I have booked FIP Coupons for SBB, SP and BLS. I will be staying in Bern and want to try and travel on the Rhätische Bahn, however looking at the SBB planner I'm struggling to find a journey that leaves enough time for a decent days walking of over an hour or two. Is this just journey times being this long or am I missing a trick?
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Rhätische Bahn (CH)
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You can get to Landquart in 2h10 or Chur in 2h20, so it would be quite a long day but doable. How about taking the Rhb Arosabahn from Chur to Arosa? Plenty of walking options. If you're not after the rhb specifically but little red trains in general, then going to Visp or Brig ( a brilliant train nerd spot and a nice town for normals too) only takes about an hour then you could travel for another hour on the matterhorn gottard bahn ( former bvz and FO) to Zermatt or Fiesch, for example.
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eastwestdivide
Established Member
Think it is just the journey times. How about walking down past the spirals Preda to Bergün? This should be possible:
Bern 0702 to Preda 1129 (via Landquart/Samedan)
Bergün 1647 to Bern 2028 (via Chur)
and later connections back are possible.
Bern 0702 to Preda 1129 (via Landquart/Samedan)
Bergün 1647 to Bern 2028 (via Chur)
and later connections back are possible.
P
You could also within the day do all or most of the ex-FO (MGB)/RhB circuit with time for a linear walk (Rhine Gorge? Realp to look at the Dampfbahn?
What kind of walking? Level valley bottom, level panoramic or getting sweaty?
I'd second Arosa, it's now 11kV with the same stock as mainline RhB, as you climb out of the end of the valley into a big bowl and a quick painfully expensive cable car gets you high ifyou want short walk with views.
Klosters is 40' less travel each way, easy walking but not as dramatic unless you go up Gotschnagrat (ouch again) for a quick walk at height.
Non-RhB but similar time: Andermatt, MGB rack up from Göschenen, loads of easy walking in massive valley junction, maybe train up to Oberalp for a wander with even better views.
I'd second Arosa, it's now 11kV with the same stock as mainline RhB, as you climb out of the end of the valley into a big bowl and a quick painfully expensive cable car gets you high ifyou want short walk with views.
Klosters is 40' less travel each way, easy walking but not as dramatic unless you go up Gotschnagrat (ouch again) for a quick walk at height.
Non-RhB but similar time: Andermatt, MGB rack up from Göschenen, loads of easy walking in massive valley junction, maybe train up to Oberalp for a wander with even better views.
blackfive460
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Arosa would be a good choice at the moment as two diagrams are currently loco hauled by Ge4/4IIs instead of Allegra EMUs.
duesselmartin
Established Member
Arosa is also a nice little town in a beautiful setting. Plus the line is stunning.
eastwestdivide
Established Member
Yes. Also worth getting off for the big viaduct at Langwies two stops short of Arosa if you're after photos. I've walked Arosa-Litzirüti-Langwies, not too far, maybe 3-4 miles including wiggly bits.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Some major infrastructure damage recently in southern Switzerland, notably in Ticino and Wallis/Valais.
I haven't seen any reference to RhB territory, but it's not far away.
The A13 motorway near the San Bernardino pass was severed, and there has been road/rail damage between Visp and Zermatt (part of Glacier Express route).
Worth checking local conditions before you go.
www.dw.com
I haven't seen any reference to RhB territory, but it's not far away.
The A13 motorway near the San Bernardino pass was severed, and there has been road/rail damage between Visp and Zermatt (part of Glacier Express route).
Worth checking local conditions before you go.
Switzerland: Floods cause deadly landslide – DW – 06/23/2024
Rescuers were looking for two missing people following a deadly landslide in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Severe storms and flooding have also prompted evacuation of hundreds in the southwestern canton of Valais.
www.dw.com
RailWonderer
Established Member
They also accidentally demolished this bridge https://qz.com/switzerland-bridge-blown-up-approval-1851543501 en route to Davos so part of the Glacier is also down.
Some confusion in that NCE article. Castiel is between Chur and Arosa , not on either route to Davos.
As I understand it, during replacement of the bridge a non-approved method was used. Incorrectly not accidentally demolished. The work was completed but an environmental impact investigation is taking place.
Chur-Arosa trains are showing as running normally.
Glacier Express trains run St. Moritz-Tiefencastel-Chur-Brig. Not via Davos. The damage that affects them is Visp-Zermatt as LNW-GW pointed out.
As I understand it, during replacement of the bridge a non-approved method was used. Incorrectly not accidentally demolished. The work was completed but an environmental impact investigation is taking place.
Chur-Arosa trains are showing as running normally.
Glacier Express trains run St. Moritz-Tiefencastel-Chur-Brig. Not via Davos. The damage that affects them is Visp-Zermatt as LNW-GW pointed out.
