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Bernina Express

Connecting Switzerland and Italy via the highest mountain railway in the Alps, the Bernina Express train rises to the challenges presented by snow, ice and the steepest gradients to delight passengers with a four-hour journey of breath-taking beauty through this iconic mountain range.

Beginning in the north at Chur, capital of the canton of Graubünden and the oldest city in Switzerland, the narrow-gauge railway that carries the scarlet-liveried Bernina Express winds its way south-eastwards through the Alps, crossing into Italy shortly after Poschiavo, to its destination in Tirano.

Highlights

The Alpine passage that the Bernina Express makes from Switzerland to Italy has been acclaimed as Switzerland's most scenic journey, and passengers have much to admire from the train's panoramic windows.

The first part of the route from Chur passes through the area of Switzerland most populated with castles. As the train ascends into the glacier-dominated region of Bernina itself, the scenery becomes increasingly breath-taking. However, the views are at their most magnificent at the mountain-ringed Lake Bianco, whose placid waters mirror the sky above.

Of the 55 tunnels and 196 bridges that help the train negotiate the trickier natural elements of the route, Solis Viaduct and famous Landwasser Viaduct are particularly spectacular.

Our customers love our Bernina Express tours

Classic Glacier Express

21/May

DAVE

“Excellent hotels, well organised trips, great tour manager, wonderful scenery and trains. Sending suitcase ahead great help, but takes a long time.

Collected by Trustpilot

Traditional Glacier Express in Winter

1/Apr

Nick

“A wonderful holiday made especially good by our tour guide Lydia. She was fantastic.

Collected by Trustpilot

Classic Glacier Express at Christmas

16/Jan

David Rose

“As ever with Great Rail, this was a super trip with a very good tour manager - Linda. The hotels were very nice with some excellent meals. Glacier Express and Bernina Express were wonderful ways to see Switzerland. We really enjoyed the experience but a note to anyone going on a rail trip across Europe - you will have to change trains at various cities and be able to manage yourself and your bags across busy stations. We enjoy the excitement of rail travel but some folks seem surprised that a good level of mobility is required.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mountaintops of Switzerland

30 Oct 2022

Mr Clive Andrew Richardson

“Well organised

Collected by Trustpilot

First-Class Glacier Express, Zermatt and Matterhorn

14 Oct 2022

Dr Robinson

“Fantastic service and a wonderful destination

Collected by Trustpilot

Grand Alpine Explorer

08 Sep 2022

Ian Rowe

“Leaving by Eurostar remains a pleasure compared to a busy airport. First class rail travel between centres worked well. Good to excellent hotels en route. Affable small group and our friendly tour guide kept everything moving to schedule. Stunning locations.

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Traditional Glacier Express

24/May

David Prior

“Wonderful holiday, with a brilliant tour manager. Fly in the ointment was poor luggage carrier service.

Collected by Trustpilot

Lake Como and The Bernina Express

16 Oct 2022

Susan Atkins

“The Grand Hotel Cadenabbia is a delightful place to spend a lovely week, and the Lingotto Hotel is a very good and interesting stopover. However, because the long tedious waits for trains and coaches made the travel exhausting, plus long coach journeys on some excursions, I can't quite give it 5 stars. The Tour manager was brilliant and deserves 6 stars! The itinerary needs to be re-thought.

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Klosters and The Glacier Express

01 Oct 2022

Denis Long

“St Pancras a nightmare. Train travel great wonderful scenery. One day too energetic when walk instead of taxi/ bus. Manager excellent particularly when medical emergency affected our family.

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A touch of class

Bernina Express trains typically comprise two or three First and Second class carriages separated by a bar and services carriage at the train's centre. The carriages in both classes are spacious and offer air conditioning, panoramic windows, comfortable seating and an at-seat trolley service providing light refreshments.

Second Class carriages are designed to carry more passengers and are configured with two rows of tables, one each side of the carriage, each of which provides seating for four people.

First Class carriages comprise one row of four-seater tables and one row of double seats. Carrying fewer passengers than Second Class carriages means that First Class passengers enjoy more space and greater legroom and larger, leather-upholstered seats. Fewer seats in First Class also mean that the views from the carriages' larger panoramic windows are less obstructed.

The section of the Bernina Express's route that passes through the Albula and Bernina regions between the Swiss Town of Thusis and the Italian town of Tirano became a UNESCO World Heritage Site status in 2008.

This prestigious status recognises the supreme feats of engineering that were achieved by railway builders in the early twentieth century in overcoming natural obstacles to connect remote Alpine settlements whilst simultaneously minimising the impact upon the stunning landscape.

Passengers can learn more about the route, its history and its highlights courtesy of an on-board commentary during the journey.

From the train's terminus in Tirano, the connecting Bernina Express allows passengers to continue their journey by road along a route that follows the shores of Lake Como and Lake Lugano to the city of Lugano itself on the Swiss/Italian border.

Bernina Express

Highlights

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A touch of class