.2% is forested...
to Tirano
Tirano
Tirano is a town in Valtellina, located in the province of Sondrio, Northern Italy. It has about 9,044 inhabitants and is adjacent to the Switzerland-Italy boundary. The river Adda flows through the town....
, including St. Moritz
St. Moritz
St. Moritz is a resort town in the Engadine valley in Switzerland. It is a municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden...
) was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. On October 20, 2011 Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
announced that the Albula-Bernina line would be the first rail line in the world to be photographed and put on Google Street View
Google Street View
Google Street View is a technology featured in Google Maps and Google Earth that provides panoramic views from various positions along many streets in the world...
.
Figures
- Travellers per year (2008): 10.7 million
- Revenue (2008): 308,700,000 sFr.
- Profit (2008): 1,700,000 sFr.
- Employees (2008): 1,348
- Total rolling stock (2008): 1,294
Network and services
|}Overview
The RhB network was developed in various stages at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, with the result that several different electrificationElectrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...
systems are in use, and one 12-kilometre section between Castione and Cama was completely separate from all other railways following a landslide in the mid-20th century, before later closure. All the RhB is of gauge ("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...
") and is electrified:, 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...
(Pontresina - Tirano) is electrified at 1000 V DC. is electrified at 11 kV 16⅔ Hz (including Chur-Arosa and the new Vereina tunnel route).
The network contains 84 tunnels (the longest being the 19.042 kilometres (11.832 mi) Vereina Tunnel
Vereina Tunnel
The Vereina Tunnel is a railway tunnel situated in eastern Switzerland, which at 19,058 m is the longest tunnel on the Swiss RhB railway network as well as the world's longest metre gauge railway tunnel...
, opened on 19 November 1999, and the 5.864 kilometres (3.644 mi) 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...
), plus 383 bridges. The maximum gradient is 4.5%, except on 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...
, where it is 7%.
Current services operated by the RhB (2008):
- Basic hourly service:
- Regio Express RE1: Chur – St. Moritz
- Regio Express RE2: LandquartLandquartLandquart may be*the river that flows through the Prättigau valley, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, see Landquart River*a district in the Canton of Graubünden, see Landquart...
– DavosDavosDavos is a municipality in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It has a permanent population of 11,248 . Davos is located on the Landwasser River, in the Swiss Alps, between the Plessur and Albula Range... - Regio Express RE3: DisentisDisentis/Mustér-Demographics:Disentis/Mustér has a population of . , 8.9% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -4.7%....
/Muster - Chur – Landquart - Scuol-Tarasp - Regio R4: Chur – ArosaArosaArosa is a town and a municipality in the district of Plessur in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is both a summer and a winter tourist resort.-History:...
(the "Arosabahn") - Regio R5: St. Moritz - TiranoTiranoTirano is a town in Valtellina, located in the province of Sondrio, Northern Italy. It has about 9,044 inhabitants and is adjacent to the Switzerland-Italy boundary. The river Adda flows through the town....
(Italy) - Regio R6: Davos Platz - FilisurFilisurFilisur is a municipality in the district of Albula in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:Filisur is first mentioned in 1262 as villa Fallisour.-Geography:...
- Regio R7: Pontresina - Sagliains - Scuol-Tarasp
- S-Bahn S8: Schiers - Landquart - Chur - Rhäzüns
- S-Bahn S9: Chur - Thusis
- Off-peak hours:
- Regio R11: Chur - St. Moritz
- Regio R21: Landquart - Davos
- Regio R31: Disentis - Landquart
- Vehicle transporter services:
- Through the Vereina Tunnel: KlostersKlostersKlosters-Serneus is a municipality in the district of Prättigau/Davos in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.Its well-known ski resort lies from Zurich, the nearest international airport. Transfer time is about 1.5 hours. Klosters is from Davos...
- Sagliains. - Through the Albula Tunnel: Thusis - Samedan.
- Through the Vereina Tunnel: Klosters
The annual traffic carried by the RhB (2002) is 300,000,000 passenger-kilometres, and 54,000,000 tonne-kilometres of freight. 80% of passenger income comes from tourists, although 40% of passengers are local people.
Landquart–Davos line
Landquart railway stationLandquart railway station
Landquart is a major railway station on the SBB-CFF-FFS main line from Zürich to Chur as well as a Rhaetian Railway station.Intercity, Regio Express and Regional SBB services stop at the station alongside Regio Express and Regional services operated by the Rhaetian Railway.There are trains to...