RailWonderer
Established Member
They put it down to miscommunication and bureaucracy between the Canton transport authority and federal authorities so yes, accident is probably a generous way of putting it.
I plan to go up the Matterhorn early next year so I hope it's fixed by then!
No, they didn't have permission to use explosives for the demolition. They didn't accidently blow anything up. The replacement bridge was put in as planned
Summing up the current situation
1) MGB Visp - Taesch closed UFN (replacement buses operating). Taesch - Zermatt shuttle operating
2) Furgangen Bellwald - Oberwald on the Brig - Andermatt line closed
3) No Furka base tunnel car shuttles operating because the access road to Oberwald is blocked
4) Absolutely no affect on RhB network (the destroyed motorway in the Misox valley is where the long closed isolated RhB Bellinzona - Mesocco line ran
5) the Glacier Express is running Brig - St Moritz
6) the 'wrongly destroyed bridge' on the Arosa line is a classic non-story from a sensationalist writer
Although I haven't seen the detail, my good knowledge of the area indicates that items 2 and 3 are caused by the same problem - probably where the Goms valley is at its narrowest.
1) MGB Visp - Taesch closed UFN (replacement buses operating). Taesch - Zermatt shuttle operating
2) Furgangen Bellwald - Oberwald on the Brig - Andermatt line closed
3) No Furka base tunnel car shuttles operating because the access road to Oberwald is blocked
4) Absolutely no affect on RhB network (the destroyed motorway in the Misox valley is where the long closed isolated RhB Bellinzona - Mesocco line ran
5) the Glacier Express is running Brig - St Moritz
6) the 'wrongly destroyed bridge' on the Arosa line is a classic non-story from a sensationalist writer
Although I haven't seen the detail, my good knowledge of the area indicates that items 2 and 3 are caused by the same problem - probably where the Goms valley is at its narrowest.
I think you must mean Chur not Brig
as 2) is definitely correct. The MGB site says no RRBs are possible which fits with 3). Quite drastic!The Fiesch-Oberwald closure with the road closed too is new. Drastic as you say and currently no timescale. It seems to be flooding which has been progressing down the valley since yesterday, 29/06/2024.
Glacier Express is indeed only running St.Moritz-Chur. Their web site says travel to/from Brig via Bern and Zürich! Although I'd rather go via Brünig if the point of the trip was scenery.
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This weekend's storms have caused substantial damage in upper Valais. Highest flows in the Rhone are expected tonight (Sunday) so there could be more damage by tomorrow.
Looking at road information, Furka and Grimsel passes currently closed due to rock falls.
Road closed between Oberwald and Niederwald still (re-opened below there). Flooding in every side valley has dumped gravel and mud into the main valley bottom with damage to road, railway and villages in multiple places. Some villages evacuated. Sounds as if the railway could be closed for some time.
Gletsch-Oberwald, part of the seasonal steam service over the old Furka line, is damaged by flooding and will not re-open on Thursday as planned.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Brig-Andermatt showing as RRB between Fiesch and Oberwald today and, my guess, for some time. Road still closed to normal traffic though.
Lower down the Rhone valley Gampel-Steg - Leuk is currently RRB too, Visp-Sierre RRB for fast trains due to flooding.
Serious damage generally, on the roads not just the Furka and Grimsel but the Simplon pass currently closed too by landslides on the south side. The Saas valley, next one E of Zermatt, is heavily damaged.
Glacier Express is indeed only running St.Moritz-Chur. Their web site says travel to/from Brig via Bern and Zürich! Although I'd rather go via Brünig if the point of the trip was scenery.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
This weekend's storms have caused substantial damage in upper Valais. Highest flows in the Rhone are expected tonight (Sunday) so there could be more damage by tomorrow.
Looking at road information, Furka and Grimsel passes currently closed due to rock falls.
Road closed between Oberwald and Niederwald still (re-opened below there). Flooding in every side valley has dumped gravel and mud into the main valley bottom with damage to road, railway and villages in multiple places. Some villages evacuated. Sounds as if the railway could be closed for some time.
Gletsch-Oberwald, part of the seasonal steam service over the old Furka line, is damaged by flooding and will not re-open on Thursday as planned.
== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: ==
Brig-Andermatt showing as RRB between Fiesch and Oberwald today and, my guess, for some time. Road still closed to normal traffic though.
Lower down the Rhone valley Gampel-Steg - Leuk is currently RRB too, Visp-Sierre RRB for fast trains due to flooding.
Serious damage generally, on the roads not just the Furka and Grimsel but the Simplon pass currently closed too by landslides on the south side. The Saas valley, next one E of Zermatt, is heavily damaged.
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LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
SBB is showing the only rail closure today is between Sierre and Visp in the Rhone valley, expected to reopen on July 4.
The volume of debris on the tracks is larger than first thought.
The volume of debris on the tracks is larger than first thought.
The implication is that the Glacier Express route is now clear.
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