Railway To Heaven: Glacier Express Train Reaches New (Alpine) Heights

Since the early 1930s, various iterations of the Glacier Express introduced passengers of all ages to the natural, historic and (later) UNESCO-designated wonders of the Alps between Zermatt and St. Moritz. It is branded as “the world’s slowest high-speed train,” winding through the hills and valleys over the course of seven hours and delivering tons of photo-ready vistas and slices of life in the process.

Second Class cars aboard the current version of the Glacier Express are, according to railway representative Michaela Geiger, an ideal choice for people traveling with children. She recommends a picnic lunch assembled from a visit to any branch of the Migros or Coop supermarket chains. First Class is a favorite for business travelers and couples, offering authentic, restaurant-grade cuisine available via an á la carte menu or as a pre-ordered, three-course, fixed-price meal. Vegan, vegetarian or gluten-free alternatives to seasonal menu items are offered and listed on dedicated menus.

Excellence Class Tea Welcome. Photo: Elyse Glickman

In March 2019, Rhaetian Railway and Matterhorn Gotthard Railway (co-parent companies of the Glacier Express) raised the stakes with a third offering, Excellence Class, transforming an already unforgettable train ride to an epicurean experience incorporating cultural immersion, elegant interior design and a sparkling bar dispensing top-shelf liquors and Swiss wine. While all passenger cars on the Glacier Express have panoramic windows that run onto the ceiling (what better way to see peaks, valleys and views from 291 bridges), the Excellence car is limited to 20 seats, putting the best of Switzerland at one’s fingertips.

Plush, color-block patterned seats are outfitted with comfort controls and an iPad loaded with articles and audio guide recordings passengers can mix and match to further personalize the ride. About 90 minutes in, the multicourse lunch begins with hors d’oeuvres and a wine pairing (or non-alcoholic drinks, if requested) and is paced to last for most of the ride with an attention to detail normally found in a top-tier hotel’s dining room. The bathroom does one better than those found in most airline business-class cabins, with a marble sink, hardwood interiors and deluxe amenities including an essential oil roll-on.

However, the greatest selling point of the train is the ability to enjoy the views and serve in a stylish, silent and spacious setting virtually undisturbed. This uniquely inclusive approach to exploring the country is also a particularly attractive option for older travelers and those with limited mobility.

“When the multi-course meal is added in, especially in the way we prepare and serve the courses in the Excellence Class, it becomes something more meaningful when traveling with a spouse, parent, or other family member on a special occasion such as a birthday, anniversary or a long-awaited vacation,” says Tim Uebersax, managing director of Panoramic Gourmet, which curates the menus.

Excellence Class view. Photo: Elyse Glickman

“Traveling this way between Zermatt and St. Moritz is romantic. However, the Excellence Class improves on this, as you don’t have to look on a map to see where you are and where you are going. You are waited on, making it an easy and extremely comfortable way to see a big part of Switzerland in the course of a day, especially for older passengers who may not be able to ski, bike or hike, but like staying active. They can look out of the window, converse with their fellow passengers and recall memories of past travel with friends and family traveling with them.”

Uebersax is proud of the parity his team created between the plates and courses and what the guests are looking at outside. The menus are changed every three months to showcase different chefs and regions of Switzerland. “We strive to showcase the work of the small producers in the regions the Glacier Express covers and show what makes the food of these cantons (Swiss states) special.”