spirals because of the high difference of altitude within a short distance ( for ). After another spiral, the train reaches Filisur at the end of the valley at (). From there, the train passes on the Landwasser Viaduct, the most emblematic landmark of the railway line and continues toward Thusis () where it reaches the Posterior Rhine and follows it to the city of Chur (). Oberalp section From Chur, the train follows back the course of the Rhine through the gorge of Ruinaulta and climbs slowly the valley toward Ilanz (), Disentis/Mustér () and Sedrun (). From Sedrun the line becomes steeper to finally reach its summit, the Oberalp Pass at . From there the train enters the Canton of Uri in Central Switzerland and continues down to Andermatt (). Furka section From Andermatt, the train goes forward in the valley called Urseren passing the villages of Hospental () and Realp (). From there the train enters the Furka Base Tunnel, leaving the old railway line which climbs the Furka Pass (operated today by the Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway), to emerge in Oberwald () in the Goms Valley, in the Canton of Valais. The train then continues toward Brig, following the course of the Rhone, and passes along the villages of Ulrichen (), Münster-Geschinen () and Fiesch (), before going through another spiral. Mattertal line From Brig, () the train continues to Visp (), then enters the valley of Mattertal and goes up, passing the villages of Stalden (), St. Niklaus () and Randa (), where a spectacular debris avalanche completely disconnected the railway and road in 1991. Täsch () is an important station as it is the end of the open road, and therefore a terminal for motorists. After a steeper section the train finally arrives in Zermatt at , after nearly 8 hours of travel. See also Albula Railway Furka Oberalp Bahn Brig-Visp-Zermatt-Bahn Furka Cogwheel Steam Railway Bernina Express Swiss Alps Swiss Pass Table of turn tunnels List of narrow-gauge railways in Switzerland References Notes Further reading External links Glacier Express official website illustrated description of the route of the Glacier Express Transport in the Alps Mountain railways Named passenger trains of Switzerland Tourist attractions in Switzerland World Heritage Sites in Switzerland Rhaetian Railway