Albula Railway
Encyclopedia
In 1890, the Davos hotelier Willem-Jan Holsboer proposed the construction of a rail link from Chur via Davos, and through a tunnel under the Scaletta Pass, to St Moritz, and then onwards via the Maloja Pass
, to Chiavenna in Italy. Holsboer later had to abandon this planned Scalettabahn, in favour of a route through what was to become the Albula Tunnel
. In 1895, the Zurich railway pioneer Adolf Guyer-Zeller
presented the idea of an Engadine-Orient-Railway, which would have connected Chur
, via Thusis
and Engadine
, and over the Fuorn Pass
, with the Vinschgau and Trieste
. Zeller planned this proposed route as a standard gauge
line. It would have passed under the Albula Alps through a 12 km long tunnel from the mouth of the Val Tisch to the Inn Valley
below Bever. As the Ofenbergbahn, the Engadine-Orient-Railway would also have cut a connection through to the Val Müstair
. It was only on 30 June 1898 that the Federal Assembly in Bern finally decided on the construction of the Albula Railway. The Federal Assembly thereby also decided against another standard gauge transit railway, and a similarly contemplated railway over the Julier Pass
.
In 1896, there were only 20 km of standard gauge
railway line in Graubünden - and 90 km of narrow gauge railways. (Incidentally, the length of the standard gauge line has remained unchanged to this day, apart from the construction of a new industrial spur line from Chur to Domat / Ems.) Priority was given to the construction of a rail connection to the spa
at St Moritz, which at that time was a 14 hour stage coach ride distant from Chur
, the terminus of the standard gauge line.
After Thusis was reached from Chur, the construction of the Albula Railway began on 15 October 1898. Unlike the Bernina Railway
, which was opened a good ten years later, and operated in fully electrified form right from the start, the Albula Railway was still a steam railway at its conception. Moreover (and again unlike the Bernina Railway), it was intended to be universally available, particularly for the transport of goods. As the steam locomotives of the time were still not particularly powerful, and in order to permit the highest possible speeds, the maximum gradients were restricted to 3.5%, and the minimum curve radius was also generously defined. Thus, the Albula Railway, in the interests of maximising its effectiveness, did not test the technical bounds of an adhesion railway. However, such an architectural style required a variety of engineering structures. So, for example, the viaducts were exclusively solidly constructed. Especially problematical was the ascent of the valley between Bergün/Bravuogn
and Preda
, where, in a distance of 5 km as the crow flies, a difference in altitude of over 400 m needed to be overcome. To stay within the maximum gradient parameters, the project supervisor, Friedrich Hennings, devised an intricate alignment, which lengthened the line's formation by 12 km. Two curved tunnels, three spiral tunnels, and a number of bridges overcame the engineering problem, by winding the track around like the thread of a screw. On this part of the line, the construction of the 660 m long Rugnux Spiral Tunnels in particular led to problems, because the 4 °C cold mountain water hampered the activities of the workers.
Beyond Preda emerged the centrepiece of the line, the 5866 m long Albula Tunnel
, which passes under the watershed
between the Rhine and the Danube
a few kilometres west of the Albula Pass
. With its maximum elevation of 1820 m (5,971.1 ft) above sea level, the tunnel is, after the Furka Tunnel
, the second highest alpine tunnel in Switzerland. The creation of the tunnel was hampered by unusual problems caused by outflowing water, and these led to the bankruptcy of the building contractor. A total of 1,316 people were involved in the construction of the Albula Tunnel. Overall, there were 16 fatal accidents involving workers. At 03:00 hours on 29 May 1902, the breakthrough of the two tunnel leads was achieved, at a point 3030.5 m (9,942.6 ft) from the north portal, and 2835 m 2835 m (9,301.2 ft), from the south portal.
On 1 July 1903, the opening of the section between Thusis
and Celerina
could be celebrated. As the RhB and the St Moritz municipality were still yet to reach agreement over the site of the St. Moritz station
, the inauguration of the 3 km long remaining section had to be delayed to 10 July 1904.
