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MATTERHORN-GOTTHARD BAHN
Disentis-Brig-Visp-Zermatt
The
Matterhorn-Gotthard Railway is network of narrow gauge track railways
in the south central part of Switzerland,
taking its name from a combination
of the Matterhorn Mountain and the St Gotthard Pass and the first tunnel
through the Alps between Switzerland and Italy. The company is an amalgam
of three earlier railways, and runs from Zermatt at the base of the
Matterhorn through Brig to Disentis, crossing through three cantons.
The line runs over the Oberalp Pass via Andermatt, through the Furka
Base tunnel and to Göschenen, at the north end of the Gotthard
Tunnel. The Glacier Express scenic route travels on the Matterhorn-Gotthard
tracks between Zermatt and Disentis where is connects with the Rhaetian
Railway to Chur. If you don’t have time for the full Glacier
Express route, you can purchase a ticket for the Disentis-Zermatt portion,
or connect at Andermatt from Lucerne or Lugano, to Zermatt.
The branded
Glacier Express runs four times a day but the standard operations along
the network of the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn runs a
full schedule
of trains. The railway line passes through 33 tunnels and crosses over
126 bridges and viaducts. Several portions of track are on cog rails
on the steeper grades. The lowest point is Visp at 2,000 ft and the
highest is the Oberalp Pass at 6,700
ft.
above
sea
level.
The
Gotthard-Matterhorn
line connects with the main lines from Geneva or Zurich at Visp. The
journey from Zurich through the new Lotschberg base tunnel takes about
three hours. The regions covered by the railway features some of Switzerland’s
most magnificent Alps peaks, skiing and hiking. From Zermatt, connect
with the Matterhorn-Gornergrat railway or Klein Matterhorn cable. From
Brig, connect to the BLS Lotschberger Express line which runs over the
scenic Lotschberg Pass tunnel to Thun and Bern. Bus connections rise
to the holiday region of the lower Aletsch Glacier.
Brig
was the former Swiss connection of the Simplon-Orient Express, which
traveled through the Simplon tunnel and was the main connection
point for trains from Italy and from northern Switzerland, but that function
has been taken over by Visp with a brand new railway station with a modern
travel center for multiple connections and regional activities. The Gotthard-Matterhorn
line operates engines in distinct red and white livery, with a variety
of coaches, both first and second class or combination. Newer coaches
including wheel chair accessible bathrooms are dressed in gold and grey.
The line offers a special Bike & Bahn package for rail and bicycle
touring of the Valais region, a Cross-Country skiing package, as well
as a special Brunch journey and a Gourmet Tour with a five course meal
and matched wines from the Valais region. A car parking garage with 3,000
spaces is located in Tasche in the Zermatt valley, connecting with a
shuttle to Zermatt, or for leaving your car to travel the region on the
railway. © sbr
Rail Europe
More on Switzerland By Rail:
Scenic Trains
Glacier
Express
Bernina
Express
Golden
Pass Line
Wilhelm
Tell Express
Mont
Blanc - St Bernard
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
Lauvaux Wine Train
Palm
Express
Excursion Trains
Jungfraujoch
Chocolate
Train
Gornergrat
Matterhorn
Mt
Pilatus Railway
Mt
Rigi Railway
Roches
De Naye
Lake Cruises
Lake
Geneva
Lake Lucerne
Lake Constance
Lake Thun & Brienz
Three Lakes
Scenic Regional Railways
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
Jungfrau
Railways
Rhaetian
Railway
Zentralbahn
Thurbo
Lake Constance
Lauvaux Wine Train
Centovalli
Chablais
Aigle
Hotels: Switzerland
Scenic Switzerland By Train
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