Since 1930 the romantic Glacier Express has been carrying passengers overwhelmed by the slowly unfolding Swiss panorama before them. For 290 kilometers between the Alpine resorts of Zermatt and St. Moritz the tiny narrow gauge train threads 91 tunnels and soars over 291 bridges. Its incredible journey along Switzerland's mountainous backbone starts and ends at over 1,600 metres above sea level but twice the line descends to below 700 metres and the Oberalp Pass at 2033 metres is crossed with rack assistance.

The Glacier Express runs in the foaming company of the River Rhone and the youthful but dangerous Rhine for much of the journey. Everywhere there are mountains to be passed or conquered. The highest tunnel in the Alps keeps passengers in the dark for 6 kilometres under the Albula Pass and the longest narrow gauge tunnel in the world is negotiated beneath the massive Furka range.

Before the Furka Base tunnel was completed in 1982 the Glacier Express had to cross the wild and forboding Furka Pass. This route, in front of the Rhone Glacier which gave the train its name, was so difficult and winter snows so heavy that the Glacier Express could only operate in the summer months and much of the line had to be rebuilt each year following spring avalanches. Amazingly, the Dampfbahn Furka-Bergstrecke intend to reopen the line over the Furka Pass in 1991 using steam engines. Already much restoration has been achieved as you will see in this programme.

This one hour railway documentary programme explores the entire route of the Glacier Express and shows the trains in the context of the wonderful scenery through which they run. The passenger and freight trains which share the rails of the Glacier Express are also shown as are the historic locomotives of the three railways which own the line over which the express travels. As a fitting climax you will be taken for an outing behind a preserved steam locomotive of the Rhätische Bahn.

The Route of the Glacier Express is a wonderful line through unsurpassable scenic beauty, a journey you will want to experience time and time again.

Produced by - John Cocking
Running time - 60 Minutes
DVD only