The Bernina Express is operated by Rhaetian Railway (Rhätische Bahn), a major Swiss railway operator. It runs on the Albula and Bernina lines, which were originally built separately about 100 years ago but which now form a continuous line. The train does not run on a cog railway, which are sometimes used to pass through steep territory, but instead traverses a narrow-gauge track curves and twists according to the contours of the terrain. The Bernina Express passes through 55 tunnels and 196 bridges between Chur and Tirano.
The Bernina Express keeps a summer (May to October) and a winter schedule (October to May). Exact schedules are subject to change annually, but in summer five trains run daily in each direction, with only one train in each direction going the complete length of between Chur and Tirano; other trains run between St. Moritz and Tirano or an even shorter run between Davos and Pontressina. In winter, fewer trains make shorter runs, and it's necessary to change trains in Pontressina to make the entire trip from Chur to Tirano.
Fares, which are either first- or second-class, vary depending on the length of the journey on the line, are priced in Swiss francs or euros, and are subject to change without warning. Children up to 16 years of age may travel for half fare, and as many as four children under six years old may travel free with an adult. Lap dogs travel for free, but dogs taller than about one foot (30 cm) travel for half second-class fare. Holders of Eurail passes or Swiss Passes can use them, but all travelers must pay a small amount over and above the ticket price to reserve a seat on the Bernina Express.
St. Moritz is best known as a wintertime resort--the Winter Olympics were held here in 1928 and 1948--but also has hiking opportunities and scenic views of glaciers in the summer. At the Bernina Diavolezza station, travelers can board a cable car to access the summit of Diavolezza mountain, which offers hiking in summer and skiing in winter. Poschiavo, a stop in Italian-speaking Swiss territory, also has a number of attractions, such as the baroque church of Chiesa Santa Maria Assunta.
In 2008, the Albula line and the Bernina line together became a World Heritage Site, as designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The line "constitutes an outstanding technical, architectural and environmental ensemble and embodies architectural and civil engineering achievements, in harmony with the landscapes through which they pass," says UNESCO. It's only the third rail line to be become a World Heritage Site, along with the Semmering Railway in Austria and the Darjeeling-Himalayan Railway in India.
