EUROPE TOUR .. DAY.7 continues

8-10-2025 . WEDNESDAY .. continues

The Alpine Grandeur: A Day Tour from 

Zurich to the Bernina Pass

Poschiavo to Chur 

(The Bernina Express Experience)

 

Our return journey was on the official Bernina Express line,  a panoramic tourist train traveling along a UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Railway route, from Poschiavo back to Chur, which offered a full, world-class panoramic experience. (stunning views of Swiss & Italian Alpine landscapes, including glaciers, peaks, and viaducts.) 

The journey took 2 hours 20 minutes.

The Bernina Express (PE) is celebrated not just for its scenery, but also for its masterful engineering that allows the train to conquer massive altitude differences without using a rack-and-pinion system.

The Bernina Express carriages feature enlarged, curved panoramic windows that extend into the roof, offering spectacular, unobstructed views of the surrounding Alps.

The entire route, encompassing the Albula and Bernina lines, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The inscription recognises the railway's blend of technical excellence and harmonious integration into the Alpine landscape.

At Poschiavo Station 

The Ascent to Ospizio Bernina 

(Poschiavo to Bernina Pass):

After leaving Poschiavo, the train made a strenuous climb back up the mountain. The ascent was breathtaking.

Passed the station of Alp Grüm (2,091 m), which provided one of the most stunning panoramic views looking down over the Poschiavo Valley and Lake Poschiavo, with views across to the Palü Glacier and its glistening lake.

Alpine Crossing (Ospizio Bernina):

At the summit, Ospizio Bernina, passed the watershed between the Black Sea (via the Inn/Danube) and the Adriatic Sea (via the Poschiavino/Adda).

Then we were surrounded by the impressive Bernina Massif, with views of immense glaciers like the Morteratsch. This is the definition of high-alpine, often snow-covered even in October.

Albula Line Descend (Pontresina to Chur):

From Pontresina, the Bernina Line merges with the spectacular Albula Line towards Chur. The journey involves a descent through deep canyons, forests, and charming high-altitude villages like Bergün/Bravuogn and Filisur.

Engineering Marvels: 

While travelling, we paid our attention to the railway’s continuous twists and turns, often utilizing double-loop spirals and helical tunnels within the mountainside to manage the steep gradient. 

This segment is where we again crossed the iconic Landwasser Viaduct.

Video clips of Train Tour …

The entire trip was a feast for the eyes, combining the rugged, glaciated beauty of the high Alps with the ingenious human engineering of the historic Rhaetian Railway.

We received complimentary Lindt chocolates in a special train-shaped souvenir box, with herbal tea, as a delightful Swiss treat during our panoramic journey. These branded chocolates and the keepsake box are part of the onboard experience, adding to the memorable Alpine adventure.  

At Chur Station had Selfie with the Train …

Then from Chur to Zurich HB to Oerlikon station by train .. then walked to our Stay and rest.  

EUROPE TOUR continues …