Shortages of coal
during World War I
prompted the RhB to grapple with the task of electrification
. On 20 April 1919, the first section of the line to be electrified, the link between Bever
and Filisur (Rhaetian Railway station)|Filisur]], was energised with the 11 kV
16 2/3 Hz
alternating current
system used on the Engadine line. On 15 October 1919, the extension to Thusis followed.
Since 1930, the Glacier Express
has followed the route of the Albula Railway. The Bernina Express
was added after World War II
. Both of these trains have since operated as spearheads of the Rhaetian Railway's legendary reputation as a railway company amongst rail fans from around the world.
Since the line was equipped with a block safety system in 1969, remote monitoring of train traffic at most stations on the line has been possible. In 2005, the Rail Control Center in Landquart
assumed the former tasks of the remote monitoring station at Filisur.
The Bever substation
was modernised in 1973. Successive extensions to the passing loops at the stations has lengthened them to over 260 m (853 ft), the equivalent of an express train with 13 carriages. Since the end of the 1990s, the RhB has installed three short double track
sections - at Thusis, at Filisur and below Preda - to make the hourly train crossings flow more smoothly. The remaining parts of the line are single track as before, and are still largely in their original configuration from 1904.
, as well as the A 13 Autobahn, and enters the Albula Valley, which, east of Thusis, is known as the Schinschlucht. Even at this early stage, it passes many bridges and tunnels. After Solis station, 8 km (5 mi) from Thusis, the line crosses the Albula for the first time, on the 89 m (292 ft) high Solis Viaduct
, which is both the highest bridge on the Rhaetian Railway, and the broadest span viaduct on the Albula Railway.
Between Tiefencastel
und Filisur, the train crosses the 35 m (114.8 ft) m high and 137 m (449.5 ft) long Schmittentobel Viaduct
. Shortly before Filisur, it reaches one of the trademarks of the Albula Railway - and often also the Rhaetian Railway in general - the 65 m (213.3 ft) high Landwasser Viaduct
, which in a curve of only 100 m (328.1 ft) radius leads directly into a tunnel through the cliff face at the opposite end.
At Filisur station
is the junction between the Albula Railway and the branch line from Davos Platz
. Between Filisur and Bergün, the train ascends 292 m (958 ft), and runs through the first spiral tunnel. The next section, between Bergün and Preda, is the most demanding example of rail technology on the Albula Railway: in order to overcome the height difference of 417 m (1,368.1 ft) between Bergün and Preda - in only 6.5 km (4 mi) 6.5 km as the crow flies - without requiring excessive slopes or radii, the route is extended by 12 km (7.5 mi) by various engineering structures (including three spiral tunnels, two curved tunnels and four valley crossing viaducts). Soon after departure from Bergün station, where an RhB Crocodile
stands as a locomotive monument, the train climbs once again at a rate of 3.5%. By means of the various structures just identified, the line crosses over itself twice. Rail fans can also view the Bergün-Preda section from a rail history nature trail adjacent to the line.
At the hamlet of Naz, near Preda, the line crosses a brief plateau, where, for several years now, there has been a double track section about 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) long. Soon after the Preda station, which, at 1789 m (5,869.4 ft) above sea level, is the highest stopping point on the Albula Railway, is the north portal of the Albula Tunnel
. After passing through the tunnel, and the Spinas
station at the southern portal, the train descends at a slope of up to 3.2 %, to arrive in the Oberengadine at Bever
, in the Val Bever. Here there is a junction with the Engadine Railway from Scuol-Tarasp
. At the next station, Samedan
, the line to Pontresina
branches off. The Bernina Express
takes this branch, which connects the Albula Railway with the Bernina Railway
to Tirano
. On the other hand, the Glacier Express
follows the main line, via Celerina
, to the terminus of the Albula Railway at St. Moritz
.
Originally, it was planned to extend the Albula Railway via the Maloja Pass
, to Chiavenna in Italy
. At the terminus of the extension, there was to have been a connection with the Italian railway line that runs along Lake Como
to Milan
. In light of those plans, the St Moritz station was, and still is, laid out as a through station. Whereas on the Swiss side plans for a line through the Bergell reached an advanced stage, there were, on the Italian side, only vague statements of intent, for a line proceeding onwards from the border at Castasegna
. World War I
, and the subsequent economic recession
, prevented any implementation of the plans. Today, the Majola Pass route is served by a cross border post bus line.
from Zermatt
to St Moritz, and the Bernina Express
from Chur via Samedan and Pontresina to Tirano. In addition, there are year round regular fast trains with direct through coaches between Zermatt and Tirano.