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...
is the starting point of the Rhaetian Railway, historically as part of the Landquart-Davos line, operationally as the company's main workshop, and topologically as the 0 kilometre point of the company's core network. The Landquart-Davos line is the oldest in the Rhaetian Railway network.
After leaving Landquart, the line to Davos crosses the Landquart River, and then generally follows the river upstream as far as Klosters
Klosters (Rhaetian Railway station)
Klosters station is located in the municipality of Klosters-Serneus in the district of Prattigau/Davos in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It is a station on the Landquart-Davos railway line....
, crossing the river several times along the way.
Just beyond Klosters, there are two tunnels. One of these is for the Vereina line (see below). The other, the Klosters loop tunnel
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...
, takes the Davos line at a 45 degree angle towards the west. The line to Davos then loops back towards the east, inside the Cavadürli loop tunnel, and continues through dense larch
Larch
Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. Growing from 15 to 50m tall, they are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the north and high on mountains further south...
and other coniferous
Pinophyta
The conifers, division Pinophyta, also known as division Coniferophyta or Coniferae, are one of 13 or 14 division level taxa within the Kingdom Plantae. Pinophytes are gymnosperms. They are cone-bearing seed plants with vascular tissue; all extant conifers are woody plants, the great majority being...
forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s to the Davos Laret
Davos Laret (Rhaetian Railway station)
Davos Laret is a station on the Landquart-Davos railway line. Trains stop at this station every two hours.-Services:*RE2/R21 - 1tp2h-External links:*...
.
Highest point on the line is the next stop, Davos Wolfgang
Davos Wolfgang (Rhaetian Railway station)
Davos Wolfgang is a station on the Landquart-Davos railway line. Trains stop at this station every two hours.-Services:*RE2/R21 - 1tp2h-External links:*...
. Then the line leads back down and along Lake Davos
Lake Davos
Lake Davos is a small natural lake at Davos, Switzerland. Its surface area is 0.59 km² and the maximum depth is 54 m. Fed by Flüelabach, Totalpbach and other mountain creeks, the lake is used as a hydropower reservoir, its water no longer flows to the Landwasser River but is channeled into the...
to Davos Dorf
Davos Dorf (Rhaetian Railway station)
Davos Dorf station is located in the municipality of Davos in the district of Prattigau/Davos in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.It is a station on the Landquart-Davos railway line. Northbound, there is an hourly service towards Landquart. Southbound, there is an hourly service to Davos Platz. The...
, and the terminus at Davos Platz
Davos Platz (Rhaetian Railway station)
Davos Platz station is located in the municipality of Davos in the district of Prattigau/Davos in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.It is the terminus of the Landquart-Davos railway line. Northbound, there is an hourly service towards Landquart. Southbound, there is an hourly service to Filisur. The...
.
Davos–Filisur line
The connecting line from Davos Platz to the Albula RailwayAlbula 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...
at 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...
passes through wild gorges, and is technically very interesting, not only due to its famous Wiesen Viaduct
Wiesen Viaduct
The Wiesen Viaduct is a single track limestone railway viaduct. It spans the Landwasser River southwest of the hamlet of Wiesen, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
.
The Davos–Filisur line is 19 km (11.8 mi) long, runs through 14 tunnels extending a total of 4200 m (13,780 ft) in length, and crosses 28 bridges. It was electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
in 1919.
Landquart–Thusis line
SBB-CFF-FFS
Swiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
Sargans
Sargans
Sargans is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Sarganserland in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Sargans is known for its castle, which dates from before the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291...
-Landquart
Landquart
Landquart may be*the river that flows through the Prättigau valley, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, see Landquart River*a district in the Canton of Graubünden, see Landquart...
-Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
line as far as 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 or 1,919.3 ft). The line to Thusis then simply follows the course of the Rhine to Bonaduz
Bonaduz (Rhaetian Railway station)
Bonaduz is a station in Bonaduz, Switzerland. It is located on the Chur S-Bahn network from Chur to Thusis.The station is served twice hourly, with S8 from Landquart trains terminating Rhäzüns and S9 trains from Chur continuing to Thusis. Trains on the Chur-St...
