The railway operates on a 1,000 mm gauge system specifically designed to handle steep gradients using a double-toothed Abt rack system.
The construction of the line was completed in just two years between 1896 and 1898, a significant engineering feat for the period.
The highest point of the journey, the Gornergrat station, serves as the base for the Kulmhotel Gornergrat, which houses a private observatory.
The descent generates electricity through regenerative braking, which can supply up to 20% of the energy needed for uphill trains.
The train makes a brief stop at Rotenboden station, which provides the starting point for a popular trail to Riffelsee, famous for its Matterhorn reflection.
In 1930, the railway became the first in Switzerland to offer winter service to the summit, pioneering alpine winter tourism.
The railway's trackbed is integrated with an avalanche protection system to ensure year-round operation.
The Gornergrat Railway is a rack-and-pinion mountain railway that climbs from Zermatt to the Gornergrat summit at an altitude of 3,089 meters. It represents the world's first fully electrified rack railway, inaugurated in 1898. The 9.3-kilometer line overcomes a total elevation gain of 1,469 meters. Passengers are transported to the summit station, which is located in close proximity to the Kulmhotel Gornergrat, the highest hotel in the Swiss Alps. The route offers consistent views of the Monte Rosa massif and the Gorner Glacier. The train passes through five intermediate stations, including Findelbach, Riffelalp, Riffelberg, and Rotenboden. The summit platform provides panoramic vistas of 29 peaks rising above 4,000 meters, including the Matterhorn. The railway utilizes modern energy-recovery braking systems, feeding power back into the network during descents.
The viewing platform at the Gornergrat summit station overlooking the Gorner Glacier.
Sit on the right side of the train when ascending from Zermatt for the best unobstructed views of the Matterhorn.
Purchase a return ticket to ensure your descent, as hiking the entire distance back to Zermatt is a significant physical undertaking.
Apply sunscreen and wear sunglasses, as the high-altitude sun is amplified by reflection off the snow and glaciers.
Do not attempt to hike from the summit to Zermatt without proper mountaineering gear if you are not an experienced alpine hiker.
Operates daily year-round, though specific mountain trails or intermediate stations may be closed due to heavy snow conditions in winter.
Respect silence in the observatory area; wear sturdy, closed-toe footwear suitable for rocky paths.
