Jungfrau Railway
A history of innovation and ingenuity shrouds Switzerland's
Jungfrau Railway, a rail line that has been impressing travelers to
the Bernese Oberland since 1912. The railway weaves up through
Eiger Mountain's interior, entering through a tunnel in the Eiger
Glacier face. Throughout the journey, a series of stations provide
increasingly dramatic views of the surrounding alpine scenery as
the route continues gaining elevation toward the summit. When the
train finally stops at Jungfraujoch, guests have reached the "Top
of Europe," the continent's highest railway station. Amazingly,
this is the same route guests have traversed for over 100
years.
At first, the tracks are out in the open. Travelers watch Kleine
Scheidegg fade into the distance as the peaks that were once so far
overhead become the surroundings. Soon after this point, the train
enters the mountainside through the Eiger Glacier tunnel. The
journey proceeds upward, winding through the Eiger Mountain toward
Jungfraujoch. Passengers catch a glimpse of the old Eigerwand
Station during the climb and enjoy a quick stop at Eismeer Station
for a five-minute look over the fantastic scenery from the
station's viewing point. The final stretch of track proceeds to one
of Switzerland's most impressive locations, Jungfraujoch, at over
11,300 feet above sea level. The ride through the interior of the
mountain takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.
All of the train's seats are the same, plush side-by-side chairs
set up in bays of four. This setup allows families to sit together
with ease and for conversation between passengers as the route
progresses. Trains depart at regular intervals throughout the day,
and the rail line operates throughout the year.
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