A few days ago we had gone to the station to see if we should take the fancy Glacier Express Tourist train or the local trains. On the three morning trains there were only 2 seats left, both aisle seats – so we chose the local trains. Unfortunately we had to change 4 times, but the plus was the trains were not full and many had opening windows, we could change seat according to the view.
The Glacier Express is considered to be one of the world’s great train journeys and it was great. We were so happy not to be in a party on the tourist train, we saw it a few times and at one stage even were connected together !
- We walked down to the station in slight rain then boarded our first train
- Train 1 – Zermatt to Visp, a rack rail, reverse direction from a few days ago
- Train 2 – Visp to Andamatt
- Train 3 – Andamatt to Disentis
- Train 4 – Disentis to Samadam
- Train 5 – Samadam to Pontressina
Here are some pictures of the first part of the journey. The views are taken out a moving train and just show a little of the countryside and things of interest. All very green and mountainous
We continued travelling along long valleys, climbing up mountain sides and down the other side, all the time going from west to east. The trains were all local comfortable trains, usually with very few people and opening windows.
We had a second classes rail pass which meant no buying of tickets, and although the pass is not a BIG saving, it does make it easy
We are now in the last portion of the ride. We travelled along a narrow valley with an actively eroding river. The rocks were exciting if you are into these sorts of things. Very different to Australia.
The train was mostly single track with many tunnels, curves and bridges. We climbed up high ridges and descended back into the valleys. We stopped at many small stations for hikers to get on and off. Some stations you needed to press a button like a bus to get the train to stop for you to get off.
We are passed over a viaduct and straight into a tunnel – at the front of the train are the fancy Glacier Express tourist train carriages, us cheap-skates are at the back with the opening windows !
- The good and the bad of the Glacier Express
- Rather slow !! ie not an express
- Great views
- Great journey
- Comfortable
- Well run
- On time
- Good staff
- Expensive
Review – but was it worth it. Yes, so we did part of the trip again in 2019 – see here (when I write it), though I am not too sure if the fancy train is worth the extra buck to people like us !