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RHAETIAN RAILWAY
Railway of the Bernina and Glacier Express
The Rhaetian Railway (Rhätische Bahn in German, Ferrovia Retica
in Italian and Viafier Retica in Romansh) is the largest network of the
private railways i nSwitzerland, operating in the Swiss Canton of Graubünden,
with headquaters in Chur and serving the Engadin, through the UNESCO
World Heritage tunnels and bridges which make up parts of the scenic
routes of the Glaciet Express and Bernina Express panoramic trains. The
railway serves several of Switzerlands southeastern tourist centers,
including St Moritz and Davos, crossing the Bernina Pass to the Italian
border at Tirano, where a change of stations link to the Italian Railways.
The Rhaetian Railways developed in several stages over the 19th and
early 20th centuries, with a number of different electrification systems
in
use with the Landquart to Davos line the first built in the system.
The Rhaetian Railway operates on some of the steepest grades in Switzerland
without the use cog track systems by engineering its track routes with
circular grades where tunnels and one viaduct loop, making for its
historic
World Heritage status. The network contains 84 tunnels and 383 bridges
and viaducts. The Albula-Bernina line of the railway which crosses
the Rhine River and follows the Albula River from Chur to St Moritz,
Pontresina
and through the Bernina Pass, is one of the some of the most dramatic
railway passage routes in the world. Including the famous Landwasser
Viaduct which crosses on stone arches high above the Albula river,
before entering the sheer rock cliff, one of the most photographed railway
bridges
in Europe.
The railway operates regular rail service on a variety of
rolling stock, generally distictive fire engine red livery, as well
as the branded
panoramic scenic trains of the Glacier Express and Bernina Express.
The Rhaetian
Railway connects with the Matterhorn-Gotthardbahn railway at Disentis.
Ticketing for the Rhaetian Railway train system is connected through
the SBB national railway system. Swiss Pass and Eurail Passes are
valid, with the branded scenic train requiring a reservation and possible
suppliment
Rhaetian
Railway
Bernina Express Booking
Swiss Pass Unlimited Travel
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