The most frequently used motive power on the Albula Railway is the modern Ge 4/4 III
class of electric locomotive
, which is also in service on the Vereina line
. The Albula Railway was once the main stamping ground of the Rhaetian Crocodile
(the Ge 6/6 I
). The two remaining locos of this class, and the similarly historic Ge 4/6
, still operate today at the head of not uncommon special trains. In contrast, the newer RhB locomotives have not achieved the popularity of the Crocodiles. However, they are in everyday use, and the operational difficulties they face can hardly be compared with those to be found on other railways of this magnitude and gauge, due to the nature of the route, and the density of the traffic. Additionally there is, for a narrow gauge railway, unusually dense goods traffic, which in mountainous terrain takes over much of what would otherwise be carried by road traffic. Almost all of the stations on the line are served with goods trains; the larger stations are equipped with (at least) one shunting locomotive of their own. The most important goods transiting the line are timber, cement and other building materials, mineral oil
products and foodstuffs.
A further area of responsibility of the railway is the transport of cars
through the mountainous terrain, together with their passengers. The alpine
weather conditions make it impossible to use the alpine passes all year round, whereas with the help of the Albula Railway, the mountain barrier can be overcome without any problems. The Rhaetian Railway therefore offers road users the option of loading their own cars in Thusis onto special car carriers, for transport to Samedan.
On the Bergün-Preda section, there are also so-called sledding trains operating in winter. These are shuttle services, which carry sledders and tobogganers from Bergün to Preda. At Preda, the sledders and tobogganers connect with the Albula Pass
road, which is closed for traffic in winter, and used as a toboggan track
to Bergün.
Maloja Pass
Maloja Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps in the canton of Graubünden, linking the Engadin with the Val Bregaglia and Chiavenna in Italy...
, to Chiavenna in Italy. Holsboer later had to abandon this planned Scalettabahn, in favour of a route through what was to become the Albula Tunnel
Albula Tunnel
The Albula Tunnel is the centrepiece of the Albula Railway, which forms part of the Rhaetian Railway network, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland...
. In 1895, the Zurich railway pioneer Adolf Guyer-Zeller
Adolf Guyer-Zeller
Adolf Guyer-Zeller was a Swiss entrepreneur.He was the son of an owner of spinning mill and creator of a textile export trade in Zürich. After the death of his father, he led the company...
presented the idea of an Engadine-Orient-Railway, which would have connected Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
, via Thusis
Thusis
Thusis is a municipality in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.-Geography:Thusis has an area, , of . Of this area, 18% is used for agricultural purposes, while 58.2% is forested...
and Engadine
Engadin
The Engadin or Engadine is a long valley in the Swiss Alps located in the canton of Graubünden in southeast Switzerland. It follows the route of the Inn River from its headwaters at Maloja Pass running northeast until the Inn flows into Austria one hundred kilometers downstream...
, and over the Fuorn Pass
Fuorn Pass
Fuorn Pass or Ofen Pass is a high alpine mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. The name is based on the ovens that were used in ironworks in the area...
, with the Vinschgau and Trieste
Trieste
Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city...
. Zeller planned this proposed route as a standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
line. It would have passed under the Albula Alps through a 12 km long tunnel from the mouth of the Val Tisch to the Inn Valley
Engadin
The Engadin or Engadine is a long valley in the Swiss Alps located in the canton of Graubünden in southeast Switzerland. It follows the route of the Inn River from its headwaters at Maloja Pass running northeast until the Inn flows into Austria one hundred kilometers downstream...
below Bever. As the Ofenbergbahn, the Engadine-Orient-Railway would also have cut a connection through to the Val Müstair
Val Müstair
Val Müstair is a municipality in the district of Inn in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It was formed on 1 January 2009 through the merger of Tschierv, Fuldera, Lü, Valchava, Santa Maria Val Müstair and Müstair.-Demographics:...