(655 m or 2,149 ft). From there, it enters the Domleschg Valley and follows the Posterior Rhine
Hinterrhein (river)
The Hinterrhein is one of the initial tributaries of the Rhine in the Canton of Graubünden in Switzerland, flowing from the village Hinterrhein near the San Bernardino pass through the Rheinwald valley into a gorge called Roflaschlucht...
from Rhäzüns
Rhäzüns (Rhaetian Railway station)
Rhäzüns is a railway station in Rhäzüns, Switzerland. It is located on the Chur S-Bahn network from Chur to Thusis.The station is served twice hourly, with S9 trains running on the Chur-Thusis line. Hourly S8 trains from Landquart terminate here. Trains on the Chur-St...
(658 m or 2,158.8 ft) to 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:...
(697 m or 2,286.7 ft).
Albula line (Thusis–St. Moritz)
This line begins in ThusisThusis (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:...
(697 m). It continues toward Tiefencastel
Tiefencastel (Rhaetian Railway station)
Tiefencastel is a railway station in Tiefencastel, 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...
(851 m) following the Albula river
Albula River
Albula is a river of Switzerland, a tributary of Hinterrhein . Length: 36 km , Basin: 950 km² ....
and then crosses 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....
before arriving at 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...
(1032 m). Shortly after Filisur the line passes its first spiral
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...
tunnel then continues to 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...
(1373 m).
Between Bergün/Bravuogn and 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...
(1789 m), at the end of the valley, the line has to achieve a difference in height of about 400 meters inside a horizontal distance of 5 kilometres, without using rack-and-pinion
Rack railway
A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail...
, but with many spirals. Then the line enters 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 1,815 metres 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...
. It emerges in the Val Bever, where it reaches 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:...
(1,708 m) on the 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...
plain. The line continues toward 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....
(1,721 m) and arrives at St.Moritz
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...
(1,775 m).
Albula tunnel
In 2009 it was announced that an examination of the Albula TunnelAlbula 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...
conducted in 2006 had found major degradation of the tunnel, with over 60% of the lining in need of replacement. Furthermore, the bores are small
Structure gauge
The structure gauge, also called the minimum clearance outline, is the minimum height and width of tunnels and bridges as well as the minimum height and width of the doors that allow a rail siding access into a warehouse...
by modern standards, and cabling, signalling and drainage all need replacement. As a result, it was announced that an inquiry would decide from two options a course action; either comprehensive renewal of the existing tunnel or the construction of a new bore to modern standards. In any case, after assessments and financing, which could be potentially complicated due to the split ownership of the tunnel, no construction will start until 2011 no matter what is decided.
Reichenau–Disentis/Mustér line
The Reichenau to Disentis/MustérDisentis/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....
line links the rest of the Rhaetian Railway network with the Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn
Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn
The Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn is a narrow gauge railway in Switzerland. The track width is . It was created in 2003 through an amalgamation of Furka-Oberalp-Bahn and BVZ Zermatt-Bahn . The name comes from the Matterhorn and St...
. It branches from the line to Thusis behind the shared Rhine bridge.
The line was opened progressively between 1903 and 1912, and has been electrified since 1922.
In contrast with the accompanying road, which rises about 500 meters towards Flims
Flims
Flims is a municipality in the district of Imboden in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The town of Flims is dominated by the Flimserstein which you can see from almost anywhere in the area....
and Laax
Laax
Laax is a municipality in the district of Surselva in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Geography:Laax has an area, , of . Of this area, 35.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 30.6% is forested...
, the railway to Disentis/Mustér runs slowly up the narrow "Ruinaulta
Ruinaulta
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...
gorge
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
". On this part of the line, its associated engineering structures dominate the otherwise pristine natural landscape.
At Ilanz
Ilanz (Rhaetian Railway station)
-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE3/R31 - 1tph-External links:*...
, the railway line and road merge paths once again. Their combined pathways then rise slowly and evenly to Disentis/Mustér.
The main traffic on the Reichenau–Disentis/Mustér line is Regio Express passenger trains operating at hourly intervals. Several times a day, there are Glacier Express
Glacier Express
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 and Rhaetian Railway...
trains in each direction.
Timetabled goods trains also operate on the line to serve industry in the Vorderrhein area and supply cement for the construction of the normal gauge Gotthard Base Tunnel
Gotthard Base Tunnel
The Gotthard Base Tunnel is a new railway tunnel beneath the Swiss Alps, expected to open in 2016. With a route length of and a total of of tunnels, shafts and passages, it is the world's longest rail tunnel, surpassing the Japanese Seikan Tunnel....
with train IDs starting with 5. Usually three pairs of trains serve Disentis/Mustér with a Ge 6/6 II and a few additional trains go only to Ilanz with a Ge 4/4 II.
