A train ride to the Jungfraujoch is a special experience and is one of the highlights in "Switzerland as a country of railways".
The yoke between Virgin and Eiger is the 3454 m highest railway station in Europe. It is in the north of the Aletsch region in the Bernese Oberland in the Switzerland, and is certainly one of the most important tourist destinations in Europe. Most of the time, the Jungfraujoch is advertised internationally as "Top of Europe".
From Interlaken East the Bernese Oberland Railway connects both Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. In both places there are good transfer options to the Wengeralbbahn to Kleine Scheidegg. From here the Jungfrau Railway finally leads in a single section of tunnel into the world of the ice giants to the Jungfraujoch.
A trip on the historic Schynige Platte Railway up to the panoramic view of almost the entire Jungfrau region is also very scenic.
background
getting there
The "Interlaken Ost" train station is well integrated into the Swiss rail network. There are even individual ICE trains operated by Deutsche Bahn that travel from Germany to Interlaken.
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Bernese Oberland Railway
First of all: Wikipedia Bernese Oberland Railway
- Interlaken East (567 m) - Zweilütschinen (652 m) - Grindelwald (1034 m): In Grindelwald change to the Wengernalpbahn.
- Interlaken East (567 m) - Zweilütschinen (652 m) - Lauterbrunnen (795 m): In Lauterbrunn change to the Wengernalpbahn.
Wengernalp Railway
First of all: Wikipedia Wengernalp Railway
- Grindelwald (1034 m) - Kleine Scheidegg (2061 m): In Kleine Scheidegg, change to the Jungfrau Railway.
- Lauterbrunnen (797 m) - Wengen (1275 m) - Wengernalp stop (1817 m) - Kleine Scheidegg (2061 m): In Kleine Scheidegg, change to the Jungfrau Railway.
Jungfrau Railway
The Jungfrau Railway celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012.
The idea of a railway on the Jungfrau was spread by the Neue Zürcher Zeitung in 1886 as an April Fool's joke, but it was seriously negotiated as early as 1889. Construction of the Jungfrau Railway then began in 1896, originally the railway was supposed to run even further to the summit of the Jungfrau, but the First World War thwarted these plans. Tunnel construction was a masterpiece of engineers at the time. The construction was carried out under extreme climatic conditions and in a highly innovative manner with electric drills, the number of deaths in explosive accidents and high current is still estimated at around 30. After 16 years of construction, the first train with passengers ran from Kleine Scheidegg to the Joch on August 1, 1912.
The end station of the 9.3 km long rack railway is the Jungfraujoch. You have to change to this on the Kleine Scheidegg (2061 m) from the Wengernalpbahn, which both from Grindelwald (1034 m) as well as from Lauterbrunnen above Wengen (1274 m) leads up here. The journey time of the Jungfrau Railway itself is around 50 minutes.
Technical: Regarding the railway, it can be said that it is a rack railway with a track width of 1000 mm and is operated with three-phase current of 1125 V and 50 Hz, with a gradient of 25%. It thus differs from the Wengeralp Bahn, which, with a track width of 800 mm, opens up the Kleine Scheidegg, where the Jungfrau Railway valley station is located.
Jungfraujoch
1 The Jungfraujoch is the lowest point in the connecting ridge between the monk (4107 m) and the Virgin (4158 m) in the Bernese Alps and lies at 3471 m above sea level. M .. It is located on the border between the Canton of Bern and the Canton of Valais. The Jungfrau Railway has ended here since August 1, 1912.
Tourist Attractions:
The view from the observation deck of the Aletsch Glacier is breathtaking. The is about 600 meters from the station sphinx. This is a meteorological research station. There is a viewing platform, which can be reached underground by elevator. Up here on 3571 m you have reached the highest point for the visitor without mountain equipment. The Ice palace is an artificial glacier grotto that two mountain guides drove into the ice in the 1930s. Otherwise there are of course the corresponding souvenir shops.
Activities:
Small glacier hike to the Mönchsjochhütte: About 1.5 km east of the Jungfraujoch is the at 3650 m Mönchsjochhütte. This can be easily reached on foot via a staked snow / firn route. It is best to only tackle the route with higher profile (hiking) shoes and of course only when the weather is good. The route is very busy.
