Albula railway line

The Albula railway line (German: Albulalinie; Italian: Linea dell'Albula; Romansh: Lingia da l'Alvra) is a single track metre gauge railway line forming part of the core network of the Rhaetian Railway (RhB), in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. It links Thusis on the Hinterrhein at 697 m (2,287 ft) and Filisur at 1,080 m (3,540 ft) with the spa resort of St. Moritz in Engadine at 1,774 m (5,820 ft).

Albula railway line
An RhB train amidst the spiral tunnels
Overview
StatusOperating
OwnerRhaetian Railway
LocaleAlbula, Graubünden, Switzerland
Termini
  • Thusis
    46°41′54″N 9°26′26″E
  • St Moritz
    46°29′52″N 9°50′47″E
Stations12
WebsiteRhaetian Railway
Service
TypeMetre gauge heavy rail
SystemRhaetian Railway
Operator(s)Rhaetian Railway
History
Opened1 July 1903 / 10 July 1904
Technical
Line length61.67 km (38.32 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track with Passing loops (Double track from Samedan to Bever)
Track gaugeMetre (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
ElectrificationOverhead catenary,
11 kV AC 16 2/3 Hz
Operating speed90 km/h (56 mph)
Highest elevation1,815 m (5,955 ft)
above sea level
Maximum incline3.5%
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Part ofRhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes
CriteriaCultural: (ii), (iv)
Reference1276
Inscription2008 (32nd Session)
Route map
km
elev
from Chur
41.26
 Thusis
697 m
Hinterrhein (228 m)
43.08
 Sils im Domleschg
735 m
Campell (32 m)
Campi (218 m)
Runplanas (502 m)
Cugnieler (39 m)
Versasca (694 m)
Pflanzgarten I (39 m)
Pflanzgarten II (98 m)
Passmal (420 m)
Lochtobel (102 m)
Solis (986 m)
49.33
 Solis
851 m
Solis Viaduct (164 m)
Alvaschein (609 m)
Nisellas (274 m)
Salons (60 m)
Mistail (300 m)
53.95
 Tiefencastel
884 m
Tiefencastel (26 m)
58.13
 Surava
939 m
60.78
 Alvaneu
999 m
Schmittentobel Viaduct (137 m)
Zalaint (27 m)
Landwasser Viaduct (136 m)
Landwasser (216 m)
from Davos Platz
64.36
 Filisur
1080 m
Greifenstein (698 m)
Schlossberg (56 m)
Faleinerweg (36 m)
Ruegna (21 m)
Kleiner Cruschetta (74 m)
Grosser Cruschetta (417 m)
Surmin (224 m)
Bellaluna (28 m)
Stulsertobel I (84 m)
Stulsertobel II (103 m)
70.19
 Stugl/Stuls
1277 m
Streda (74 m)
Bergünerstein (409 m)
Glatscheras (334 m)
73.14
 Bergün/Bravuogn
1372 m
God (487 m)
Plaz (262 m)
Val Tisch (102 m)
Prasegras (34 m)
Chanalletta-Galerie (117 m)
79.30
 Muot
1575 m
Fuegna (53 m)
Albula viaduct I (60 m)
Rugnux (662 m)
Rugnux-Galerie (30 m)
Rugnux-Viadukt (74 m)
Ava da Rots Bogenbrücke (17 m)
Albula viaduct II (96 m)
Toua (677 m)
Albula viaduct III (138 m)
Maliera-Galerie (220 m)
Albula viaduct IV (44 m)
Zuondra (535 m)
85.71
 Preda
1789 m
Albula Tunnel (5865 m)
91.80
 Spinas
1815 m
from Scuol-Tarasp
95.60
 Bever
1710 m
97.71
 Samedan
1705 m
to Pontresina
100.32
 Celerina
1730 m
Charnadüra I (449 m)
Argentieri (114 m)
Bernina Railway from Tirano
102.93
 St. Moritz
1775 m
Source: Swiss railway atlas

Construction of the Albula line was begun in September 1898, the opening took place on 1 July 1903, and the extension to St. Moritz commenced operations on 10 July 1904. With its 55 bridges and 39 tunnels, the 61.67-kilometre long (38.32 mi) line is one of the most spectacular narrow gauge railways in the world.

On 7 July 2008, the Albula line and the Bernina railway line, which also forms part of the RhB, were jointly recorded in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, under the name Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes.

The best known trains operating on the Albula line are the Glacier Express and the Bernina Express.

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