Engadin line (Pontresina–Scuol-Tarasp)
This line, which runs up the EngadinEngadin
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...
valley, was constructed in two stages. The 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....
–Pontresina
Pontresina (Rhaetian Railway station)
Pontresina is a station on the Bernina Railway line from St. Moritz to Tirano. It is also the terminus of the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp railway line. Hourly services operate on each line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tp*R7 - 1tph...
section was opened on by the Rhaetian Railway on 1 July 1908, simultaneously with the Pontresina–Morteratsch
Morteratsch (Rhaetian Railway station)
Morteratsch is a station on the Bernina Railway line. Hourly services operate on this line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tph...
section, which formed part of the then-independent Bernina Railway. The actual Engadin line, between 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:...
and Scuol-Tarasp
Scuol-Tarasp (Rhaetian Railway station)
Scuol-Tarasp is the northern terminus of the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp railway line.There is one train per hour to each of Disentis/Muster and Pontresina.There is currently one main platform in use at Scuol-Tarasp station.-Services:*RE3 - 1tph*R7 - 1tph...
, was opened on 1 July 1913, and was the first Rhaetian Railway line to be electrified from the start at 11 kV 16⅔ Hz AC
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
.
Since the opening of the Engadin line, Pontresina has been a dual system station, as the Bernina Railway operates on 1,000 V DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
. Track 3 at Pontresina station has a switchable catenary, and is used for trains, such as the Heidi Express, operating through the station and needing to change from one of the two electification systems to the other.
Between Samedan and Bever, the Engadin line shares its track with the Albula Railway. With the opening of the Vereina Tunnel
Vereina Tunnel
The Vereina Tunnel is a railway tunnel situated in eastern Switzerland, which at 19,058 m is the longest tunnel on the Swiss RhB railway network as well as the world's longest metre gauge railway tunnel...
and line in November 1999, the Engadin line, at both Lavin (Sagliains
Sagliains (Rhaetian Railway station)
Sagliains is a station on the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp railway line.There are two trains per hour to Scuol-Tarasp, and one to each of Disentis/Muster and Pontresina.There are currently two platforms in use at Sagliains station.*RE3 - 1tph*R7 - 1tph...
car shuttle train
Car shuttle train
A car shuttle train, or car-carrying train , is a train used to transport accompanied cars, or automobiles, and usually also other types of road vehicles, for a relatively short distance.Car shuttle trains usually operate on lines passing through a rail tunnel and connecting two...
station) and Susch
Susch
Susch is a municipality in the district of Inn in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.The Flüela Pass connects Susch with Davos.-Demographics:Susch has a population of ....
(Sasslatsch II car shuttle train station), acquired a direct connection to the Prättigau
Prättigau
The Prättigau Valley, in the canton of Graubünden , Switzerland, is home to the world famous ski resorts of Klosters and neighbouring Davos in the Landwasser Valley....
at Klosters
Klosters (Rhaetian Railway station)
Klosters station is located in the municipality of Klosters-Serneus in the district of Prattigau/Davos in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It is a station on the Landquart-Davos railway line....
, on the Landquart–Davos line.
Bernina line (St. Moritz–Tirano)
This line leaves St.MoritzSt. 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 heads towards Pontresina
Pontresina (Rhaetian Railway station)
Pontresina is a station on the Bernina Railway line from St. Moritz to Tirano. It is also the terminus of the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp railway line. Hourly services operate on each line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tp*R7 - 1tph...
(1,774 m) in the Val Bernina. It ascends progressively the valley to the Bernina Pass
Bernina Pass
The Bernina Pass is a high mountain pass in the Bernina Range of the Alps, in the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. It connects the famous resort town of St. Moritz in the Engadin valley with the Italian-speaking Val Poschiavo, which ends in the Italian town of Tirano in Valtellina....
passing the Morteratsch station
Morteratsch (Rhaetian Railway station)
Morteratsch is a station on the Bernina Railway line. Hourly services operate on this line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tph...
(1,896 m), where the traveler can see the glacier
Morteratsch Glacier
The Morteratsch Glacier is the largest glacier by area in the Bernina Range of the Bündner Alps in Switzerland....
of the same name and the highest summit of the Eastern Alps
Eastern Alps
Eastern Alps is the name given to the eastern half of the Alps, usually defined as the area east of the Splügen Pass in eastern Switzerland. North of the Splügen Pass, the Posterior Rhine forms the border, and south of the pass, the Liro river and Lake Como form the boundary line.-Geography:The...
