Glacier Express
Route: Davos/St Moritz - Chur - Disentis - Andermatt - Brig - Visp - Zermatt
Glacier Express the 'world's slowest express train' travels what is one of the most beautiful stretches of railway in the world, linking the famous holiday resorts of St Moritz or Davos to Zermatt. Experience the one-of-a-kind mountain landscape of the Swiss Alps on a spectacular train journey.
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Winter Timetable - valid 13th December 2009 to 12th May 2010
All trains stop at Chur, Disentis, Andermatt, Brig and Visp
St Moritz to Zermatt Zermatt to St Moritz
Train 903 Train 910
Depart 9.04 - arrive 16.52 Depart 10.00 - arrive 17.58
Davos Platz to Zermatt Zermatt to Davos Platz
Train 903 Train 910
Depart 9.31 - arrive 16.52 Depart 10.00 - arrive 17.29
Please note the Davos Platz trains have a change in Filsur
Chur to Visp Visp to Chur
Train 901 Train 900
Depart 10.15 - arrive 14.37 Depart 10.05 - arrive 14.38
Please note the Chur - Visp trains runs from 25th December to 4th January and 1st February to 15th May
Please note food is served at your seat on these trains
Summer Timetable - valid 13th May to 31 October 2010
All trains stop at Filisur, Tiefencastel, Thusis, Chur, Disentis, Andermatt, Brig and Visp
St Moritz to Zermatt
Train 905 Train 907 Train 909
Depart 9.17 - arrive 16.52 Depart 9.19 - arrive 17.11 Depart 10.02 - arrive 17.52
Davos to Zermatt (runs 13 May to 17 October 2010)
Train 911
Depart 10.41 - arrive 18.31
Zermatt to St Moritz
Train 904 Train 906 Train 908
Depart 9.13 - arrive 16.58 Depart 10.00 - arrive 17.42 Depart 10.13 - arrive 17.42
Zermatt to Davos (runs 13 May to 17 October 2010)
Train 902
Depart 9.00 - arrive 16.48
Please note on train 902 as there is no dining car
Glacier Express Costs
Based on half fare card which is included in all our holidays (except self drive).
Davos to Zermatt or vice versa 2nd class £44 per person or 1st class £73 per person
St Moritz to Zermatt or vice versa - 2nd class £47 per person or 1st class £78 per person
Glacier Express booking fee
Booking fee - £26 per person
Supplements
Lunch on board - £26 per person
ALL FARES ARE AS A GUIDE ONLY AND WILL VARY ACCORDING TO YOUR ACTUAL ITINERARY
First and Second Class Travel. All panoramic viewing cars both 1st and 2nd class are air conditioned and offer oversized windows which extend into the roof cove providing all round panoramic views. Along the route, the most important features are described via headphones in English. First class carriages have 36 seats (6 x four-seater and 6 x two-seater compartments and a central aisle) with tables. Please note on train numbers 902 & 911 there are conventional 1st class carriages in a non panoramic design without air conditioning. Second class carriages have 48 seats (12 x four-seater compartments and a central aisle) with table.
On Board Meals and Drinks. The service staff will tell you about the range of food and drink and will take your orders and your lunch will be served to you in your seat. The service car, where all the food is prepared is located in the middle of the train, between first and second class.
The service car also has a small bistro with capacity for 24 at standing tables and serves a selection of hot and cold drinks and light snacks. If you require anything at any time during your trip, just press the service button in your carriage.
Commentary of your Glacier Express journey. Information is available via your headphones in English, When information is about to be played, this is indicated on the display and you will also hear a gong signal.
On-Board Shop. You will find a selection of souvenirs available on board. These will be served to you by the shop personnel on board.
Non-Smoking. The Glacier Express is a non-smoking train.
Route: Davos/St Moritz - Chur - Disentis - Andermatt - Brig - Visp - Zermatt
Preda / Bergün (From St Moritz only)
Preda has been in existence since the railway line was built in 1898. The most spectacular section of the Glacier Express line lies between Preda and Bergün. Six towering viaducts, three spiral tunnels and two helical tunnels make it possible to scale the 400m height difference.
Landwasser viaduct
At a height of 65m and a length of 130m, the Landwasser viaduct has become the emblem of the Glacier Express. The impressive construction on five walled pillars leads in a curved path with a 100m radius directly into the Landwasser tunnel.
Chur
Chur is the oldest town in Switzerland, with a history a settlement spanning around 5,000 years. It is also the main town in the canton of Graubünden (Grisons). Today, Chur is a modern bustling town with a wealth of historical architecture. The historical quarter, with its winding alleys and tucked-away squares is an ideal setting for strolling around.
Rhine gorge
After the last Ice Age, there were huge landslides at Flims. It was these momentous events that gave rise to the gorge landscape we see here today, which is known as the 'Swiss Grand Canyon'. This section of the river was largely inaccessible until the Rhetian Railway was opened in 1903.
Disentis
Disentis is the largest Romansh speaking community in Switzerland. The village is visually dominated by the monastery. Both the monastry and the church with its double spires date from as far back as 1683-1695, making the monastery the oldest Benedictine abbey in Switzerland.
Oberalp pass
When you travel along the Oberalp pass, the engine pulls the train up to a height of 2,033m above sea-level with the help of the cog wheel, making this the highest point of your journey.
Andermatt
Andermatt was founded by the Walsers in the 12th century. Sights here are the Columban church and the baroque Church of St. Peter and St Paul. By the Devil's Bridge in the Schöllenen gorge, you will see the memorial to those who fell in the Russian general Suworrow's Alpine campaign in 1799.
Brig
The history of the Valais is also the history of Brig, the centre of the German speaking Valais. Founded in 1250, the town experienced a glittering economic rise to the status of a trade metropolis. No small contribution to this rise was made by Kasper Jodok von Stockalper, who set up the trade and transport of goods between France and Lombardy.
The magnificent Stockalper Palace, with its famous arcade courtyard and three onion domes, bears testament to his influence. Brig is the starting point for the fantastic hiking trails into the landscape of the great Aletsch glacier, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
Zermatt
The last section of the journey takes you through wild and romantic larch woods, through avalanche protection structures and tunnels, to the world renowned car-free town of Zermatt. Just before you arrive in the station, the majestic Matterhorn, 4,478m above sea-level, looms up before your eyes.
The Visp - Zermatt section of the line was opened in 1891 after two and a half years of construction. The foresight of the railway engineers of the time is amazing, they realised that the valley communities who had lived off the land for centuries would have to look to tourism to sustain them in the long term. And so it was - the new rail connection brought a new lease of life and prosperity to the people of Zermatt. Today, the tourist infrastructure of Zermatt leaves nothing to be desired.
Glacier Express suggested itinerary
