46°35′42″N 9°45′36″E / 46.59500°N 9.76000°E / 46.59500; 9.76000
31-455: The Glacier Express is a direct train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz via Andermatt in the central Swiss Alps . The train provides a one-seat ride for an 8-hour end-to-end 291-kilometre (181 mi) journey, and omits stops made by local trains. The Glacier Express has been called the 'slowest express train in the world'. As St. Moritz and Zermatt are home to two well-known mountains,
62-458: A " destination resort " that provides accommodations and activities or a "resort town" that offers amenities near outdoor areas. They include winter sports like skiing , snowboarding , and ice skating and summer activities such as hiking , golf , and tennis . Sightseeing and related activities, such as leaf peeping to appreciate fall colors, are also common where foliage turns. In hot climates, hill and mountain resorts are visited for
93-644: A few scenes of the documentary film The Alps were shot inside the train, and further new panorama cars were added to the Glacier Express passenger car fleet. On 7 July 2008, the Albula Railway and the Bernina Railway were jointly recorded in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites , under the name Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes . Currently, the Glacier Express
124-592: A hot lunch in a Mitropa dining car . From 1933, the Glacier Express through coaches were attached to normal passenger trains between Brig and Zermatt. In the earliest years of the Glacier Express, electric locomotives were used to haul the Glacier Express on the BVZ and the RhB, but steam locomotives were used on the FO. That changed in 1941-1942, when overhead catenary was installed on the FO, enabling completely electric operation for
155-530: A merger between the BVZ and the FO. The entire line is metre gauge ( narrow gauge ), with 23.9 kilometres (14.9 mi) using the rack-and-pinion system both for ascending steep grades and to control descent. The completion of the final portion of the FO in 1926 opened up the cantons of Valais and Graubünden to further tourist development. In particular, a pathway was laid for the introduction of Kurswagen ( through coaches ) between Brig and Chur , and between Brig and St. Moritz. In early June 1930,
186-553: A short distance (400 m [1,300 ft] for 5 km [3.1 mi]). After another spiral, the train reaches Filisur at the end of the valley at (1,032 m or 3,386 ft). From there, the train passes on the Landwasser Viaduct , the most emblematic landmark of the railway line and continues toward Thusis (720 m or 2,360 ft) where it reaches the Posterior Rhine and follows it to
217-532: A ski area extends to the Graubünden side, connecting the pass well into the Tujetsch territory to Dieni, near Rueras. The major European river Rhine springs from a source nearby ( Lai da Tuma ), which can be accessed by hiking two hours from Oberalp Pass. A multiday trekking route is signposted across Oberalp pass and along the young Rhine called Senda Sursilvana . Oberalpsee is located 20 m below, in
248-616: Is an important station as it is the end of the open road, and therefore a terminal for motorists. After a steeper section the train finally arrives in Zermatt at 1,616 m (5,302 ft), after nearly 8 hours of travel. Mountain resort A mountain resort is a place to holiday or vacation located in an elevated and typically at least relatively isolated area. The term resort implies integral hotel or inn accommodations, restaurants, and either or both sports facilities or scenic attractions like birdwatching . These can be part of
279-423: Is especially popular with tourists from Germany , Japan , and, increasingly, India . In 2013, the direct service to Davos was discontinued because of decreasing passenger numbers and unfavourable economic circumstances. In 2018, two additional summer services were introduced. Each morning one service departs from Zermatt to Chur, and one service departs from St. Moritz to Brig. These services then travel back in
310-868: The Furka Pass (operated today by the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway ), to emerge in Oberwald (1,368 m or 4,488 ft) in the Goms Valley, in the Canton of Valais . The train then continues toward Brig , following the course of the Rhone , and passes along the villages of Ulrichen (1,346 m or 4,416 ft), Münster-Geschinen (1,359 m or 4,459 ft) and Fiesch (1,049 m or 3,442 ft), before going through another spiral. From Brig, (678 m or 2,224 ft)