, the 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...
. Before arriving at the pass the line runs through Bernina Diavolezza
Bernina Diavolezza (Rhaetian Railway station)
Bernina Diavolezza is a station on the Bernina Railway line. Hourly services operate on this line. It is located at the foot of the Diavolezza mountain, as well as the Diavolezza and Lagalb ski regions. In the summer trailhead for hiking are located nearby....
(2,093 m) where an aerial tramway leads to Diavolezza
Diavolezza
The Diavolezza is a mountain in the area of Pontresina in Graubünden. It has a height of 2978 m and is located southeast of Munt Pers ....
. The line reaches its highest point - at 2,253 metres ASL - near to the Ospizio Bernina
Ospizio Bernina (Rhaetian Railway station)
Ospizio Bernina is a station on the Bernina Railway line between St. Moritz in Switzerland and Tirano in Italy. Hourly services operate on this line....
station above the Lago Bianco
Lago Bianco
Lago Bianco is a lake at the Bernina pass in the Grisons, Switzerland. Its surface area is 1.50 km². The current reservoir was formed by the two dams Scala and Arlas on the site of two natural lakes ....
; this is also the highest point on the entire RhB network.
Alp Grüm
Alp Grüm (Rhaetian Railway station)
Alp Grüm railway station is situated on the Bernina Railway, between Pontresina, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, and Tirano, in the Province of Sondrio, Italy....
(2,091 m) is the first station south of the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
, situated above the Lago Palü
Lago Palü
Lago Palü is a lake below Piz Palü in the Grisons, Switzerland. Water from Palü Glacier feeds into the lake. In 1926, a dam was built enabling use of the lake as a reservoir....
and right below the Piz Palü
Piz Palü
Piz Palü is a mountain in the Bernina Range in Switzerland and Italy. There are three summits on its main ridge, which runs from east to west...
and its glacier
Palü Glacier
The Palü Glacier is a 3.5 km long glacier situated in the Bernina Range in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. In 1973 it had an area of 6.47 km².-External links:*...
. After many hairpin turn
Hairpin turn
A hairpin turn , named for its resemblance to a hairpin/bobby pin, is a bend in a road with a very acute inner angle, making it necessary for an oncoming vehicle to turn almost 180° to continue on the road. Such turns in ramps and trails may be called switchbacks in American English, by analogy...
s the line reaches Cavaglia
Cavaglia (Rhaetian Railway station)
Cavaglia is a station on the Bernina Railway line, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. Hourly services operate on this line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tph...
(1,693 m) above the Val Poschiavo, then the Swiss Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
-speaking town of Poschiavo
Poschiavo (Rhaetian Railway station)
Poschiavo is a station on the Bernina Railway line. Hourly services operate on this line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tph...
at 1,014 meters.
The line then follows the course of the Poschiavino
Poschiavino
Poschiavino is an long river in Switzerland and Italy. The majority of the river is in Switzerland and just of it is in Italy. It passes Poschiavo, Campocologno, Le Prese....
and stops at Le Prese
Le Prese (Rhaetian Railway station)
Le Prese is a station on the Bernina Railway line. Hourly services operate on this line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tph...
(964 m) and Miralago
Miralago (Rhaetian Railway station)
Miralago is a station on the Bernina Railway line. Hourly services operate on this line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tph-External links:* *...
(965 m) both on Lake Poschiavo's shore. After Miralago it continues its descent toward Brusio
Brusio
Brusio is a municipality in the district of Bernina in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.-History:Brusio is first mentioned in 1106 as Bruse. It was first mentioned as Brusio in 1212. Previously it was known as Romansh: Brüsch and ....
(780 m), where it passes the spiral of the Brusio Viaduct. Shortly after having passed the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
border at Campocologno
Campocologno (Rhaetian Railway station)
Campocologno is a station on the Bernina Railway line. Hourly services operate on this line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tph...
(553 m) the line reaches Tirano RhB
Tirano (Rhaetian Railway station)
Tirano is one of two stations in Tirano, Italy. It is the southern terminus of the metre gauge Bernina Railway line from St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tph-See also:...
station at 430 meters.