. It was only on 30 June 1898 that the Federal Assembly in Bern finally decided on the construction of the Albula Railway. The Federal Assembly thereby also decided against another standard gauge transit railway, and a similarly contemplated railway over the Julier Pass
Julier Pass
The Julier Pass is a mountain pass in Switzerland, in the Albula Range of the Alps. It connects the Engadin valley with the rest of Graubünden...
.
In 1896, there were only 20 km of standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
railway line in Graubünden - and 90 km of narrow gauge railways. (Incidentally, the length of the standard gauge line has remained unchanged to this day, apart from the construction of a new industrial spur line from Chur to Domat / Ems.) Priority was given to the construction of a rail connection to the spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
at St Moritz, which at that time was a 14 hour stage coach ride distant from Chur
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
, the terminus of the standard gauge line.
After Thusis was reached from Chur, the construction of the Albula Railway began on 15 October 1898. Unlike the Bernina Railway
Bernina Railway
The Bernina Railway is a single track metre gauge railway line forming part of the Rhaetian Railway . It links the spa resort of St. Moritz, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, with the town of Tirano, in the Province of Sondrio, Italy, via the Bernina Pass...
, which was opened a good ten years later, and operated in fully electrified form right from the start, the Albula Railway was still a steam railway at its conception. Moreover (and again unlike the Bernina Railway), it was intended to be universally available, particularly for the transport of goods. As the steam locomotives of the time were still not particularly powerful, and in order to permit the highest possible speeds, the maximum gradients were restricted to 3.5%, and the minimum curve radius was also generously defined. Thus, the Albula Railway, in the interests of maximising its effectiveness, did not test the technical bounds of an adhesion railway. However, such an architectural style required a variety of engineering structures. So, for example, the viaducts were exclusively solidly constructed. Especially problematical was the ascent of the valley between Bergün/Bravuogn
Bergün/Bravuogn (Rhaetian Railway station)
Bergün/Bravuogn is a railway station in Bergün/Bravuogn, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE1/R11 - 1tph...
and Preda
Preda (Rhaetian Railway station)
Preda is a railway station in Preda, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE1/R11 - 1tph...
, where, in a distance of 5 km as the crow flies, a difference in altitude of over 400 m needed to be overcome. To stay within the maximum gradient parameters, the project supervisor, Friedrich Hennings, devised an intricate alignment, which lengthened the line's formation by 12 km. Two curved tunnels, three spiral tunnels, and a number of bridges overcame the engineering problem, by winding the track around like the thread of a screw. On this part of the line, the construction of the 660 m long Rugnux Spiral Tunnels in particular led to problems, because the 4 °C cold mountain water hampered the activities of the workers.
Beyond Preda emerged the centrepiece of the line, the 5866 m long Albula Tunnel
Albula Tunnel
The Albula Tunnel is the centrepiece of the Albula Railway, which forms part of the Rhaetian Railway network, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland...
, which passes under the watershed
European Watershed
The European Watershed is the line which divides the drainage basins of the major rivers of Germany: the Rhine, which originates in the Swiss Alps and empties into the North Sea via the Netherlands, and the Danube, which originates in the Black Forest and flows eastward emptying into the Black...
between the Rhine and the Danube
Danube
The Danube is a river in the Central Europe and the Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway....
a few kilometres west of the Albula Pass
Albula Pass
Albula Pass is a Swiss mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden. It lies in the Albula Range of the Alps...
. With its maximum elevation of 1820 m (5,971.1 ft) above sea level, the tunnel is, after the Furka Tunnel
Furka Tunnel
The Furka Base Tunnel is a 15.4 km long Swiss rail tunnel that connects Oberwald in the Canton of Valais with Realp in the Canton of Uri. The base tunnel replaced the previous overland track that climbed to an apex of 2160 metres above sea level at the Furka stop below Furka Pass...
, the second highest alpine tunnel in Switzerland. The creation of the tunnel was hampered by unusual problems caused by outflowing water, and these led to the bankruptcy of the building contractor. A total of 1,316 people were involved in the construction of the Albula Tunnel. Overall, there were 16 fatal accidents involving workers. At 03:00 hours on 29 May 1902, the breakthrough of the two tunnel leads was achieved, at a point 3030.5 m (9,942.6 ft) from the north portal, and 2835 m 2835 m (9,301.2 ft), from the south portal.