341-708: The Himalayas and in mountainous areas of South India known as "hill stations", where they could escape the summer heat of the plains. In the 18th century, in China , the emperors of the Qing dynasty built the Chengde Mountain Resort as a retreat from the summer heat of Beijing . In Pakistan , the Galyat areas are a popular summer destination. They are also a favorite spot for a cold snowy experience in
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#1732765338336372-607: The Rhone Glacier , which is near Gletsch , on the Furka Pass . Until 1982, the Glacier Express operated only in the summer months, because the Furka Pass and the Oberalp Pass were both snowed over in winter. Initially, the train was made up of first to third class salon and passenger coaches , supplied by all three of the participating railway companies. Between Chur and Disentis/Mustér , passengers could enjoy
403-898: The World Heritage Site known as the " Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes". The first Glacier Express started on 30 June 1930 at 07:30 in Zermatt. Initially, it was operated by three railway companies: the Visp-Zermatt-Bahn (VZ), the Furka Oberalp Bahn (FO), and the Rhätische Bahn (RhB). From 2003 to 2017, the train was operated by Rhätische Bahn (RhB) and the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB), which arose from
434-425: The 15.4 km-long (9.6 mi) Furka Tunnel at an elevation of 1,500 m (4,900 ft), which circumvents the Furka Pass — makes an intermediate stop at Andermatt in a secluded high Alpine valley, and traverses its high point on the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 m (6,670 ft) before descending to its low point at Chur at 585 m (1,919 ft). From Chur, the capital of the canton of Graubünden ,
465-707: The Glacier Express is also said to travel from Matterhorn to Piz Bernina . The journey from Zermatt starts at the dead end of an Alpine valley, the Mattertal , just below the Matterhorn at an elevation of 1,606 m (5,269 ft) before it descends to the huge valley of the Valais in Brig . It journeys 291 kilometres (181 mi) through the center of the Swiss Alps, over 291 bridges, through 91 tunnels — such as
496-657: The Glacier Express regains altitude, stopping at Filisur — where travelers can change for a connecting train to reach Davos to the east — and then traverses the Albula Range via a tunnel at 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) to reach the resort St. Moritz in a valley to the south. Since 2017, the train has been operated by the Glacier Express AG, a cooperation jointly owned by the former operators Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) and Rhaetian Railway (RhB). For much of its journey, it also passes along and through
527-463: The afternoon. On 23 July 2010, a Glacier Express train derailed near Fiesch on the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn line. One passenger was killed and 42 other passengers were injured. The accident was caused by the train traveling too fast as a result of human error . Shortly after leaving St. Moritz station (1,775 m or 5,823 ft) in Graubünden , the train passes Samedan and Bever on
558-554: The city of Chur (585 m or 1,919 ft). From Chur, the train follows back the course of the Rhine through the gorge of Ruinaulta and climbs slowly the valley toward Ilanz (698 m or 2,290 ft), Disentis/Mustér (1,142 m or 3,747 ft) and Sedrun (1,404 m or 4,606 ft). From Sedrun the line becomes steeper to finally reach its summit, the Oberalp Pass at 2,033 m (6,670 ft). From there
589-484: The cooler temperatures at higher elevations. In the United States and Canada the term "mountain resort" usually denotes a resort visited all year round, both for winter sports and summer activities, such as hiking , golf , tennis , and mountain biking . Some North American mountain resorts - both resort towns and individual venues - include: In British India , the colonial rulers developed resorts in
620-534: The dining car service was extended further, to Andermatt . In 1981, a Glacier Express era came to an end with the final closure for the winter of the FO line over the Furka Pass and through the Furka Summit Tunnel , between Oberwald , Gletsch and Realp. In June 1982, that FO line was replaced by the newly opened Furka Base Tunnel . As a consequence, the Glacier Express not only became disconnected from its namesake Rhone Glacier, but also could now, for
