Anniversaries
Bernina Line, Canton of Graubünden (Switzerland)
The Bernina Line is in the news this year, celebrating its 100th year anniversary. It has been a year of celebration along the line with lately one in Pontresina.
The train line, which goes from the town of St. Moritz to Tirano in Italy was built, from July 1906 to 1910. It was a big accomplishment for the 2,500 workers who had to work during the cold months digging tunnels and making bridges.
If you take it you will go through 13 tunnels and 52 bridges. There is also a 5900 feet ascent (1800 m) in just 13,6 miles (22 km) from Ospizio to Tirano.
Bernina Line at Alp Grüm in Engadin (Switzerland)
Originally used only for the Summer, it was opened for part of the Winter in 1914. It is since 1944 owned by the Rhaetian Railway (RhB), a large transportation company in Switzerland.
On the UNESCO site since 2008, the Bernina Line sees the passage of 700,000 visitors yearly. If you have not heard of the Bernina Line, you may have heard of the Bernina Express going from Chur or Davos to Tirano in Italy.
I had the chance to take a short ride on it this year from the station to St. Moritz to Ospizio and then from Alp Grüm near the lake of Palu. It was an amazing experience with beautiful sceneries passing by lakes and glaciers.
There is a small exhibit at the train station in St. Moritz and outside of some major stops along the line like in Ospizio at 7391 feet (2253 m), facing the lake Blanco.
When staying in Engadin in a hotel for a few days, some hotels are offering a pass for the Rhaetian train for free. So don’t pass the opportunity if you go to the Engadin valley.