On 1 July 1903, the opening of the section between Thusis
Thusis (Rhaetian Railway station)
Thusis is a railway station in Thusis, Switzerland. It is the terminus of the Landquart-Thusis railway line. Hourly services originating from Chur on that line also continue along the Albula Railway line to St. Moritz.-Rhaetian Railway services:...
and Celerina
Celerina (Rhaetian Railway station)
Celerina is a railway station in Celerina, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line between Chur and St.Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE1/R11 - 1tph...
could be celebrated. As the RhB and the St Moritz municipality were still yet to reach agreement over the site of the St. Moritz station
St. Moritz (Rhaetian Railway station)
St. Moritz is a railway station in St. Moritz, Switzerland. It is the southern terminus of the Albula Railway line from Chur. Hourly services operate on this section of the line. There is also an hourly service on the Bernina Railway line from St. Moritz to Tirano, Italy...
, the inauguration of the 3 km long remaining section had to be delayed to 10 July 1904.
Shortages of coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
prompted the RhB to grapple with the task of electrification
Electrification
Electrification originally referred to the build out of the electrical generating and distribution systems which occurred in the United States, England and other countries from the mid 1880's until around 1940 and is in progress in developing countries. This also included the change over from line...
. On 20 April 1919, the first section of the line to be electrified, the link between Bever
Bever (Rhaetian Railway station)
Bever is a station on the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp railway line. Hourly services operate on this line. Trains on the Albula Railway line between Chur and St.Moritz stop at this station during the early morning and late evening only.-Rhaetian Railway services:...
and Filisur (Rhaetian Railway station)|Filisur]], was energised with the 11 kV
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
16 2/3 Hz
Hertz
The hertz is the SI unit of frequency defined as the number of cycles per second of a periodic phenomenon. One of its most common uses is the description of the sine wave, particularly those used in radio and audio applications....
alternating current
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
system used on the Engadine line. On 15 October 1919, the extension to Thusis followed.
Since 1930, the Glacier Express
Glacier Express
The Glacier Express is an express train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The train is operated jointly by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Rhaetian Railway...
has followed the route of the Albula Railway. The Bernina Express
Bernina Express
The Bernina Express is an express train connecting Chur in Switzerland with Poschiavo and Tirano in Italy, by crossing the Swiss Alps from north to south. For most of its journey, the train also passes along and through the World Heritage Site known as the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina...
was added after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Both of these trains have since operated as spearheads of the Rhaetian Railway's legendary reputation as a railway company amongst rail fans from around the world.
Since the line was equipped with a block safety system in 1969, remote monitoring of train traffic at most stations on the line has been possible. In 2005, the Rail Control Center in Landquart
Landquart
Landquart may be*the river that flows through the Prättigau valley, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, see Landquart River*a district in the Canton of Graubünden, see Landquart...
assumed the former tasks of the remote monitoring station at Filisur.
The Bever substation
Electrical substation
A substation is a part of an electrical generation, transmission, and distribution system. Substations transform voltage from high to low, or the reverse, or perform any of several other important functions...
was modernised in 1973. Successive extensions to the passing loops at the stations has lengthened them to over 260 m (853 ft), the equivalent of an express train with 13 carriages. Since the end of the 1990s, the RhB has installed three short double track
Double track
A double track railway usually involves running one track in each direction, compared to a single track railway where trains in both directions share the same track.- Overview :...
sections - at Thusis, at Filisur and below Preda - to make the hourly train crossings flow more smoothly. The remaining parts of the line are single track as before, and are still largely in their original configuration from 1904.
Description of the railway
The Albula Railway begins in Thusis, where it connects with the Landquart - Chur railway, built in 1896. Behind Thusis station, the line crosses the HinterrheinHinterrhein
Hinterrhein can refer to:* Hinterrhein , a tributary of the Rhine* Hinterrhein, Switzerland, a municipality* Hinterrhein , the district including that Swiss municipality...
