Swiss Mountain Railways: A Guide

3 September 2018

Swiss Mountain Railways: A Guide

If you’re thinking of tackling a mountain – the easy way – on your next rail holiday to Switzerland, our handy guide will help you distinguish your Schilthorn from your Rothorn. Find out about the most famous mountain top stations, where to find them, how to reach them and what you might find at the summit after all that non-arduous climbing.

NAME: JUNGFRAUJOCH
ACCESS FROM: Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 11,332 ft
SEASONALITY: Open year round

IN ONE WORD: World-famous

This is the highest and most famous of Switzerland’s mountain rail lines, running from Kleine Scheidegg (already 6,761 feet above sea level), through the Eiger and Mönsch mountains to the highest of the three peaks, the Jungfrau. Once at the Jungfraujoch station, the highest rail station in Europe, you can enjoy sweeping views over the Alps and the Aletsch Glacier. You can also have a look around an ice palace, enjoy a meal or buy souvenirs of your journey.

As featured in: London to the Top of Europe

NAME: GORNEGRAT
ACCESS FROM: Zermatt
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 10,135 ft
SEASONALITY: Open year round
IN ONE WORD: Matterhorn

As featured in: Matterhorn and the Glacier Express

This is the second highest mountain railway in Switzerland, and also the oldest electric rack railway in the country. The journey threads over dramatic bridges, through tunnels, across forests and mountain lakes. The summit station offers access to hiking trails and spectacular views of the instantly recognisable Matterhorn.

NAME: BRIENZ ROTHORN
ACCESS FROM: Interlaken and Brienz
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 7,632 ft
SEASONALITY: June to October
IN ONE WORD: Steam

The only mountain railway to offer a full steam service, Brienz Rothorn is the elder, less showy cousin to the Jungfraubahn at the other end of Lake Brienz. Open windowed carriages allow upobstructed camera shots along the way and once you reach the top, you are treated to jaw-dropping panoramic views of the Bernese Oberland.

NAME: LES ROCHERS DE NAYE
ACCESS FROM: Montreux
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 6,700 ft
SEASONALITY: Open year round
IN ONE WORD: Marmots

As featured in: Lake Geneva by Rail

It takes the panorama carriages of the Rochers de Naye about an hour to complete the scenic journey via Glion to the Dent de Jaman and round the mountain to the summit. On arrival, you can enjoy a meal at the panoramic restaurant, stroll through alpine gardens or caves and visit the sweet marmot farm.

NAME: MOUNT PILATUS
ACCESS FROM: Lucerne
HEIGHT ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 6,995 ft
SEASONALITY: May to November
IN ONE WORD: Steep

If you suffer from vertigo then the world’s steepest cog railway might not be the mountain rail excursion to choose. But if the idea of gradients up to 48% excite you plenty to recommend this beautiful ride. From Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm, the train winds up past mountain meadows carpeted with Alpine flowers and glacial streams to the summit, where you can have a meal or catch a soaring, bird-like cableway to another peak.

OTHER MOUNTAIN RIDES

Although they are not technically (in any sense) train journeys, the Schilthorn and Titlis Mountains both offer scenic rides by cable car and both are accessible by rail, the first from Lauterbrunnen (or Interlaken) and the second from Lucerne via Engleberg. Both cableways offer a 50% discount to Swiss Pass holders. Mount Titlis boasts the world’s first rotating gondolas.