The railway uses a unique adhesion system, avoiding rack-and-pinion technology despite gradients reaching 7%.
The Landwasser Viaduct, a signature feature of the route, is 65 meters high and leads directly into a tunnel carved into a cliff face.
The line reaches its peak at Ospizio Bernina, which sits directly on the watershed between the Danube and the Po river basins.
The train passes the Morteratsch Glacier, where markers indicate the historical retreat of the ice over previous decades.
The route requires a gauge change in Tirano to connect with the standard-gauge Italian rail network.
The railway utilizes a specific 1,000 mm narrow-gauge track throughout its entire Swiss route.
The Bernina Express is a scenic train line that connects Chur, Switzerland, with Tirano, Italy, via the Rhaetian Railway. It holds the record as the highest railway line across the Alps, reaching an elevation of 2,253 meters at the Ospizio Bernina station. The route traverses the Albula and Bernina lines, both of which are designated UNESCO World Heritage sites. Passengers pass through 55 tunnels and over 196 bridges, including the iconic Landwasser Viaduct. The journey features significant topographical changes, transitioning from alpine glaciers to the Mediterranean climate of the Valtellina valley. Modern panoramic carriages offer large windows specifically designed for unobstructed views of the shifting landscape. It is the only rail link that connects northern and southern Europe via a high-alpine pass without the use of a base tunnel.
The curve of the Landwasser Viaduct as seen from the carriage windows.
Reserve a seat on the right side when traveling from Chur to Tirano for optimal views of the Landwasser Viaduct and glaciers.
Bring a pair of binoculars to spot climbers and wildlife on the high mountain passes.
Book seat reservations well in advance, especially during the peak summer and winter holiday seasons.
Do not attempt to open the train windows while the locomotive is in motion, even in panoramic carriages.
Operates daily year-round, though specific panoramic carriage availability may shift between summer and winter seasons.