, as well as the A 13 Autobahn, and enters the Albula Valley, which, east of Thusis, is known as the Schinschlucht. Even at this early stage, it passes many bridges and tunnels. After Solis station, 8 km (5 mi) from Thusis, the line crosses the Albula for the first time, on the 89 m (292 ft) high Solis Viaduct
Solis Viaduct
The Solis Viaduct is a single track eleven-arched limestone railway viaduct. It spans the Albula River east of the hamlet of Solis, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
, which is both the highest bridge on the Rhaetian Railway, and the broadest span viaduct on the Albula Railway.
Between Tiefencastel
Tiefencastel (Rhaetian Railway station)
Tiefencastel is a railway station in Tiefencastel, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE1/R11 - 1tph...
und Filisur, the train crosses the 35 m (114.8 ft) m high and 137 m (449.5 ft) long Schmittentobel Viaduct
Schmittentobel Viaduct
The Schmittentobel Viaduct is a single track limestone railway viaduct. It is situated near Schmitten, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.The viaduct was opened in 1903 by the Rhaetian Railway, which still owns and uses it today....
. Shortly before Filisur, it reaches one of the trademarks of the Albula Railway - and often also the Rhaetian Railway in general - the 65 m (213.3 ft) high Landwasser Viaduct
Landwasser Viaduct
The Landwasser Viaduct is a single track six-arched curved limestone railway viaduct. It spans the Landwasser River between Schmitten and Filisur, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
, which in a curve of only 100 m (328.1 ft) radius leads directly into a tunnel through the cliff face at the opposite end.
At Filisur station
Train station
A train station, also called a railroad station or railway station and often shortened to just station,"Station" is commonly understood to mean "train station" unless otherwise qualified. This is evident from dictionary entries e.g...
is the junction between the Albula Railway and the branch line from Davos Platz
Davos Platz (Rhaetian Railway station)
Davos Platz station is located in the municipality of Davos in the district of Prattigau/Davos in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.It is the terminus of the Landquart-Davos railway line. Northbound, there is an hourly service towards Landquart. Southbound, there is an hourly service to Filisur. The...
. Between Filisur and Bergün, the train ascends 292 m (958 ft), and runs through the first spiral tunnel. The next section, between Bergün and Preda, is the most demanding example of rail technology on the Albula Railway: in order to overcome the height difference of 417 m (1,368.1 ft) between Bergün and Preda - in only 6.5 km (4 mi) 6.5 km as the crow flies - without requiring excessive slopes or radii, the route is extended by 12 km (7.5 mi) by various engineering structures (including three spiral tunnels, two curved tunnels and four valley crossing viaducts). Soon after departure from Bergün station, where an RhB Crocodile
Rhaetian Railway Ge 6/6 I
The Rhaetian Railway Ge 6/6 I is a class of metre gauge C′C′ electric locomotives operated by the Rhaetian Railway , which is the main railway network in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
stands as a locomotive monument, the train climbs once again at a rate of 3.5%. By means of the various structures just identified, the line crosses over itself twice. Rail fans can also view the Bergün-Preda section from a rail history nature trail adjacent to the line.
At the hamlet of Naz, near Preda, the line crosses a brief plateau, where, for several years now, there has been a double track section about 1 km (0.621372736649807 mi) long. Soon after the Preda station, which, at 1789 m (5,869.4 ft) above sea level, is the highest stopping point on the Albula Railway, is the north portal of the Albula Tunnel
Albula Tunnel
The Albula Tunnel is the centrepiece of the Albula Railway, which forms part of the Rhaetian Railway network, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland...
. After passing through the tunnel, and the Spinas
Spinas (Rhaetian Railway station)
Spinas is a railway station in Spinas, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line from Chur to St. Moritz. Services operate every two hours to this station.-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE1/R11 - 1tp2h...
station at the southern portal, the train descends at a slope of up to 3.2 %, to arrive in the Oberengadine at Bever
Bever (Rhaetian Railway station)
Bever is a station on the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp railway line. Hourly services operate on this line. Trains on the Albula Railway line between Chur and St.Moritz stop at this station during the early morning and late evening only.-Rhaetian Railway services:...