651-539: The direction of Andermatt. A railway station is located next to the Oberalppass road. It is at the base of the Oberalp ski area. The station is owned and run by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn . It has 3 platforms , one of which is a bay platform from Andermatt , and is often closed during the winter. The railway on both sides of the station is a single line, so Oberalppass is an important passing place. The station
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#1732765338336682-423: The first time, be operated on a year-round basis. At that time, the BVZ, FO and RhB took the opportunity to relaunch the Glacier Express as a tourist attraction. Promotional material focused on the train's status as "the slowest express train in the world", covering 291 km (181 mi), 91 tunnels, and over 291 bridges. A special promotional wine glass on a sloping base emphasised the steepness of some parts of
713-447: The full length of the route. However, no through trains were operated between 1943 and 1946, due to World War II . Upon the resumption of daily through trains in 1948, the dining car service was extended from Disentis/Mustér to the top of the Oberalp Pass. Between the 1950s and the 1970s, both the BVZ and the RhB introduced new locomotive classes that, when attached to the Glacier Express, enabled reductions in schedule times. Meanwhile,
744-652: The high Engadin plateau. There it continues in the Val Bever before entering the Albula Tunnel at 1,815 m (5,955 ft) under the Albula Pass . After the tunnel, the train passes through Preda , the first station in the Albula Valley and continues toward Bergün/Bravuogn . Between these two villages, the train has to go through many spirals because of the high difference of altitude within
775-480: The pass is closed in winter, but the Furka-Oberalp railway line, now part of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn , runs year round and provides a limited shuttle for cars in winter (reservation required). When the road closes depends on snowfall and varies between the end of October and the beginning of December. The road opens again in spring, usually by the end of April but sometimes not until mid May. In winter,
806-423: The route. Passenger numbers rose from 20,000 in 1982 to over 53,000 in 1983, and to just over 80,000 in 1984. In 1985, the Glacier Express timetable was completely revised. Between 1986 and 1993, the BVZ and the FO invested nearly 40 million Swiss francs in constructing 18 new first class panorama cars for the train. By 2005, more than 250,000 passengers were travelling on the Glacier Express each year. In 2006,
837-620: The summer heat. In Cyprus , the most popular mountain resort is Platres . In Thailand , the third highest mountain is a popular resort at Doi Ang Kang in Chiang Mai 's Fang District . Oberalp Pass Oberalp Pass ( Romansh : Alpsu or Cuolm d'Ursera ; German : Oberalppass ) (2044 meters above sea level) is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps connecting the cantons of Graubünden and Uri between Disentis/Mustér and Andermatt . The public road that crosses
868-492: The then Visp–Zermatt Bahn was extended to Brig by the opening of a metre gauge line along the Rhone Valley between Visp and Brig. For the first time, it was feasible to operate through coaches all the way from Zermatt to St. Moritz and return. On 25 June 1930 ( 1930-06-25 ) , the first train of such coaches set out from Zermatt to St. Moritz, under the name Glacier Express . The new train's name honoured
899-400: The train continues to Visp (651 m or 2,136 ft), then enters the valley of Mattertal and goes up, passing the villages of Stalden (799 m or 2,621 ft), St. Niklaus (1,127 m or 3,698 ft) and Randa (1,408 m or 4,619 ft), where a spectacular debris avalanche completely disconnected the railway and road in 1991. Täsch (1,450 m or 4,760 ft)
930-545: The train enters the Canton of Uri in Central Switzerland and continues down to Andermatt (1,447 m or 4,747 ft). From Andermatt, the train goes forward in the valley called Urseren passing the villages of Hospental (1,452 m or 4,764 ft) and Realp (1,538 m or 5,046 ft). From there the train enters the Furka Base Tunnel , leaving the old railway line which climbs
961-656: The winter. Murree, Ayubia, Nathiagali, and Kalabagh are some of the popular places. Other places like the Northern Areas which include Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir are also a choice. In the Philippines , the American colonial government built its first summer capital in Baguio to escape Manila 's heat. In Turkey , city dwellers traditionally spent summer vacations at mountain resorts known as yaylas to escape