The first trip of the Glacier Express was on June 25, 1930. The train included first-to third class carriages, and passengers could enjoy hot meals in the Mitropa dining car, between the stations of Chur and Disentis/Muster. Today, the train still takes skiers and sightseers alike across the Swiss Alps.
The distance between St. Moritz and Zermatt is 168 miles, and the train covers this distance in approximately 8 hours. During the journey, the train crosses 291 bridges, goes through 91 tunnels and travels up the 6,660-foot Oberalp Pass. In late 2010, a first-class seat costs 148 euros (approximately $197) and a second-class seat costs 89 euros (approximately $118).
The dining cars have recently been removed from the Glacier Express, but hot meals are still served to passengers in their seats. Expect to pay around $40 in late 2010 for a three-course meal, which includes a salad or soup starter, a meat and vegetable main course, followed by either dessert or cheeses. The dish of the day is around $25 and includes meat and vegetables.
