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Switzerland by rail and the Jungfrau experience

Submitted by Zoe Dawes on Mon, 03/12/2012 - 15:53. Europe Train Transportation Traveling

“We’ll be arriving at Interlaken in ten minutes so you’d better finish off that drink and get yourstuff together.” I recently went to and around Switzerland on a superlative-laden triporganised by Railbookers. There’s possibly no better way to travel around Switzerlandthan by rail. Apart from the timetabling genius of so many trains hurtling around thecountry amidst avalanches and ice and still being on time, there’s the smart carriages andquirky railways that make even the least anoracky passenger quietly happy. I had travelledfrom St Pancras on the Eurostar to Paris and been smoothly transported across France toBasel on the Swiss border. A short wait and then the first Swiss train south past tiny villageswith toytown church spires pointing up to the mountains and finally into Interlaken station. The journey had taken nine hours and had simply flown by in a blur of frosty fields, sunlithills, efficient stations and very decent vino …

Alpine village from the window

Lugging my suitcase (including a VERY chic pair of snowboots from that well-knownski-wear designer, George of Asda) off the train onto the platform at Interlaken, I wasastounded to see a huge star high twinkling above us in the night sky. I mean a REAL star,you know, one of those you get at the top of a Christmas tree, not one of those teeny onesin the Milky Way. Ever-helpful Swiss guide, Martina, said it was actually on the roof of arestaurant at the top of small mountain, but as i couldn’t see the mountain, it simply lookedmagical and seemed a good omen for the trip. Opening the bedroom curtains the nextmorning, the glorious sight of sunlit, snow-laden Alps towering over the town augured wellfor the next, very special train ride.

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Switzerland by rail and the Jungfrau experience | Wandering Edu... http://www.wanderingeducators.com/best/traveling/switzerland-ra...

1 of 3 30/03/2012 10:22

Eiger and skis

original Jungfrau train

One of the great railway journeys of all time, starts from Interlaken Ost – the Jungfraujochto the ‘Top Of Europe’. Three charming little trains take you through the loveliest of Alpinescenery, past pretty wooden chalets, tiny stations, speedy skiers, sturdy toboganners andhardy walkers to the station beside the summit of the Jungfrau. For all facts fans, heregoes:

• At 3454m Europe’s highest-altitude railway station in the heart of the Alps

• It’s the longest cog-wheel railway in Europe

• The railway was finished in 1912 so is celebrating its centenary this year

• The route climbs beside and through the North Face of the Eiger – a stunning sight

• The 22km Aletsch Glacier, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the longest icestream inthe Alps, begins on the slopes of the Jungfrau – you can walk inside it from the station

• The restaurant has the best view of the Jungfrau any non-climber could wish for

• Up to the Sphinx Observatory platform (3573m) which is surrounded by three iconicmountains – the Eiger 3970m, Mönch (Monk) 4099m, and the Jungfrau (Maiden) 4158m aswell as the Aletsch Glacier and on a clear day you can see across the Alps to the Vosgesand the Black Forest

• 700,000 visitors visit 365 days a year, in just about every weather condition

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2 of 3 30/03/2012 10:22

We had been warned to take care as altitude affects breathing and I felt as if I was walkingthrough treacle inside the visitor centre, but outside in the fresh air at the Observatory I soonfelt better and could appreciate the awesome sight of this spectacular scenery backlit indiamond-sharp winter sunshine.Travelling down the mountain was equally delightful as the little cog-wheeled engine took itat a steady pace past the menacing Eiger North Wall into picturesque Grindelwald. Back inInterlaken, I could still feel the icy, crisp air from the mountains and hear the echo of the fewhardy black crows which had managed to make the flight to the top of the Alps with us. It’sa journey I’ll never forget and hope one day to do all over again …

Want to read more about Zoe's Jungfrau adventure? Head here:

http://www.thequirkytraveller.com/2012/03/the-eiger-from-the-jungfrau-train/

For more information on taking your own rail trip, please see railbookers.com

Zoë Dawes, ‘Britain’s Best Travel Blogger’ in 2011, is a travel writer based in NW England.Read more in her blog The Quirky Traveller

All photos courtesy and copyright Zoe Dawes

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3 of 3 30/03/2012 10:22

switzerland by rail and the jungfrau experience...

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