Glacier Express - Swiss Panoramic Railway | PolishTrains

At a glance

• The Glacier Express runs 291 km between Zermatt and St Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels
• The full journey takes 7 hours 56 minutes at a leisurely maximum speed of 40 km/h
• The train first ran on 25 June 1930 and now carries around 250,000 passengers each year
• Seat reservation is compulsory for all passengers and must be booked separately from the travel ticket
• The Swiss Travel Pass covers the Glacier Express fare but does not include the compulsory reservation fee
• The highest point of the route is the Oberalp Pass at an altitude of 2,044 metres above sea level

The train starts its route in Zermatt and runs all the way to St Moritz in Switzerland. The route extends through Switzerland's narrow-gauge railways. The train passes through meadows and mountain passes, circling stone castles. Crossing 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels, it hooks up with mountain virgin landscapes, exclusive resorts, deep gorges and beautiful valleys.

The Glacier Express first travelled the route from Zermatt to St Moritz, and then in the opposite direction, on 25 June 1930. The oldest section of the current Glacier Express route is the Visp - Zermatt cog railway line. It was put into service, after 3 years of difficult construction, in 1891.

Around 250,000 passengers travel on the Glacier Express every year. Travelling on this panoramic train is so popular that seats have to be booked well in advance during the peak summer season.

Passengers board the train in Zermatt, located at the foot of the Matterhorn (4478 m). From there, the train travels along Switzerland's stately resorts. Today it attracts travellers who, moving slowly, are enchanted by the scenery. The Glacier Express passes through the town of Visp and arrives at Brig located on the banks of the Rhône and its tributary Saltina. There, passengers can admire the Stockalper castle.

The panoramic train continues along the Rhône via the Furka Tunnel to Andermatt. This is a lovely valley surrounded by mountains. The express also squeezes through the Grand Canyon of Switzerland and ascends the Oberalp Pass (2044 m). This pass is the highest point of this amazing rail journey. The train then crosses the impressive Landwasser viaduct in the Albula Valley, which forms five circular arches. From the bridge, the passenger can admire the Landwasser Gorge. In the next stage of the journey, the Vorderrhein River appears next to the tracks. The Glacier Express follows it all the way to Chur, which is the oldest town in Switzerland. The traveller then reaches St Moritz, which is Switzerland's winter wonderland and the cradle of Alpine tourism. It is home to millions of hiking trails in the middle of the Alps.

In addition to a dose of varied and beautiful mountain scenery, the traveller can head to the restaurant carriage. It has an elegant décor. The friendly staff will make the passenger feel even more special.

It is worth mentioning that the panoramic train takes numerous curves and loops at a considerable height, which is certainly most impressive. The Glacier Express passes through tunnels such as the 207 m long Butzen, the 284 m long Biel and the 300 m long Rufenen - the longest railway tunnel on the route.

A journey with the Glacier Express means an ever-changing landscape and the accompanying extraordinary emotions. And all of this in the highest mountains of Europe - the Alps. Every passenger dreams of travelling on such a panoramic train. What's more, it is a real dream!

How do I buy a ticket for the Swiss Panorama Railway?

You can book your ticket via the booking form, e-mail: kontakt@polishtrains.eu or by phone: 703 402 010 (Call cost: 2.58 PLN including VAT/min). Feel free to contact us!