Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn – The Alpine adventure railway par excellence
The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn connects the most of the parts of the Swiss Alps with its train network. The train operates the path from Visp to Zermatt and the Furka and Oberalp car trains and other locations. The company’s main star is The Glacier Train.
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn (MGB) is operated by BVZ Holding AG and is the result of a combination between BVZ (Brig-Visp-Zermatt Bahn) and FO (Furka Oberalp Bahn). The deal concluded in 2003. The MGB connects villages and towns in the heart of the Alps that surround the Gotthard Pass: Disentis, Andermatt, Göschenen, Brig, Zermatt. The Glacier Express goes from Zermatt to Chur, Davos and St. Moritz. It ensures that the railway service handles customers in three cantons: Valais, Uri and Graubünden. A total of 144 kilometers of roads, 29 tunnels, 20 galleries and 60 bridges. The largest tunnel is the Furka tunnel, 15.4 km long.
Historic Trains in Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn
The BVZ first used the Visp-Zermatt railway line on 3 July 1891. Alexander Seiler (1819-1891) was a powerful supporter of the company. The reason: he was a driving force for tourism in Zermatt as a hotelier (Hotel Monte Rosa Zermatt and Hotel Seiler Zermatt). Since he understood the value of the Matterhorn as a visitor. Interestingly, the first trains operated from Visp to Zermatt in the year he died.
The Gornergrat train is now part of the Gotthard Bahn Matterhorn. This is a significant example of train architecture from the 19th century. Operations started in 1898. The train has also been running in winter since 1929. Its highlights: the staging of the Matterhorn during a trip from Zermatt (1,620 m) to Gornergrat (3,089 m).
Glacier Express, the Slowest Express Train in the World
The panoramic rail connects Zermatt to St. Moritz, Davos and Chur. The first Glacier Express cars to drive this incredibly enticing mountain path in 1930. Also today, the train is still very popular with international and Swiss tourists. This goes across 291 bridges and 91 tunnels. And here’s a surprise for nostalgic rail lovers: it’s always feasible for groups to book a vintage train car and appreciate the restaurant, cafe and piano player along the Glacier Express parts.
Alpine Competence
The Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn operates track pieces that are very difficult. The 19th century engineers were pioneers in tunnel and bridge construction. Today, the work focuses on protecting sections from floods, debris and rock slides during the summer. Main tasks in winter are to keep tracks clean during heavy snowfall and to ensure the safety of the route.
- Zermatt shuttle trains Täsch-Zermatt
- Gornergrat train (since 1898; year-round since 1929)
- Furka car train (Furka base tunnel opened in 1982)
- Oberalp car train
- Glacier Express (since 1930)
- Brig-Visp-Zermatt (first winter operations 1933-1934)
Location: Zermatt
May 15
2:00 pm
12.42 °C
May 15
5:00 pm
10.88 °C
May 15
8:00 pm
8.19 °C
May 15
11:00 pm
4.37 °C
Address
Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn, 3920 Zermatt, Switzerland
Opening Time
| Sunday | 8 AM – 5 PM |
| Monday | 8 AM – 5 PM |
| Tuesday | 8 AM – 5 PM |
| Wednesday | 8 AM – 5 PM |
| Thursday | 8 AM – 5 PM |
| Friday | 8 AM – 5 PM |
| Saturday | 8 AM – 5 PM |
| Sunday | 8 AM – 5 PM |
Tickets
Swiss Travel pass
Duration
Dependable
Location: Zermatt
2:00 am
May 16
3.33 °C 76 % 1013 hPa 2.55 m/s 345 deg
broken clouds
5:00 am
May 16
3.91 °C 95 % 1011 hPa 3.81 m/s 335 deg
overcast clouds
8:00 am
May 16
4.79 °C 97 % 1010 hPa 4.14 m/s 335 deg
overcast clouds
11:00 am
May 16
6.39 °C 98 % 1007 hPa 4.45 m/s 333 deg
light rain
2:00 pm
May 16
6.99 °C 99 % 1007 hPa 3.91 m/s 345 deg
light rain
5:00 pm
May 16
6.54 °C 100 % 1007 hPa 4.46 m/s 350 deg
light rain
8:00 pm
May 16
5.52 °C 100 % 1009 hPa 3.94 m/s 343 deg
light rain
11:00 pm
May 16
3.74 °C 100 % 1012 hPa 3.95 m/s 343 deg
light snow
2:00 am
May 17
2.74 °C 100 % 1013 hPa 4.06 m/s 344 deg
overcast clouds
5:00 am
May 17
2.58 °C 100 % 1013 hPa 4.1 m/s 350 deg
overcast clouds
8:00 am
May 17
3.45 °C 100 % 1013 hPa 1.64 m/s 22 deg
overcast clouds
11:00 am
May 17
6.52 °C 100 % 1011 hPa 1.43 m/s 119 deg
overcast clouds
2:00 pm
May 17
7.64 °C 100 % 1011 hPa 1.5 m/s 96 deg
light rain
5:00 pm
May 17
7.71 °C 100 % 1012 hPa 1.34 m/s 132 deg
light rain
8:00 pm
May 17
7.06 °C 100 % 1013 hPa 1.84 m/s 146 deg
light rain
11:00 pm
May 17
5.91 °C 100 % 1016 hPa 2.12 m/s 161 deg
light rain
2:00 am
May 18
5.88 °C 100 % 1015 hPa 2.09 m/s 169 deg
light rain
5:00 am
May 18
5.22 °C 90 % 1015 hPa 1.81 m/s 169 deg
overcast clouds
8:00 am
May 18
6.03 °C 66 % 1016 hPa 1.59 m/s 158 deg
broken clouds
11:00 am
May 18
7.14 °C 77 % 1015 hPa 1.21 m/s 164 deg
broken clouds
2:00 pm
May 18
7.73 °C 88 % 1016 hPa 1.71 m/s 159 deg
light rain
5:00 pm
May 18
7.79 °C 100 % 1016 hPa 1.17 m/s 142 deg
light rain
8:00 pm
May 18
7.24 °C 100 % 1017 hPa 1.38 m/s 151 deg
light rain
11:00 pm
May 18
6.02 °C 100 % 1019 hPa 1.68 m/s 158 deg
light rain
2:00 am
May 19
5.34 °C 95 % 1019 hPa 2.37 m/s 173 deg
light rain
5:00 am
May 19
5.03 °C 92 % 1018 hPa 2.62 m/s 170 deg
light rain
8:00 am
May 19
6.39 °C 96 % 1017 hPa 1.97 m/s 161 deg
light rain
11:00 am
May 19
7.14 °C 100 % 1016 hPa 1.88 m/s 172 deg
light rain
2:00 pm
May 19
7.63 °C 100 % 1015 hPa 2.06 m/s 170 deg
light rain
5:00 pm
May 19
6.72 °C 100 % 1015 hPa 1.8 m/s 148 deg
moderate rain
8:00 pm
May 19
6.66 °C 100 % 1015 hPa 1.23 m/s 177 deg
moderate rain
11:00 pm
May 19
5.47 °C 100 % 1016 hPa 2.61 m/s 143 deg
moderate rain
2:00 am
May 20
4.93 °C 100 % 1015 hPa 2.51 m/s 144 deg
moderate rain
5:00 am
May 20
4.62 °C 97 % 1014 hPa 2.42 m/s 137 deg
snow
8:00 am
May 20
5.82 °C 94 % 1013 hPa 2.49 m/s 137 deg
light rain
11:00 am
May 20
6.89 °C 88 % 1012 hPa 2.63 m/s 132 deg
light rain