Get around: moving into the right place
← Older revision
Revision as of 12:04, 13 June 2015
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[[File:Panoramic Train.jpg|thumbnail|Panoramic train on the Gotthard line]]
[[File:Panoramic Train.jpg|thumbnail|Panoramic train on the Gotthard line]]
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===
Hiking
and
cycling
===
+
===
=Information
for
railway fans=
===
−
As good as the Swiss train system is, if you have a little time, and you only want to travel 1-200 miles, you could try purchasing the [http://www.toposhop.admin.ch/en/shop/index '''world's best footpath maps'''] and walk 10-20 miles a day over some of the most wonderful and clearly-marked paths, whether it is in a valley, through a forest, or over mountain passes. There are more than 60,000 km of well maintained and documented [http://www.wanderland.ch/en/welcome.cfm '''hiking trails and cycling routes'''].
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−
The trails are well-planned (after a number of centuries, why not?), easy to follow, and the yellow trail signs are actually accurate in their estimate as to how far away the next hamlet, village, town or city is–once you've figured out how many kilometers per hour you walk (easy to determine after a day of hiking).
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There are plenty of places to sleep in a tent (but don't pitch one on a seemingly pleasant, flat piece of ground covered by straw–that's where the cows end up sleeping after a lazy day of eating, and they'll gnaw at your tent string supports and lean against your tent sides. And definitey don't do this during a rainstorm!), [http://www.sac-cas.ch/en/huts/search-a-hut.html lots of huts] on mountain tops, B & B's on valley floors, or hotels in towns and cities. You could even send your luggage ahead to the next abode and travel very lightly, with the necessary water and Swiss chocolate!
−
−
===Information for railway fans===
[[File:Jungfraubahn with Eiger.jpg|thumbnail|Train at Eiger station on the Jungfraujoch railway]]
[[File:Jungfraubahn with Eiger.jpg|thumbnail|Train at Eiger station on the Jungfraujoch railway]]
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In Switzerland
nearly
all
railways
run
electrically
but it is possible to find many steam railways such as the Brienzer Rothornbahn or the Furka Railway for instance.
+
In Switzerland
more
than
99%
of
the railway infrastructure are electrified,
but it is possible to find many steam railways such as the Brienzer Rothornbahn or the Furka Railway for instance.
There are many interesting mountain railways of all types. In Switzerland most electric trains get their power from a single phase AC network at 15,000V 16 2/3Hz. This network uses its own power lines run with 66 kV and 132 kV, which have, unlike normal power lines, a number of conductors not divisible by 3. Most power lines for the single phase AC grid of the traction power grid have four conductors. Railway photography is permitted everywhere provided you don't walk on forbidden areas without permission.
There are many interesting mountain railways of all types. In Switzerland most electric trains get their power from a single phase AC network at 15,000V 16 2/3Hz. This network uses its own power lines run with 66 kV and 132 kV, which have, unlike normal power lines, a number of conductors not divisible by 3. Most power lines for the single phase AC grid of the traction power grid have four conductors. Railway photography is permitted everywhere provided you don't walk on forbidden areas without permission.
Line 242:
Line 242:
Here is short list of the most remarkable railway lines:
Here is short list of the most remarkable railway lines:
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*The ''Glacier Express'' between [[Davos]] / [[St. Moritz]] (en: Grisons,
gr
: Graubünden) and [[Zermatt]] (Valais), a 8 hours travel through the central [[Swiss Alps]].
+
*The ''Glacier Express''
(GEX)
between [[Davos]] / [[St. Moritz]] (en: Grisons,
de
: Graubünden) and [[Zermatt]] (Valais), a 8 hours travel through the central [[Swiss Alps]].
−
*The ''Bernina Express'' between Davos / Chur
to
Tirano, the highest rail transversal in the [[Alps]], high mountain scenery.
+
*The ''Bernina Express''
(BEX)
between Davos /
[[
Chur
]]
and
[[
Tirano
]] in Italy
,
via [[Pontresina]] / St. Moritz over the Bernina pass (2253m o.s.l.)
the highest rail transversal in the [[Alps]], high mountain scenery.
