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I am planning to take the Bernina Express from Tirano to Chur. I would like to take 10:03 BE from Tirano which stops at St. Moritz and Landquart as opposed to the 14:26 from Tirano which makes no stops between Tirano and Chur. My question is, for the portion from St. Moritz to Chur (stopping in Landquart before Chur), is it the same route as it would take if you took the non stop BE at 14:26 from Tirano to Chur or does it take a different route. I was thinking it must be a different route as it looks like Landquart is beyond Chur thus having to backtrack to Chur.
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Hi Patsy,
The 10:03 BEX stops at St. Moritz. From there (if you follow the SBB timetable offering) you switch to a non-BEX train and deviate from the BEX route. If you want to stay on the BEX route and cross the Landwasser Viaduct for example then enter via St. Moritz AND Filisur in your search. You can catch the 13:02 RE1144 connection or spend a couple of hours looking around St Moritz and take a later train.
Hi Patsy,
The 14:26 BEX bypasses St Moritz (just saying in case you had a particular desire to see that town).
If the BEX timings don’t work for you then there are many regional trains running the route. You just miss out on Panorama windows and commentary. The views are the same.
Thanks that is very helpful information. I think I will take the 1302 from Saint Moritz to Chur . Do you know if there will be cars with large windows and commentary on that route . We are continuing on to our accommodation in Luzern. I noticed that the trains go through Zürich so we are now thinking that we will get off the train in Zürich for a few hours before continuing on to Luzern. We will have about 3 1/2 hours between our trains and plan to put our luggage in a locker so we should have three hours to look around Zürich . Do you think this is doable / worth it ? We don’t want to arrive in Luzern too late so plan to take a train around 8 pm from Zürich and arrive in Luzern at 9 pm
Hi Patsy,
The 13:02 is a regional train so no Panoramic windows or commentary.
I’ve never been to Zurich so can’t say if it is worth a stop off. Seems to be famous for “shopping”! Depends what you are interested in. Luzern is great.
Hi Patsy,
If you want to be on the panoramic train (large windows and commentary) be sure you are on a train labeled BEX on the Swiss railways timetable.
You can start on the Bernina Express panoramic train but then change to regional trains (after St. Moritz typically).
The 14:26 train has no connections on the timetable so you are on the same panoramic train for the entire route.
Lucas
Hi Lucas,
As a Zurich local what do you think about Patsy’s idea of stopping off in Zurich for 3 hours on the way to Luzern?
Thanks for all your help both of you. Do you think it is important to have panoramic windows for the portion from St. Moritz to Chur or just Tirano to St.Moritz. We could take the 14:26 but then we would not have time to stop in Zurich. We have 2 full days in Lizern so hoping that will be enough time there?
I would go for the full Bernina Express experience over a few hours of wandering downtown Zurich yes. 🙂
Lucas
Thanks I have decided to go with the whole Bernina Express experience and skip Zurich. It makes for a more leisurely morning as well.
Hi Patsy,
You probably already know this but just in case . . . you need to reserve seats on the Bernina Express and can do so here http://www.rhb.ch/en/panorami c-trains/bernina-express#timetable
I will have a 2nd cl Swiss Travel Pass on my trip in late September. What is the cost of a seat reservation only?
Second question/comment. I am a train photographer and this is the main reason for my trips. One gripe I have is that, for example, if you look at the RhB page noted above:
http://www.rhb.ch/en/panorami c-trains/bernina-express#timetable
you will notice that EVERY beautiful photo shown was taken outside of the train either next to the tracks or on some hillside probably only reached via car or a hike. How do the views inside the train compare to the shots outside? One of the only great shots easily obtainable is of the Landwasser viaduct heading toward Filisur as it rounds the curve before entering the tunnel. A shot of the Brusio circular viaduct from the train is impossible even with a 8mm fisheye.
Hi John,
I believe the reservation fee is CHF14.
Photography from the panoramic trains can be problematic what with glare on the windows and the fact the views flash by. See my comments regarding the Landwasser Viaduct here http://www.myswissalps.com/fo rum/topic/the-reluctant-travellers-swiss-adventure-part4
When I mentioned my Landwasser Viaduct photos I forgot one major point. I have never ridden in a GEX or BEX panorama coach. I have only ridden on many, many standard coaches with pull down windows. On one trip waaay in the past I went back and forth between Filisur and Tiefencastle four times in a row to make sure I got a good picture. I was shooting film and could not immediately review my shots. I am sure on this trip I will be greeted by many RhB EMU trains with fixed windows. I try not to take the panorama trains.
. . . . and now you can do the trip (as seen by the driver) on Google Streetview! http://www.goo.gl/VvhHpR 😇
Hi John,
>> I am sure on this trip I will be greeted by many RhB EMU trains with fixed windows. I try not to take the panorama trains.
Have you tried the trains between Chur and St Moritz that have a photographers’ viewing area (Fotoabteil)? They are denoted in the timetable with the letters “FW”. Some examples are trains leaving Chur at 10:58, 11:58 and 12:58.
Alpenrose
Like this Alenperose http://www.flickr.com/photos/ kecko/35205130624? Do the windows open?
It seems so, the picture description says the side windows and roof blinds can be electrically operated….I would hope that means the windows can be lowered.
I should try that one out!
Hi rockoyster,
>> Like this Alenperose www. flickr. com/photos/ kecko/35205130624? Do the windows open?
Yes, I believe that’s it (but I haven’t travelled on one myself). As Lucas mentioned, the windows open electrically. You can read about it here:
contura.rhb.ch/en/edit ion/id-201617/the-new-articulated-alvra-train.html
More pictures of the interior of the train are on the Rhätischen Bahn website on this page:
http://www.rhb.ch/en/news-events/news/details/di e-rhb-praesentiert-den-neuen-albula-gliederzug
There are also open-air carriages on the sector St. Moritz to Tirano sometimes:
http://www.rhb.ch/en/world-of-railway-experiences/railway-experiences/open-panoramic-cars
Alpenrose
Hey: I am glad you guys kept talking because with your suggestions I have come up with a new plan. Let me know what you think:
Take 10:03 Bernina Express from Tirano arrive St. Moritz 12:36 ( we would like to take the open your car at 9:40 but as we are travelling on September 13 I don’t think they are available as they only run in July and August)
Leave St. moritz on the FW (photograpy train) at 14:02 and arrive in Chur at 16:03
leave Chur at 16:09 (platforms are right across from each other) and arrive in Zurich at 17:23
Put our luggage in lockers at the train station and have 3 hours to see what we can in about 2 1/2 hours allowing time to get our luggage and get to our platform)
Take 20:35 from Zurich and arrive in Luzern at 21:25
I read somewhere that the shops in Zurich are closed from 18:30-20:00. Do you know if this is correct? If it is we will be happy to window shop as we probably won’t be buying any expensive watches anyway with the amount the trip is costing us.
I know it will be a long day but we are up for it.
One more question: do you know if I will have to pay for a seat reservation on the Tirano to St. Moritz leg on a panoramic car as well as the St. Moritz to Chur leg on the FW train.
Thanks for all your help
Patsy
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