, in the Val Bever. Here there is a junction with the Engadine Railway from Scuol-Tarasp
Scuol-Tarasp (Rhaetian Railway station)
Scuol-Tarasp is the northern terminus of the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp railway line.There is one train per hour to each of Disentis/Muster and Pontresina.There is currently one main platform in use at Scuol-Tarasp station.-Services:*RE3 - 1tph*R7 - 1tph...
. At the next station, Samedan
Samedan (Rhaetian Railway station)
Samedan is a railway station in Samedan, Switzerland. It is an important interchange station between the Albula Railway line and the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp line. Hourly services operate on each line....
, the line to Pontresina
Pontresina (Rhaetian Railway station)
Pontresina is a station on the Bernina Railway line from St. Moritz to Tirano. It is also the terminus of the Pontresina-Scuol-Tarasp railway line. Hourly services operate on each line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tp*R7 - 1tph...
branches off. The Bernina Express
Bernina Express
The Bernina Express is an express train connecting Chur in Switzerland with Poschiavo and Tirano in Italy, by crossing the Swiss Alps from north to south. For most of its journey, the train also passes along and through the World Heritage Site known as the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina...
takes this branch, which connects the Albula Railway with the Bernina Railway
Bernina Railway
The Bernina Railway is a single track metre gauge railway line forming part of the Rhaetian Railway . It links the spa resort of St. Moritz, in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland, with the town of Tirano, in the Province of Sondrio, Italy, via the Bernina Pass...
to Tirano
Tirano (Rhaetian Railway station)
Tirano is one of two stations in Tirano, Italy. It is the southern terminus of the metre gauge Bernina Railway line from St. Moritz. Hourly services operate on this line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*R5 - 1tph-See also:...
. On the other hand, the Glacier Express
Glacier Express
The Glacier Express is an express train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The train is operated jointly by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Rhaetian Railway...
follows the main line, via Celerina
Celerina (Rhaetian Railway station)
Celerina is a railway station in Celerina, Switzerland. It is located on the Albula Railway line between Chur and St.Moritz. Hourly services operate on this section of the line.-Rhaetian Railway services:*RE1/R11 - 1tph...
, to the terminus of the Albula Railway at St. Moritz
St. Moritz (Rhaetian Railway station)
St. Moritz is a railway station in St. Moritz, Switzerland. It is the southern terminus of the Albula Railway line from Chur. Hourly services operate on this section of the line. There is also an hourly service on the Bernina Railway line from St. Moritz to Tirano, Italy...
.
Originally, it was planned to extend the Albula Railway via the Maloja Pass
Maloja Pass
Maloja Pass is a high mountain pass in the Swiss Alps in the canton of Graubünden, linking the Engadin with the Val Bregaglia and Chiavenna in Italy...
, to Chiavenna in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. At the terminus of the extension, there was to have been a connection with the Italian railway line that runs along Lake Como
Lake Como
Lake Como is a lake of glacial origin in Lombardy, Italy. It has an area of 146 km², making it the third largest lake in Italy, after Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore...
to Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
. In light of those plans, the St Moritz station was, and still is, laid out as a through station. Whereas on the Swiss side plans for a line through the Bergell reached an advanced stage, there were, on the Italian side, only vague statements of intent, for a line proceeding onwards from the border at Castasegna
Castasegna
Castasegna is a former municipality in the district of Maloja in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, right at the Italian border. It's now part of the municipality of Bregaglia. The town is situated in the Bergell valley, above the river Mera.-Geography:...
. World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and the subsequent economic recession
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
, prevented any implementation of the plans. Today, the Majola Pass route is served by a cross border post bus line.