The Jungfraujoch is the starting point for some high mountain tours in summer and winter. Non-alpinists can only undertake these high-altitude tours with a mountain guide. Is known z. B. the two-day glacier tour over Jungfraufirn and Konkordiaplatz Konkordiahütte. From here you continue along the Aletsch Glacier towards the Rhone Valley.
- Kitchen & Accommodation: The Glacier restaurant consists of several restaurants and cafeteria. It is not possible to spend the night directly on the Jungfraujoch.
Safety instructions and equipment
The Jungfraujoch is at a height where physical complaints can occur. Due to the reduced air pressure, the unadapted body has insufficient oxygen available. So you should take it easy. If you get a headache, it's best to sit down. If this does not subside, be sure to get help. It could be that you are under the Altitude sickness suffers.
You should bring good shoes, sunglasses and warm clothing.
Travel times and tariffs
The journey time on the Interlaken Ost - Jungfraujoch route is 2 hours 17 minutes (both via Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen).
The total price for 2nd class from Interlaken Ost is: 100.80 CHF one way; there and back: 197.60 CHF, the “Good Morning Ticket (departure at 6.35 am in Interlaken Ost from May 1 to October 31, 2012)”: CHF 145. (Status 06-2013) For discounts and a complete overview of tariffs from all locations in the Jungfrau region, see www.jungfrau.ch
It may also be worth buying one "Half-tax subscription" (the Swiss equivalent of Bahncard 50) to cut the high travel costs to the Jungfraujoch by half. However, a purchase only makes sense if you are traveling by train elsewhere during your Swiss holiday. But there is plenty of opportunity to do so in Switzerland as a railway country.
Schynige Platte Railway
The Schynige Platte is an attractive lookout box above Interlaken. From up here, at around 2000 m altitude, you have a wide panoramic view of Lake Thun, Interlaken and Lake Brienz. Of course, the view also extends to the ice giants of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
The rack railway was put into operation in 1893. The Schynige Platte Railway Company, a public limited company, sold the railway to the Bernese Oberland Railway in 1895. In 1914 the line was electrified. The train still runs completely with historical rolling stock. All of the locomotives were built between 1910 and 1914.
The 7.2 km long cog railway takes you comfortably up over 1400 meters in altitude to the alpine region. Up here, at the mountain station, there is a view towards the 4000er. in the Mountain hotel you can stop off and stay overnight. Not far from the mountain station is a Alpine garden. The Botanic Garden shows 520 high mountain plants (open from June 1st to mid-October from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; admission is included in the ticket).
Travel times and tariffs
- Getting there: The Zahrrradbahn starts right in Wilderswil station. There is a connection to the Bernese Oberland Bahn.
- Driving times: The Schynige Platte Railway operates between June and October. Departures every 40 minutes; Travel time 52 minutes.For exact season times and timetable, see www.jungfrau.ch
- Tariffs summer 2013: Wilderswil - Schynie Platte: simply CFH 34.00; Return ticket CFH 63.00; For discounts and a complete overview of tariffs, see www.jungfrau.ch.
hike
- From the mountain station at 1987 m it is only 10 - 15 minutes via mountain paths (sturdy shoes make sense) to the Lookout point at 2 at an altitude of 2050 m. More experienced hikers can make a detour to the 2069 m high on the way back Oberberghorn at 3 Companies.
- Crossing Schynige Platte - Faulhorn - First: With the right footwear and equipment, fit, sporty mountain hikers can go on a beautiful high-altitude hike to the 4 Take the Faulhorn above Grindelwald. Up here is a at 2680 m Mountain hotel (private refuge). If you want, you can also complete the route as a more leisurely two-day tour. Official walking times after the signposting on site:
- - Schynige Platte (1987 m) - Faulhorn (2680 m): 4 h 10 min (mountain hiking trails mostly uphill)
- - Faulhorn - First (5 2150 m; Mountain station of the Grindelwald gondola lift): 1 hour 45 minutes (gravel road)
- - Complete descent from Faulhorn to Grindelwald (1050 m): 3 h 30 min with about 1600 m in descent
- - the complete hiking times in relation to the Faulhorm are in the corresponding Find Wikipedia article
