| The Bernina Express is a train that runs between Chur, | | | | 1.5-2 hour walk from Filisur, and you can walk across |
| Switzerland, and Tirano, Italy. Since the railway was | | | | the Wiesen Bridge. The longest tunnel is the Albula |
| built without using a tracking system, the cogwheel | | | | tunnel (length 5865 metres) between Preda and |
| track used to handle steep sections, a number of | | | | Spinas. It was opened in 1903. At an altitude of 1883 |
| extra loops and tunnels had to be created in order to | | | | metres it is the highest railway tunnel in the Alps. |
| artificially lengthen the track. The journey on the | | | | In 1904 the railway connected St. Moritz with Chur. |
| Bernina Express is a 4 hour train journey, 140 | | | | Before that the journey from Chur to St. Moritz took |
| kilometres (87 miles) across 196 bridges, through 55 | | | | 15 hours by stagecoach. Thanks to the railway line, St. |
| tunnels and across the Bernina Pass, the highest point | | | | Moritz became an exclusive winter resort. The Bernina |
| at 2,253 metres (7510 feet) | | | | Express from Chur does not go to St. Moritz, you |
| The Bernina Express runs all year. It is run by | | | | need to change trains in Samedan if you want to visit |
| Rhatische Bahn, its whole network uses the narrow | | | | St. Moritz. It is possible to take a train from St. Moritz to |
| gauge (1000 mm), rather than the standard gauge | | | | Tirano, this was the original Bernina Line. |
| (1435 mm) used by the SBB. The Chur railway station | | | | Ospozio Bernina, altitude of 2253 metres, is the highest |
| is used by both companies, so you can take an SBB | | | | point of the railway. The lake along this part of the |
| train from Zurich to Chur. Chur is a good place for the | | | | track is Lago Bianco. On one side of the lake, the |
| railway enthusiast, with many beautiful railways in the | | | | water flows via the river Inn and the Danube into the |
| neighbourhood. The famous Glacier Express stops in | | | | Black Sea and on the other side, the water flows via |
| Chur on its way between St. Moritz and Zermatt. | | | | the river Adda and the Po into the Adriatic Sea. |
| Rhatische Bahn has many interesting tracks, for | | | | In the Italian speaking part of the Bernina Express, the |
| example the journey up to Arosa. | | | | train sometimes uses the streets of the villages and |
| The first part of the Bernina Express runs along the | | | | looks more like a tram than a train. The famous 360 |
| Rhine. Due to the strategic location of the valley, you | | | | degree spiral viaduct, the Kreis Viaduct (9 arches and |
| will see plenty of old castles and ruins. Once out of the | | | | a length of 116 metres), in Brusio is used to overcome |
| Rhine valley, the breathtaking mountain views begin. | | | | the height difference within a small distance. It is a very |
| The tallest bridge is the Solis Bridge but the | | | | popular target for photographers. |
| Landwasser Viaduct is better known. The latter has a | | | | Tirano is small town and most tourists either take the |
| length of 136 metres and a height of 65 metres. It has | | | | Bernina Express back to Chur or continue by Italian |
| six arches and is slightly curved. | | | | train to Milan (takes 2.5 hours) In summer, you can take |
| If you have time, you can stop in Filisur and take some | | | | the bus to Lugano, a 3 hour bus ride. Although not as |
| photos of both the Landwasser Viaduct and the | | | | spectacular as the Bernina Express, it is a nice bus |
| Wiesen Bridge, with 204 metres the longest stone | | | | ride. In Lugano, you can take another scenic train |
| bridge in Graubunden. For the Wiesen Bridge you can | | | | journey to Luzern. |
| take the train towards Davos or walk to Wiesen. It is | | | | |