The Bernina Express is a train that runs between Chur, Switzerland, and Tirano, Italy. Since the railway was built without using a tracking system, the cogwheel track used to handle steep sections, a number of extra loops and tunnels had to be created in order to artificially lengthen the track. The journey on the Bernina Express is a 4 hour train journey, 140 kilometres (87 miles) across 196 bridges, through 55 tunnels and across the Bernina Pass, the highest point at 2,253 metres (7510 feet)
The Bernina Express runs all year. It is run by Rhatische Bahn, its whole network uses the narrow gauge (1000 mm), rather than the standard gauge (1435 mm) used by the SBB. The Chur railway station is used by both companies, so you can take an SBB train from Zurich to Chur. Chur is a good place for the railway enthusiast, with many beautiful railways in the neighbourhood. The famous Glacier Express stops in Chur on its way between St. Moritz and Zermatt. Rhatische Bahn has many interesting tracks, for example the journey up to Arosa.
BERNINA
The first part of the Bernina Express runs along the Rhine. Due to the strategic location of the valley, you will see plenty of old castles and ruins. Once out of the Rhine valley, the breathtaking mountain views begin. The tallest bridge is the Solis Bridge but the Landwasser Viaduct is better known. The latter has a length of 136 metres and a height of 65 metres. It has six arches and is slightly curved.
If you have time, you can stop in Filisur and take some photos of both the Landwasser Viaduct and the Wiesen Bridge, with 204 metres the longest stone bridge in Graubunden. For the Wiesen Bridge you can take the train towards Davos or walk to Wiesen. It is 1.5-2 hour walk from Filisur, and you can walk across the Wiesen Bridge. The longest tunnel is the Albula tunnel (length 5865 metres) between Preda and Spinas. It was opened in 1903. At an altitude of 1883 metres it is the highest railway tunnel in the Alps.
In 1904 the railway connected St. Moritz with Chur. Before that the journey from Chur to St. Moritz took 15 hours by stagecoach. Thanks to the railway line, St. Moritz became an exclusive winter resort. The Bernina Express from Chur does not go to St. Moritz, you need to change trains in Samedan if you want to visit St. Moritz. It is possible to take a train from St. Moritz to Tirano, this was the original Bernina Line.
Ospozio Bernina, altitude of 2253 metres, is the highest point of the railway. The lake along this part of the track is Lago Bianco. On one side of the lake, the water flows via the river Inn and the Danube into the Black Sea and on the other side, the water flows via the river Adda and the Po into the Adriatic Sea.
In the Italian speaking part of the Bernina Express, the train sometimes uses the streets of the villages and looks more like a tram than a train. The famous 360 degree spiral viaduct, the Kreis Viaduct (9 arches and a length of 116 metres), in Brusio is used to overcome the height difference within a small distance. It is a very popular target for photographers.
Tirano is small town and most tourists either take the Bernina Express back to Chur or continue by Italian train to Milan (takes 2.5 hours) In summer, you can take the bus to Lugano, a 3 hour bus ride. Although not as spectacular as the Bernina Express, it is a nice bus ride. In Lugano, you can take another scenic train journey to Luzern.
Bernina Express - A Scenic Railway Journey in the Alps
For more information about the Bernina Express, go to
http://www.scenic-trains.com/Bernina-Express.php
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