Train traffic
Between Chur and St Moritz, there are fast trains every day at regular hourly intervals. These trains have been officially known as RegioExpress services since December 2004. For the section Thusis - St Moritz, the fast trains require 1 hour 34 minutes, and therefore travel at an average speed of 39 km/h (24.2 mph). Only the so-called fast train stations are served by these trains. At the other stations, trains have no longer stopped since the 1990s. In Surava and Alvaneu, only some trains still stop, and only then in off peak times. In the high summer season, there are also special tourist oriented express trains with panorama cars, for which reservations and supplements are required. These trains are the Glacier ExpressGlacier Express
The Glacier Express is an express train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The train is operated jointly by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Rhaetian Railway...
from Zermatt
Zermatt
Zermatt is a municipality in the district of Visp in the German-speaking section of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. It has a population of about 5,800 inhabitants....
to St Moritz, and the Bernina Express
Bernina Express
The Bernina Express is an express train connecting Chur in Switzerland with Poschiavo and Tirano in Italy, by crossing the Swiss Alps from north to south. For most of its journey, the train also passes along and through the World Heritage Site known as the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina...
from Chur via Samedan and Pontresina to Tirano. In addition, there are year round regular fast trains with direct through coaches between Zermatt and Tirano.
The most frequently used motive power on the Albula Railway is the modern Ge 4/4 III
Rhaetian Railway Ge 4/4 III
The Rhaetian Railway Ge 4/4 III is a class of metre gauge Bo-Bo electric locomotives of the Rhaetian Railway , which is the main railway network in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
class of electric locomotive
Electric locomotive
An electric locomotive is a locomotive powered by electricity from overhead lines, a third rail or an on-board energy storage device...
, which is also in service on the Vereina line
Vereina Tunnel
The Vereina Tunnel is a railway tunnel situated in eastern Switzerland, which at 19,058 m is the longest tunnel on the Swiss RhB railway network as well as the world's longest metre gauge railway tunnel...
. The Albula Railway was once the main stamping ground of the Rhaetian Crocodile
Crocodile (locomotive)
Crocodile electric locomotives are so called because they have long "noses" at each end, reminiscent of the snout of a crocodile . These contain the motors and drive axles, and are connected by an articulated center section. The center section usually contains the crew compartments, pantographs...
(the Ge 6/6 I
Rhaetian Railway Ge 6/6 I
The Rhaetian Railway Ge 6/6 I is a class of metre gauge C′C′ electric locomotives operated by the Rhaetian Railway , which is the main railway network in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
). The two remaining locos of this class, and the similarly historic Ge 4/6
Rhaetian Railway Ge 4/6
The Rhaetian Railway Ge 4/6 was an eight member class of metre gauge 1′D1′ electric locomotives formerly operated by the Rhaetian Railway , which is the main railway network in the Canton of Graubünden, Switzerland....
, still operate today at the head of not uncommon special trains. In contrast, the newer RhB locomotives have not achieved the popularity of the Crocodiles. However, they are in everyday use, and the operational difficulties they face can hardly be compared with those to be found on other railways of this magnitude and gauge, due to the nature of the route, and the density of the traffic. Additionally there is, for a narrow gauge railway, unusually dense goods traffic, which in mountainous terrain takes over much of what would otherwise be carried by road traffic. Almost all of the stations on the line are served with goods trains; the larger stations are equipped with (at least) one shunting locomotive of their own. The most important goods transiting the line are timber, cement and other building materials, mineral oil
Mineral oil
A mineral oil is any of various colorless, odorless, light mixtures of alkanes in the C15 to C40 range from a non-vegetable source, particularly a distillate of petroleum....
products and foodstuffs.
A further area of responsibility of the railway is the transport of cars
CARS
Cars, or automobiles, motor cars, are wheeled motor vehicles used for transporting passengers.Cars or CARS may also refer to:-Entertainment:* Cars , a Disney/Pixar film series...
through the mountainous terrain, together with their passengers. The alpine
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
weather conditions make it impossible to use the alpine passes all year round, whereas with the help of the Albula Railway, the mountain barrier can be overcome without any problems. The Rhaetian Railway therefore offers road users the option of loading their own cars in Thusis onto special car carriers, for transport to Samedan.
On the Bergün-Preda section, there are also so-called sledding trains operating in winter. These are shuttle services, which carry sledders and tobogganers from Bergün to Preda. At Preda, the sledders and tobogganers connect with the Albula Pass
Albula Pass
Albula Pass is a Swiss mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden. It lies in the Albula Range of the Alps...
road, which is closed for traffic in winter, and used as a toboggan track
Albula Pass
Albula Pass is a Swiss mountain pass in the canton of Graubünden. It lies in the Albula Range of the Alps...
to Bergün.