25 Years Alpine Classic Pullman Express

Guided railway cruise in the Swiss Alps in the Alpine Classic Pullman Express, the only original luxury train from the 1930s – on the trail of the legendary Orient Express

Jubilee tour Gornergrat– Zermatt – St. Moritz – Tirano

“26 June 1930 saw the maiden journey of the first continuous express train from Zermatt to St. Moritz, the auspicious “Glacier Express”. The new train lived up to all expectations. The “Glacier Express” is also a masterstroke in terms of advertising for all of Switzerland….” This quotation from the annual report of the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) from 1930 underlines the visions and the kind of “product communication” practised by marketing specialists at that time.

End June 2025, we are extending the “direct connection from Zermatt to St. Moritz” with two more attractive rail routes and making up for the “25 Years of the Alpine Classic Pullman Express” anniversary journey. The trip from Zermatt to the Gornergrat is with a Matterhorn Gotthard Railway NostalChic railcar. For the first sector from Zermatt up to the Gornergrat at 3,089 metres we travel on board a specially organised Gornergrat Railway train on Europe’s highest open-air cog railway. We relax in our comfortable NostalChic car of 1961 and enjoy the finest views of the majestic Matterhorn and a mountain panorama of overwhelming beauty. From Zermatt to St. Moritz, we travel on board the stylish “Glacier Pullman Express – Private de Luxe Train”.

The train is hauled by the He 4/4 n° 26 of MGB Historic on the route of the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn. The “Alby Glatt” locomotive will haul the stylish special train on the sector of the Rhaetian Railways from Disentis to St. Moritz. The special train consists of two Pullman cars, a bar-lounge carriage and a baggage car. For lunch on board, two Gourmino dining cars are added to the train. The tour ends with a trip over the famous Bernina Line to Tirano, the lowest point on the Rhaetian rail network, over the highest rail crossing in the Alps. From St. Moritz to Tirano two original Pullman cars, built in 1931, which once belonged to the Cie. Int. des Wagons-Lits et Grands Express Européens, are attached on a regular train.

The Alpine Classic Glacier Pullman Express is a luxurious seduction and alpine experience at the same time. We will travel elegantly on rails in historic carriages in the enchanting Art Deco style of the early 20th century. The extra train of the Glacier Pullman Express is formed from this historic rolling stock. It is not only the comfortable armchairs, the bay windows, the dainty window tables or the precious teak wood that stand for the elegance of the coaches. It is rather the overall work of art, the harmony of all the details, together with the special ambience, that make up the unique experience.

The four Pullman coaches, each with 32 seats, create a harmonious ambience for sophisticated traveling, mainly on the RhB rail network. Especially for the journeys with the Glacier Pullman Express, the carriages also run on the route of the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn from Disentis to Zermatt and back.

The highlight on the Landwasser viaduct

The Glacier Pullman Express consists of two original Pullman carriages from 1931 of the Cie. Int. des Wagons-Lits et Grands Express Europeens. The valuable wood inlays are designed by the famous French Ebeniste Rene Prou. In addition, there is a piano bar car from 1928 and the baggage car from 1931. For lunch on board, two Gourmino dining cars from 1929 and 1930 are also on board. All the cars have been lovingly restored and comply with today’s safety regulations. The train is pulled in style by historic locomotives, including the world-famous Crocodile on the route of the Rhaetian Railway (RhB).

Travel date Zermatt-St. Moritz
June 28 to July 2, 2025

Day 1 – Individual arrival in Zermatt

From any Swiss train station, bus stop or airport, you can travel comfortably to Zermatt. If you wish, you can also arrive earlier and spend several nights in Zermatt, hotel prices on request.

At around 16.30 our private train, consisting of the NostalChic railcar departs Zermatt for the Gornergrat, the highest point on our trip. The electrified rack railway opened on 20 August 1898 and is the secondhighest mountain railway in Europe. The line begins at an altitude of 1,604 m and travels around 9 km at a maximum gradient of 20% to the Gornergrat at 3,089 m. We enjoy the splendid views on the famous Matterhorn on the Gornergrat followed by a delicious dinner. Return to Zermatt at around 21.00.

Overnight in Zermatt

Day 2 – Zermatt–Andermatt in Glacier Pullman Express

We depart Zermatt at around 08.15 on the “Glacier Pullman Express – Private de Luxe Train”. We sit back in our luxurious carriage dating from the 1930s and enjoy the ever-changing views as our enchanting journey continues.

