Bernina-Express
The Bernina Express is an express train of the Rhaetian Railway ( RhB). In addition to the Glacier Express, he is considered one of the tourist highlights of the Rhaetian Railway. The road on which the Albula Bernina Express Railway and the Bernina Railway was awarded in the summer of 2008 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Bernina Express leaves the 585 m above sea level. M. Chur railway station towards Thusis and performs on the Albula line to Pontresina. From the passenger unnoticed the train enters here from the AC catenary of the main network to the DC catenary of the Bernina Railway. Until Ospizio Bernina route rises to a height of 2,253 m above sea level. M. and leads subsequently in several loops over Alp Grüm downhill into the Poschiavo valley. Endpoint of the train is the only 429 m high Tirano in Italy. In 2013, the train takes four hours and four minutes for the 144 km long route from Chur to Tirano. Since December 2012, the abbreviation BEX long been used by the RhB train category is defined as in the official timetable of Switzerland.
History
After the success of 1969 decorated coaches link from Chur to Tirano RhB led the Bernina Express in 1973 as a separate train. In the first years of the necessary because of the change in the system between main line and Bernina railway locomotive changes in Samedan took place, where also the possibly entrained cars were separated according to St. Moritz. In Samedan, the two dual power locomotives Gem 4/4 took the train and went to Pontresina in diesel operation. During the renovation of the station Pontresina track was switched equipped, so the change locomotives takes place there since 1982.
The increased demand prompted the RhB, 1985, a second pair of trains Chur - Tirano to perform under the name Bernina Express, the 1993 express connection between St. Moritz and Tirano followed. The offer was in 1995 by a direct connection Landquart - supplemented Tirano, the wrong first as Heidi Land- Bernina Express from 1999 to 2005 as a Heidi - Express - Davos. This (since 2005 on the route Davos - Tirano limited ) train called since 2006 also Bernina Express. Finally, it was introduced back to St. Moritz and in the afternoon to allow the passengers from northern Italy a day trip in the observation car on the Bernina Railway 2007 Trenino rosso from Tirano. Since 2008, this pair of trains bears the name Bernina Express.
In Tirano continue your journey with the trains of the Trenord direction Sondrio, Lecco and Milan can be done or since 1994 with a direct bus route to Lugano.
Rolling stock
At the beginning of the existing, approved for the Bernina line cars were used mainly shortened Einheitswagen I. The small Erstklassabteile existing car no longer met soon. Therefore, in 1978 two shortened Einheitswagen II first class came into operation. Of the 1982 delivered four coaches with luggage compartment of the same model one was reserved for the Bernina Express, so that the minibar was easier to place with their inventories. In 1983, then special car for the Bernina Express were procured: 1983 ten standard cars, III, 1993 eleven shortened Einheitswagen IV Funds raised for the Bernina Express Einheitswagen II, III and IV were given from 1983 a gray-brown ribbon window, which long the appearance of this train time coined. Since 28 May 2000, the Bernina Express is compiled as far as possible from panorama car. In the large, almost continuous ribbon windows of the panorama car the typical gray-brown band of windows could not be installed, as a result it was abandoned as at the previous car; these are now all uniformly red.
Since the spring of 2010 to come on the Bernina line successively new dual-voltage trainsets of the type " Allegra " used. This new trainset RhB ABe 8/12, which was supplied by the company Stadler Altenrhein AG can run both on the RhB Stammnetz with 11,000 volts AC and on the Bernina Railway with 1,000 volts DC. Thus, it was first possible to perform continuous Bernina Express trains from Chur to Tirano without changing locomotives. The trainsets turn to in Pontresina station 's power system in order, so that the travel time from Chur to Tirano is shortened by about 5 minutes, as in Pontresina no locomotive change is necessary. The unit trains each have 24 seats in the first and 76 seats in the second class, as well as 14 additional folding seats ( jump seats ). They are also handicapped accessible ( low-floor entrances and two wheelchair spaces ) and designed for the transportation of bikes (5 bicycle parking spaces). With the power of 2,600 kW can be achieved on the trunk mains a top speed of 100 km / hr. Under DC on the Bernina line, the performance is reduced to 2,400 kW. There, a maximum of 65 km / h route conditionally achieved, and it is a towing capacity of 160 tons allowed. This allows you to operate trains of up to seven panorama car.