THE GLACIER EXPRESS
Zermatt-Brig-Chur-St Moritz
The
Glacier Express connects the world-renowned resort of St. Moritz with
a destination with a less recognized name but a more famous mountain,
the Matterhorn. Taking eight hours to make its journey, up steep mountain
massifs and down river valleys past a series of unforgettable views and
impressions, the route of the Glacier Express traverses southern Switzerland
from Zermatt, through Visp, Brig, Andermatt, Disentis, and Chur to St.
Moritz, crossing the high pass divide between the sources of the Rhine
and Rhone
Rivers, which flow out of the Alps in opposite paths. The Glacier Express
can be taken in either direction. Lunch on the Glacier Express is served
at your seat as the scenery rolls by the tall panoramic windows by the
skilled wait staff, performing the ritual high pour which is as much
floor show as meal service.
The
train itself, branded the Glacier Express, as Switzerland’s
first and best known scenic route, in a livery of red and white is
a showpiece on its own. The air-conditioned panoramic coaches glide
smoothly on both narrow and standard gauge tracks through the mountain
forests and Alpine pastures. The scenic route passes over a total
of the 291 bridges, including the stunningly remarkable engineering
feat of the Landvasser viaduct, where the train seemingly flies across
a river gorge and dives right into the side of a mountain.
A
seat reservation is mandatory on the Glacier Express. If you have a Swiss
Pass or Rail Pass, the route requires a supplimental surcharge. (A Eurail
Pass is good between St Moritz and Disentis, but with a charge from Disentis
to Zermatt). Be sure to reserve lunch on the train. You also have the
opportunity of
being
served snacks and beverages when the mood strikes. (If you don't reserve lunch, take something to eat, because the stops are very short). The nearest major
airports to the Glacier Express are Geneva, Zurich and Milan, all about
equi-distant, about 4 hours by train. The schedule varies depending on
the season, running four trains a day departing between 9-10 am and arriving
at the destination around 5-6 pm. The Glacier Express doesn’t operate
mid-October to Mid-December. Other regular schedule trains follow the
same tracks. To get to the glaciers from either end of the route, take
the Gornergrat cog rail from Zermatt or the train from St. Moritz to
the Diavolezza aerial tram. © sbr.
