SWITZERLAND: Glacier Express
for some its the most scenic train ride in the world:
With the plane we follow it but can add some detours to spice up the experience.
CH_Glac_Expr.PLN (5.0 KB)
Start out of Samedan LSZS in a southerly direction and climb towards the Bernina massif (13.333ft). With the new DEM the famous Bianco snow-ridge is clearly visible up front.
In a wide turn over the lakes we pass over glitzy St. Moritz and briefly hit the railway that tunnels under the Maloja Pass - while we have to fly over it.
Further north zip through the spans (!) of Landwasser Bridge, the wet dream of (model) railway buffs worldwide.
After reaching the Rhine Valley strike a course west and start climbing. After passing the Ski resort Flims-Laax go low over Toedi peak (12.000 ft), the most prominent watchtower in the region. Swing back towards the railway tracks in the valley left and pass along with the locomotive (MS Train simulator 2022 ?) over Oberalp Pass. Andermatt and environs is the heart of Switzerland, continue over Galenstock peak (12.000 ft) and Furka Pass.
While the railway spirals now down into the Rhone Valley we continue over lakes and rugged mountains to the Finsteraarhorn Peak (14.000ft). Great views over the biggest ice fields in the Alps and a glide down along its longest glacier, the Aletsch.
We meet the train again in Visp where the route swings south. Have some oxygen left so can skim mighty Dom Peak (15.000 ft). As Zermatt village (the Express terminus) has no Airport we circle wide around it, passing prominent peaks (Monte Rosa, Matterhorn…) only to reach via the huge dam Grande-Dixence the asphalt runway of LSGS Sion (or the challenging grassy Altiport Croix Coeur LSVE…).
