# The Albula Line and the Landwasser Viaduct: the Glacier Express Stretch on a Regional Train The Albula section of the Glacier Express, with the Landwasser Viaduct and the spiral tunnels, on a regional train with no supplement. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/switzerland/graubunden/engadine/things-to-do/albula-line · Revisado: 2026-11-11 Dónde: Engadine The full Glacier Express, from St. Moritz to Zermatt, is a whole day sitting down. If it's the spectacular part you want, do the Albula on a regional train and save yourself the day. ### What it is The Albula line is the Rhätische Bahn section between Thusis and St. Moritz: 61.7 km of narrow-gauge track that crosses the Albula Pass with a chain of spiral tunnels, stone viaducts and tight curves, with no cogwheel and gradients of up to 35 per thousand. Its highest point, at 1,821 m, lies inside the Albula tunnel, almost 5.9 km long. Since 7 July 2008 it has been a World Heritage Site together with the Bernina line, as an example of how a mountain railway blends into the landscape. For you it means you can do the most spectacular stretch of the Glacier Express route on a regional train, with an ordinary ticket, and get off wherever you like. ### What you see from the window The Albula tunnel, between Spinas and Preda, beneath the pass. The spiral tunnels between Preda and Bergün: the train loops inside the mountain and comes out again above itself to lose height. From the window you see the same Bergün bell tower appear at different heights and from different sides. Bergün, a village of painted Engadine houses, with the Bahnmuseum Albula, the line's railway museum, beside the station. The Landwasser Viaduct, just before Filisur: 142 m long and 65 m high, on a curve, with the last arch resting on the rock wall, where the track goes straight into a tunnel. ### Tickets On the regional train any ordinary Rhätische Bahn ticket is valid, and the Swiss Travel Pass covers it entirely; no reservation is needed. On the Glacier Express, the ticket is also covered by the Swiss Travel Pass, but the seat reservation, at CHF 54, is compulsory for any stretch. ### On foot beside the track Between Preda and Bergün runs the Bahnhistorischer Lehrpfad, a railway trail with panels that follows the track and the points from which you can see the spiral tunnels from outside. It is a good way to combine the journey with a downhill walk: get off at Preda, walk to Bergün and carry on on the next train. ### With children and when to go It is a journey that works at any age: children press against the window in the spiral tunnels, trying to guess where the train will come out. All year round: in summer with green meadows, in autumn with yellow larches and in winter with snow, when the Bergün valley looks whitest. On foggy days in the valley bottom, though, you miss a lot. Round off the day with the other World Heritage train, the Bernina line, which leaves from the same St. Moritz station for Italy. ## Paso a paso ### Departure · St. Moritz Take a regional train towards Chur. It passes Samedan and Bever before entering the Albula tunnel. ### Preda – Bergün · Spiral tunnels The train loops inside the mountain to lose the height difference. Look out of the window: you will see the same village at different heights. ### Filisur · Landwasser Viaduct Just before Filisur, the train crosses the curved viaduct and enters a tunnel cut into the cliff. ### Return or onward Go back to St. Moritz the same way, or carry on to Chur and return through the Vereina tunnel to complete a loop. ## Qué llevar - Ordinary ticket or Swiss Travel Pass - Water and something to eat for the journey ## Consejos ### If you want the Glacier Express anyway The reservation costs CHF 54 and is compulsory; the ticket is covered by the Swiss Travel Pass. ### Stop at Bergün On the regional train you can get off in the village and continue on the next one. ### Choose a clear day The stretch has many tunnels; with fog in the valley you miss almost everything. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Can you do the Glacier Express without paying the reservation? Not on the Glacier Express itself, but the Albula section is also run by regional trains with an ordinary ticket. ### How much is the Glacier Express reservation? CHF 54 in first and second class, for any stretch. Excellence Class, CHF 590. ### Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover it? The ticket does, on the regional train and on the Glacier Express. The Glacier Express reservation is paid separately. ### Where is the best view of the Landwasser Viaduct? From the train, between Schmitten and Filisur, as the track curves before entering the tunnel.