Bernina Express, Glacier Express, etc?
Jul 18th, 2013, 03:52 PM
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Bernina Express, Glacier Express, etc?
Has anyone taken one of the Bernina Express, Glacier Express or any of the other trains that travel through the Alps?
If you have, I'd appreciate your opinion of the train trip you took.
I saw a video that Man_in_Seat_61 took of the Arlberg Express and was impressed by it. That sort of mountain trip is something in which I'm very interested.
If you have, I'd appreciate your opinion of the train trip you took.
I saw a video that Man_in_Seat_61 took of the Arlberg Express and was impressed by it. That sort of mountain trip is something in which I'm very interested.
Jul 18th, 2013, 04:01 PM
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We took the Bernina Express from Tirano to Pontresina but just went on the regional train. Same track, same views but didn't need to pre-book. Loved it, one of those everlasting memories from our holiday. On the train we were able to hang out the windows for photo's of the amazing scenery as we were the only people in the carriage, we were darting from side to side. We enjoyed it so much we did part of the track again a couple of days later, got off in one of the small villages, had a walk and returned to Pontresina.
The "pigtail" loops were amazing as we wound our way up the valley. Yes, it is certainly worth doing in my humble opinion. Pack a picnic and a bottle of wine, sit back and enjoy.
The "pigtail" loops were amazing as we wound our way up the valley. Yes, it is certainly worth doing in my humble opinion. Pack a picnic and a bottle of wine, sit back and enjoy.
Jul 18th, 2013, 04:47 PM
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Like Maudie, I took the "Bernina Express" route from Tirano to Pontresina using a "normal" regional train. Loved it! Among the most beautiful train rides imaginable.
On a different day, I took the "Bernina Express" route from Samedan to Chur, again using a regional train. I enjoyed this ride immensely, but didn't think the scenery quite as stunning as that on the southern stretch from Tirano to Pontresina. Not that it wasn't stunning - it was!!! just not quite as awesome. There were more stretches in tunnels and more stretches where the scenery was glimpsed through a screen of trees. On the hand, the northern stretch was built using some of the more impressive engineering feats.
And I took the "Golden Pass" route from Montreux to Gstaad using a regional train -- another awesome ride! I'd give the edge to the ride from Tirano to Pontresina, but not by much, and this ride was shorter.
I rode lots of other trains through the Swiss Alps and honestly, just about every one was a ride through an earthly paradise. Just be prepared to exhaust yourself running from side to side!
On a different day, I took the "Bernina Express" route from Samedan to Chur, again using a regional train. I enjoyed this ride immensely, but didn't think the scenery quite as stunning as that on the southern stretch from Tirano to Pontresina. Not that it wasn't stunning - it was!!! just not quite as awesome. There were more stretches in tunnels and more stretches where the scenery was glimpsed through a screen of trees. On the hand, the northern stretch was built using some of the more impressive engineering feats.
And I took the "Golden Pass" route from Montreux to Gstaad using a regional train -- another awesome ride! I'd give the edge to the ride from Tirano to Pontresina, but not by much, and this ride was shorter.
I rode lots of other trains through the Swiss Alps and honestly, just about every one was a ride through an earthly paradise. Just be prepared to exhaust yourself running from side to side!
Jul 18th, 2013, 05:05 PM
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http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...iss-trains.cfm
My coverage is in this thread I did a few years back - in short Bernina Express to me the most awesomely scenic train ride in Europe - Glacier Express the most over hyped train ride in Europe - so-so scenery for Switzerland most of its tedious 8-hour marathon if done the whole way - way way over hyped.
For lots on scenic Swiss trains I always highlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.
My coverage is in this thread I did a few years back - in short Bernina Express to me the most awesomely scenic train ride in Europe - Glacier Express the most over hyped train ride in Europe - so-so scenery for Switzerland most of its tedious 8-hour marathon if done the whole way - way way over hyped.
For lots on scenic Swiss trains I always highlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.swisstravelsystem.com; http://www.budgeteuropetravel.com/id3.html and www.ricksteves.com.
Jul 18th, 2013, 05:06 PM
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http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...a-nutshell.cfm - the second part or maybe the first part of my old thread on scenic Swiss trains, to which many others made great contributions such as a discussion of the Glacier Express.
Jul 18th, 2013, 05:41 PM
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I've been on the Glacier Express and the scenery was nice. It's Switzerland after all. We travelled from Zermatt to Chur and it was a relaxing way to get back to Zurich. The meal was good and the trip was overall very nice and scenic. If it fits your itinerary do it.
Jul 18th, 2013, 09:30 PM
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Hi Pegontheroad
Yes, I've taken the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, and the Golden Pass. My favorites are the Bernina and the Golden Pass.
The Glacier Express is just too long, imo; it takes 8 hours for the trip. I also find it to be rather relentless and repetitious -- except for its highest point, the bit between Andermatt and Disentis. Just fyi, I took this trip after getting to Chur by train from Garmisch/Innsbruck through the Tyrolian Alps, and I thought that trip was at least as beautiful as the GE.
