Jungfraujoch Railway & Train History | History, Highlights & More
The Jungfrau Railway is the highest railway line in Europe. It is a part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch region. The Jungfrau Railway is one of the most beautiful ways to reach Jungfraujoch - the top-most accessible point in Europe. Keep reading to know more and plan your trip to this must-visit attraction in Switzerland.
Jungfraujoch Railway | Knowledge Graph
- Official name: Jungfraujoch Railway / Jungfrau Railway / Jungfraubahn
- Location/Address: 3801 Fieschertal, Switzerland
- Date of opening: 21st of February, 1912
- Timings: Jungfraujoch Railway is open daily from 8 A.M to 4:20 P.M
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2001
- Number of visitors per year: 1 million
Plan Your Visit to Jungfraujoch
The Jungfraujoch Railway is located atop the Swiss Alps at the height of 3,454 meters above sea level, between the mountain peaks of Eiger and Mönch. It is laid on the upper part of the Aletsch Glacier, which is a part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch region. It is situated on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, halfway between the towns of Interlaken and Fiesch. Grindelwald, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, and Murren are other neighboring towns.
- The Jungfraujoch Railway is open daily from 8 A.M. to 4:20 PM
- Trains start running along this line at 9:30 A.M. and stop at 4:48 PM
- The Jungfraujoch Railway is operational throughout the year, even on weekends and public holidays.
Jungfraujoch Train Timings
The Jungfraujoch runs along a 9km long track through the Jungfrau Tunnel connecting Kleine Scheidegg station to Jungfraujoch station. On its route, the train passes by Eigergletscher station, Eigerwand station, and Eismeer station.
The Jungfraujoch train takes 35 minutes to travel between Kleine Scheidegg and the top of Jungfraujoch. There are 13 trains going in each direction along this route every day, at a frequency of every 30 minutes.
The first train departs from Kleine Scheidegg at 9:30 AM, while the last train leaves at 3:30 PM. The first return train departs from the top of Jungfraujoch at 10:13 AM, while the last train leaves at 4:13 PM.
Why Take The Jungfraujoch Railway?
- The Jungfraujoch Railway is the highest railway line in Europe, which takes you to Jungfrau - the topmost point of Europe.
- The train ride gives you breathtaking panoramic views of the UNESCO-listed Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch region.
- Enjoy unobstructed views of the German Black Forest and the French Vosges from the Glacier Plateau near the Jungfraujoch station.
- At Jungfraujoch, you can visit the Sphinx Observation Deck, which is one of the highest astronomical observatories in the world.
- Jungfraujoch station also features the world’s highest Ice Palace and Snow Park.
- The 250-meter-long corridor connecting the Sphinx Observation Deck to the Ice Palace, named ‘The Alpine Sensation’ features a multi-media display of the history and story of the making of the Jungfrau Railway.
- The site also pays homage to the miners who were injured and lost their lives in the process, with 30 memorial plaques.
- The Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven, atop the Jungfrau mountain, is another must-visit attraction.
History of Jungfraujoch Railway
The initial plans for a mountain railway to be constructed on the Jungfrau started in the 1860s but were not financially feasible. It was in 1893 that Swiss industrialist Adolf Guyer-Zeller came up with a feasible plan to lay a railway track through a tunnel connecting Kleine Scheidegg to the summit of the Jungfrau.
The construction began in 1896 and in two years the Eigergletscher railway station was opened at the foot of Mount Eiger. In 1899, the construction was stalled for a few months due to a strike that followed an on-site explosion, but construction resumed after. The Eigerwand station and Eismeer station were opened on the 28th of June, 1903, and the 25th of July, 1905, respectively.
In 1908, there was yet another explosion at the Eigerwand station. Finally, after sixteen years of work, the railway was completed on the 21st of February, 1912. The Jungfraujoch station was inaugurated on the 1st of August that year. The stations have undergone several extensions and new attractions have come up at the Jungfraujoch station in the years that followed.
Who Built the Jungfraujoch Railway?
Swiss entrepreneur Adolf Guyer-Zeller is the one who came up with the idea of constructing a railway tunnel to the peak of the Sphinx, in 1893. Based on his plan, the construction began on July 27, 1896. After some construction accidents and worker strikes, the railway tunnel from the Kleine Scheidegg railway station to the summit of the Jungfrau was finally completed on February 21, 1912.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jungfraujoch Railway
A. The Jungfrau Railway is the highest railway line in Europe. It is a 9km long line that passes through the Jungfrau Tunnel connecting Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch - the top most accessible point in Europe.
A. The Jungfraujoch Railway is located atop the Swiss Alps at the height of 3,454 meters above sea level, between the mountain peaks of Eiger and Mönch.
A. The Jungfraujoch Railway is famous for being the highest railway line in Switzerland and the whole of Europe. It is known to be one of the most beautiful ways to reach Jungfrau - the top most accessible point in Europe.
A. You can buy tickets for Jungfraujoch Railway from any of the stations en route. It is recommended to buy them online instead, to avoid waiting in long queues at the station.
A. Swiss entrepreneur Adolf Guyer-Zeller is the one who came up with the idea of constructing a railway tunnel to get to the top of Jungfrau.
A. The Jungfraujoch Railway opened on the 21st of February, 1912.