View from the Eggishorn to the largest glacier in the Alps
We take the cable car up to a unique vantage point in the Aletsch region, the Eggishorn (2,866m). You can see the mighty Aletsch glacier (22 km long) from here. This is the heart of the Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage site.

The mighty Aletsch Glacier measures about 22 km

Pure steam train romance on the Furka mountain route
The Furka mountain route was used by trains of the Glacier Express until October 1981. After the commissioning of the Furka base tunnel, the route was closed and handed over to the Furka-Bergstrecke steam railway (DFB). Because the volunteers spent thousands hours of hard work on restoring the track, steam locomotives and wagons, the train now runs on this track.

Furka steam train near Oberwald

The Furka Mountain section was operated until October 1981 by trains of the Furka-Oberalp Railway and the Glacier Express. After the inauguration of the Furka Base Tunnel, the section of line running over the Furka Pass was decommissioned and handed over to the Furka Steam Mountain Railway (known by its German initials DFB). Hundreds of thousands of hours were invested in the painstaking task of repairing and restoring the section of line.

Our romantically nostalgic journey begins at Oberwald (1,366 m). The more than a century old steam loco begins its journey by climbing up alongside the bubbling waters of the Rhone River.  It reaches the highest-altitude railway station of them all, at Furka (2,163 m). We exceed the accumulation point of over 2100 m above sea level of our trip. The journey of ends at Realp (1,546 m). We change back to the Glacier Pullman Express and head to Andermatt where we arrive at around 1700.

Overnight in Andermatt

The first written mention of Andermatt dates from the year 1203. But archaeological evidence of its earlier history indicates a human presence in the surrounding Urserental valley as early as 4,000 BC, and also a time of Roman settlement in the period around 300 BC. The Gotthard Pass was opened between 1818 and 1830, to be followed by the Oberalp and Furka passes, and Andermatt became a spa town and centre of commerce.

For your overnight stay, you have a choice of hotels in different categories. Evening at leisure.

Day 3 – Andermatt-St. Moritz

After breakfast at the hotel, the Glacier Pullman Express carries us over the 2,033-metre-high Oberalp Pass to Disentis.

Disentis Monastery
This Benedictine monastery was founded in 720. One of the brothers will show us some parts of the monastery and tell us about the daily life of a Benedictine monk.

Lunch on board
The Pullman Express brigade serves a fine lunch in the Gourmino dining cars.

Ruinaualta – the spectacular Rhine gorge
The spectacular Rhine gorge was formed by the force of nature over centuries after a gigantic rock fall. What remains is known as the Swiss Grand Canyon. Instead of looking from the rim, we actually cross it along the still young Rhine. We interrupt our journey after lunch and leave the train to marvel at the natural wonders.

Chur
Chur is the oldest city in Switzerland and has been settled for over 5,000 years. The historic Old Town, one of the best-preserved in the country, is completely car-free and very much worth a visit. Enjoy a guided walking tour and learn all about the history and culture of Graubünden’s capital.

Continue to St. Moritz
The Albula and Bernina lines of the Rhaetian Railway were granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2008, and today’s journey takes us along the Albula section from Thusis to St. Moritz.
At around 19.00, the Glacier Pullman Express – Private de Luxe Train pulls into our destination of St. Moritz. We wish you an enjoyable stay in the Engadin Valley

Overnight in St. Moritz

Day 4 – Bernina Pass and Tirano

In the morning travel on the board the Pullman cars from St. Moritz to Tirano. The cars are attached on a regular train. Enjoy breathe taking views as our train travels through valleys and tunnels, over deep canyons and across bridges. We traverse the Alps on Europe’s highest rail crossing, which also boasts UNESCO World Heritage status.

The Bernina railway at the Brusio spiral viaduct

Outside Tirano we visit the “La Gatta” winery for a guided tour to learn all about grapes and how wine is made. We enjoy a typical local lunch accompanied by delicious wines from Triacca.

At around 14.30 we rejoin the modern train “Bernina Express” and leave Tirano. We sit back in the 1st class and enjoy the ever-changing views from the window as our enchanting journey continues. We return to St. Moritz.

Overnight in St. Moritz

Day 5 – Departure

Individual departure. Your ticket is valid to any Swiss railway station, bus stop or Swiss airport (Zurich/Basle/Geneva).

You are free to extend your stay, hotel prices on request.

Routing

Transfer from any Swiss airport or border station to St. Moritz and back from Zermatt or vice versa.