Travelling Switzerland by train: The eight most scenic rail routes for a Swiss alpine journey

By Katrina Lobley
Updated October 5 2015 - 11:15pm, first published October 4 2015 - 12:15am
The Bernina Express travels along the Landwasser Viadukt at Filisur which is 65m high and 136m long.
The Bernina Express travels along the Landwasser Viadukt at Filisur which is 65m high and 136m long.
The Bernina Express travels along the Landwasser Viadukt at Filisur which is 65m high and 136m long.
The Bernina Express travels along the Landwasser Viadukt at Filisur which is 65m high and 136m long.
The Bernina Express.



Bernina Express: Chur-Tirano. 
Alp Gruem, Poschiavo.
The Bernina Express. Bernina Express: Chur-Tirano. Alp Gruem, Poschiavo.
The Bernina Express travels along the Landwasser Viadukt at Filisur which is 65m high and 136m long.
The Bernina Express travels along the Landwasser Viadukt at Filisur which is 65m high and 136m long.
The Bernina Express.



Bernina Express: Chur-Tirano. 
Alp Gruem, Poschiavo.
The Bernina Express. Bernina Express: Chur-Tirano. Alp Gruem, Poschiavo.
The Bernina Express.



Bernina Express: Chur-Tirano. 
Alp Gruem, Poschiavo.
The Bernina Express. Bernina Express: Chur-Tirano. Alp Gruem, Poschiavo.
The Bernina Express.



Bernina Express: Chur-Tirano. 
Alp Gruem, Poschiavo.
The Bernina Express. Bernina Express: Chur-Tirano. Alp Gruem, Poschiavo.
The Bernina Express travels along the Landwasser Viadukt at Filisur which is 65m high and 136m long.
The Bernina Express travels along the Landwasser Viadukt at Filisur which is 65m high and 136m long.
Stelvio line. Photo: Katrina Lobley
Stelvio line. Photo: Katrina Lobley

It's still breakfast time when I board the Glacier Express, settle into the dining car and spot an irresistible challenge within the menu. "After dining, don't miss the truly unique artistic interlude performed by the hostesses: from a height of 60 centimetres – and while the train is in motion – they skilfully pour a range of the finest liqueurs such as grappa, Pflumli plum liqueur, Kirsch and Williams." Hang the early hour – this is something I have to see. If I were riding the Glacier Express all day (it connects the glamorous mountain resorts of St Moritz and Zermatt), I'd eat lunch before ordering a shot or two. But I'm jumping off this train at 9.27am to switch to a bus then a train then a bus that will take me to Lake Como (the more direct St Moritz-Lake Como Palm Express bus service was booked out). Being Switzerland, you can time everything down to the minute so I order my drinks (a prosecco and a plum liqueur, figuring I can mix a cocktail if the liqueur is too hair-raising) at the last possible moment – 9am.

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