The Bernina Express is so wonderful because it covers so much varied landscapes. It starts in the mountains (you can start at Pontresina or at St. Mortiz), then climbs even higher up to Alp Grüm and past its glacier, then it winds down into the lush green Poschiavo valley to the sweet Italianite town of Poschiavo. You could stay on as far as La Presse, which is by the Lake of Poschiavo. This trip takes about 2h, and it's a nice day when you have a walk around Poschiavo and a meal.
The Golden Pass is also wonderful because of its varied terrain, though it's not quite as dramatic as along the Bernina Valley. The great part (for me) of the trip starts (or ends . . ) in the high Alps around Interlaken, then rolls through the mountains as they diminish, then through the Prealps and finally dips down to end at the stunning blue waters of Lake Geneva. This trip takes about 4 hours; if you have a day, you can stop in Gruyeres or in Gstaad for a meal and to stretch your legs.
I'll also add that I never think a train trip is a good idea as a destination in itself. At best the scenery you see will be through a tv-sized window. It's best to see the scenery face-to-face, with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. You don't need to be an athlete to do this, either -- just make sure you have enough time in a town to ascend a cable car, head for a mountaintop café, and soak it all up for a few hours. It beats a train view by about 1000%.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Yes, I've taken the Glacier Express, the Bernina Express, and the Golden Pass. My favorites are the Bernina and the Golden Pass.
The Glacier Express is just too long, imo; it takes 8 hours for the trip. I also find it to be rather relentless and repetitious -- except for its highest point, the bit between Andermatt and Disentis. Just fyi, I took this trip after getting to Chur by train from Garmisch/Innsbruck through the Tyrolian Alps, and I thought that trip was at least as beautiful as the GE.
The Bernina Express is so wonderful because it covers so much varied landscapes. It starts in the mountains (you can start at Pontresina or at St. Mortiz), then climbs even higher up to Alp Grüm and past its glacier, then it winds down into the lush green Poschiavo valley to the sweet Italianite town of Poschiavo. You could stay on as far as La Presse, which is by the Lake of Poschiavo. This trip takes about 2h, and it's a nice day when you have a walk around Poschiavo and a meal.
The Golden Pass is also wonderful because of its varied terrain, though it's not quite as dramatic as along the Bernina Valley. The great part (for me) of the trip starts (or ends . . ) in the high Alps around Interlaken, then rolls through the mountains as they diminish, then through the Prealps and finally dips down to end at the stunning blue waters of Lake Geneva. This trip takes about 4 hours; if you have a day, you can stop in Gruyeres or in Gstaad for a meal and to stretch your legs.
I'll also add that I never think a train trip is a good idea as a destination in itself. At best the scenery you see will be through a tv-sized window. It's best to see the scenery face-to-face, with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. You don't need to be an athlete to do this, either -- just make sure you have enough time in a town to ascend a cable car, head for a mountaintop café, and soak it all up for a few hours. It beats a train view by about 1000%.
Have fun as you plan!
s
Jul 19th, 2013, 07:46 AM
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The Glacier Express would be more tolerable IMO if you broke your journey in say Andermatt - about half way and a nice town in a nice scenic setting - then the next day go on to either St Moritz or Zermatt.
Jul 19th, 2013, 11:31 AM
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Just rode the Bernina Express route from Chur to St Moritz area, then on to Poschiavo and back.
As suggested, you can take the local trains rather than the express cars with the large windows and get a great view. No reservation needed.
I also second the idea of getting off and not just riding through. You can either ride up cable car to glacier, view eroding rocks, walk around town, or hike from station to station (trail along entire route).
Also agree that the Chur section is more for engineering than view. The route through Klosters is scenic as is the route through Lichtenstein and Tyrol into Austria, but the pass gives you the close up of glaciers.
As suggested, you can take the local trains rather than the express cars with the large windows and get a great view. No reservation needed.
I also second the idea of getting off and not just riding through. You can either ride up cable car to glacier, view eroding rocks, walk around town, or hike from station to station (trail along entire route).
Also agree that the Chur section is more for engineering than view. The route through Klosters is scenic as is the route through Lichtenstein and Tyrol into Austria, but the pass gives you the close up of glaciers.
Jul 21st, 2013, 09:39 AM
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Also agree that the Chur section is more for engineering than view>
Chur to St Moritz - actually many GE trains do not go thru Chur but cut off just before it - then the fantastic - engineering anyway - part the Albula Pass where the train corkscrews up and around and loops thru tunnels, etc - UNESCO deems it a World Heritage Site because of the amazing feats of railway engineering for circa 1900 - so not dramatically scenic like Bernina Pass line but amazing for the infrastructure climbing Alps.
Chur to St Moritz - actually many GE trains do not go thru Chur but cut off just before it - then the fantastic - engineering anyway - part the Albula Pass where the train corkscrews up and around and loops thru tunnels, etc - UNESCO deems it a World Heritage Site because of the amazing feats of railway engineering for circa 1900 - so not dramatically scenic like Bernina Pass line but amazing for the infrastructure climbing Alps.
Jul 22nd, 2013, 12:59 PM
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Jul 24th, 2013, 12:27 PM
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I have ridden in open-air cars - flat-bed cars on the Bernina Pass rail line - on regular non-BE trains and I thought it was wonderful - 2nd class cars and with no top much better even than the Panoramic observation cars on the official BE!