Arosa line (originally Chur-Arosa (ChA))
The 25.68 kilometres (16 mi) railway line from ChurChur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
to Arosa
Arosa
Arosa is a town and a municipality in the district of Plessur in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is both a summer and a winter tourist resort.-History:...
is known as the Arosabahn (or Arosa-Bahn), and is often abbreviated as "ChA" (Chur-Arosa). Work began in 1912 on the route and the line opened on 12 December 1914. The railway leads up from Chur to Arosa (a total climb of 1155 m (3,789 ft)) via a number of tunnels, bridges and other structures, including the Langwieser Viaduct
Langwieser Viaduct
The Langwieser Viaduct is a single track reinforced concrete railway bridge spanning the Plessur River and the Sapünerbach, near Langwies, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
- a structure of national importance. In 1942 the line became part of the RhB company and network; however the line ran on a separate electric system to the remainder of the network until 1997. Before then it was 2400 V DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
- now it is 11 kV 16.7 Hz AC
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
. The gauge
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
has always been (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...
) as per the rest of the RhB network.
It is a single track
Single track (rail)
A single track railway is where trains in both directions share the same track. Single track is normally used on lesser used rail lines, often branch lines, where the traffic density is not high enough to justify the cost of building double tracks....
railway, with the exception of a short double track section along Engadinstrasse in Chur, with a number of passing loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
s along the route: at all stations with the exception of Chur Stadt (and formerly Sassal), as well as at Chur Sand depot and at Haspelgrube near Arosa. The maximum incline is 6% but there is no rack-and-pinion
Rack railway
A rack-and-pinion railway is a railway with a toothed rack rail, usually between the running rails. The trains are fitted with one or more cog wheels or pinions that mesh with this rack rail...
used.
A short section of the line runs along the streets
Street running
On-street running or street running is when a railroad track or tramway track runs directly along city streets, without any separation. The rails are embedded in the road....
of Chur and is known as the Chur stadtbahn ("town railway"). In Chur, the line starts on Bahnhofplatz, in front of the main railway station, where that station's platforms for the Arosabahn are, though there is a second stop in Chur only 760 metres from the main station.
A 5-kilometre tunnel through the Mittenberg had been planned as an alternative route for the lower section of the line, avoiding running through the centre of Chur. This plan was finally dropped in 1996 as the considerable expense could not be justified.
Currently the train service (Regio) R4 provides the passenger service on the line and is shown as timetable 930 in the Swiss national timetables. It is well used by tourists coming to and from the resort at Arosa. The line also carries a substantial amount of freight.
Bellinzona–Mesocco line
This line is not connected to the others and it has been opened in 1907. Between 1942 and 2003, this line was owned by the Rhaetian Railway. Passenger service ceased in 1972, but a limited freight traffic continued until 2003. It is now owned by a private association (SEFT, Società Esercizio Ferroviario Turistico) and operated as a heritage railwayHeritage railway
thumb|right|the Historical [[Khyber train safari|Khyber Railway]] goes through the [[Khyber Pass]], [[Pakistan]]A heritage railway , preserved railway , tourist railway , or tourist railroad is a railway that is run as a tourist attraction, in some cases by volunteers, and...
for tourists over 13 km out of the original 31 km of line.
Ownership
The RhB is 51.3% owned by the Cantonal government of Graubünden, 43.1% by the Swiss Confederation, 4.6% is held privately and 1% is held by local communities.Headquarters
The RhB has its impressive headquartersHeadquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
in Chur, at Bahnhofstrasse 25.46.8517°N 9.5325°W
See also
- List of railway companies in Switzerland
- Glacier ExpressGlacier ExpressThe 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 and Rhaetian Railway...
- 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...
- Hakone Tozan RailwayHakone Tozan RailwayThe is a private railway company in Japan, part of the Odakyū Group. It is best known for its operation of the Hakone Tozan Line, the first mountain railway in Japan, but like most Japanese railway companies, also operates bus service, namely Hakone Tozan Bus...
: JapanJapanJapan 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...
ese private mountain railway, twinning railway with RhB. - 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:...
Literature
- Carl Camenisch: Die Rhätische Bahn: mit besonderer Berücksichtigung der Albula-Route. Orell Füssli Verlag, Zürich 1904, (without ISBN)
External links
- RhB official website (English)
- The Rhaetian Network Image presentations of famous Rhaetian lines
- Rail-info.ch description
- Railfaneurope.net, RhB photos