Rhaetian railway Switzerland

Posted 12 years ago

My friends and I where wondering if this railway is a good choice?
I know its super long but it is one of three railways in the world that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Can anyone offer any advice? If you have travelled this before and recommend it or not please do tell your experience :D Also is this railway included on the inter rail global pass ticket?

Thanks

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Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

replied 12 years ago

Hi,

definitely go there it is a must-see! :)

The UNESCO World Heritage includes the Albula line from Thusis to St Moritz and the Bernina line from St Moritz to Tirano. This route is ideal if you are heading from Germany/Switzerland to Italy. If you are headed more in an East - West direction, you could at least travel on parts of the route and then follow the route of the Glacier Express.
What route have you planned? :)

The network of RhB (Rhätische Bahn) is fully covered by InterRail with the exception of the panoramic trains Glacier Express and Bernina Express for which you would need an extra reservation. Anyway, you can use regional trains that run on the same routes for free.

:arr: Landwasserviadukt, probably the most famous of the many bridges of the RhB. This is just after Filsur in direction of Thusis.
[img:8iu28k1w]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6053685845_9e099406a1_b.jpg[/img:8iu28k1w]

:arr: Montebello curve on the Bernina line, just after Morteratsch on the way to Ospizio Bernina.
[img:8iu28k1w]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6146/6043168711_ef828e06b7_b.jpg[/img:8iu28k1w]

:arr: Obere Berninabachbrücke, some kilometres away from Montebello curve:
[img:8iu28k1w]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6192/6037392647_225e8e9c3e_b.jpg[/img:8iu28k1w]

:arr: At Lago Bianco, about 2250m asl on the Bernina line:
[img:8iu28k1w]http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5063007069_fdac91c438_b.jpg[/img:8iu28k1w]

If you have any further questions, just ask. ;)

Flo 8)

Aliceinwonderland
Traveller
2 comments

replied 12 years ago

Hi,

Thank you so much for your reply,

It looks unreal we will definetely be fitting that into our trip.
We are starting in Bruges>Brussels>Strasbourg>Zurich>Milan>Venice>Rijeka>Ljubijana>Vienna>Krakow>Prague and then home. What do you think??? We were going to take the Rhaetian railway from Zurich to Milan.

Also would it be worth it to pay extra for the panoramic trains Glacier Express and Bernina Express ??

Thanks so much for your advice, its a great help especially as this is our first inter-railing trip,
Alice.

Flo
Traveller
10724 comments

replied 12 years ago

Hej Alice,

Zürich to Milano via Albula and Bernina is no problem within a day. You will pass all places I mentioned above. Have a look here
:arr: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/zurich-to-milan[/u]

If you want, you could also leave Zürich earlier and spend make a stop somewhere along the route, maybe at Ospizio Bernina on the Bernina route:
[img:2k6c9lru]http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6051876565_0109de13c1_b.jpg[/img:2k6c9lru]

Or, if you have enough time, stay overnight, either at the hostels in Pontresina or Ospizio Bernina or at the campsite in Morteratsch. :)

I would not pay extra for Glacier/Bernina Express...the views are splendid anyway and when travelling with regional trains you can open the windows which you cant in the panoramic coaches.

Flo 8)

Aliceinwonderland
Traveller
2 comments

replied 12 years ago

Thanks again Flo, your advice is greatly appreciated!!

We shall look into that and possibly make a stop along the way 8)

Thanks again,
Alice :D