+
*The ''Pre-Alpine Express'' (VAE, Voralpenexpress) running between [[St. Gallen]] / [[Lake Constance]] and [[Lucerne]], throught the rolling hills of the [[Appenzellerland]] down to [[Rapperswil]], where it crosses the first, eastern part of Lake Zurich, then up again through the lovely moor of [[Rothenturm]] (safed from military distruction by a publicly initiated referendum in 1987) and close to [[Einsiedeln]] down again to [[Arth-Goldau]] at the bottom of the [[Rigi]] and further to Lucerne along the Lakes of Zug and Lucerne.
*The ''Jungfrau Railway'', from [[Interlaken]] (560 meters) to the Jungfraujoch station (3450m a.s.l.) in two hours. Definitely the most impressive journey in the Alps.
*The ''Jungfrau Railway'', from [[Interlaken]] (560 meters) to the Jungfraujoch station (3450m a.s.l.) in two hours. Definitely the most impressive journey in the Alps.
*The ''Gornergrat Railway'', departure from [[Zermatt]] to the 3090m a.s.l. high Gornergrat.
*The ''Gornergrat Railway'', departure from [[Zermatt]] to the 3090m a.s.l. high Gornergrat.
−
*The ''Mount Rigi Railway'', oldest mountain
train
in Europe.
+
*The ''Mount Rigi Railway'', oldest mountain
railway
in Europe.
*The ''Mount Pilatus Railway'', from [[Lucerne]] to the top, the steepest (max. 48% gradient) railway in the world.
*The ''Mount Pilatus Railway'', from [[Lucerne]] to the top, the steepest (max. 48% gradient) railway in the world.
*The Brienz Rothorn steam cogwheel railway above lake Brienz to the Rothorn summit (2350m a.s.l.) and almost exclusively run by steam locomotives.
*The Brienz Rothorn steam cogwheel railway above lake Brienz to the Rothorn summit (2350m a.s.l.) and almost exclusively run by steam locomotives.
−
*The ''
Lötschberg
'' is a line connecting [[Berne]] / [[Spiez]] ([[Bernese Highlands]]) and [[Brig]] ([[Valais]]), not considered as a mountain train but with still impressive scenery, especially if you take the route by a regional train ('RE') through the old 14.6 km long Lötschberg vertex tunnel (between [[Kandersteg]] and Goppenstein, 500m above the 34.6 km long Lötschberg Base Tunnel, a high-speed train tunnel newly opened in 2007).
+
*The ''
Lötschberger
'' is a line connecting [[Berne]] / [[Spiez]] ([[Bernese Highlands]]) and [[Brig]] ([[Valais]]), not considered as a mountain train but with still impressive scenery, especially if you take the route by a regional train ('RE') through the old 14.6 km long Lötschberg vertex tunnel (between [[Kandersteg]] and Goppenstein, 500m above the 34.6 km long Lötschberg Base Tunnel, a high-speed train tunnel newly opened in 2007).
*The ''St. Gotthard'' line with its many spiral train tunnels and the 15 km long St. Gotthard train tunnel (built between 1872 and 1882, 199 workers spent their lifes for its construction) connecting the German spoken nothern Switzerland [[Zurich]]/[[Luzern]] and the Italian spoken southern Switzerland [[Ticino]] ([[Bellinzona]], [[Lugano]], [[Locarno]]). Also advertised as the ''Wilhelm Tell Express'' between [[Luzern]] and [[Flüelen]] by boat, and further then by train to either [[Lugano]], or [[Locarno]].
*The ''St. Gotthard'' line with its many spiral train tunnels and the 15 km long St. Gotthard train tunnel (built between 1872 and 1882, 199 workers spent their lifes for its construction) connecting the German spoken nothern Switzerland [[Zurich]]/[[Luzern]] and the Italian spoken southern Switzerland [[Ticino]] ([[Bellinzona]], [[Lugano]], [[Locarno]]). Also advertised as the ''Wilhelm Tell Express'' between [[Luzern]] and [[Flüelen]] by boat, and further then by train to either [[Lugano]], or [[Locarno]].
+
+
===Hiking and cycling===
+
====Hiking====
+
As good as the Swiss train system is, if you have a little time, and you only want to travel 1-200 miles, you could try purchasing the [http://www.toposhop.admin.ch/en/shop/index '''world's best footpath maps'''] and walk 10-20 miles a day over some of the most wonderful and clearly-marked paths, whether it is in a valley, through a forest, or over mountain passes. There are more than 60,000 km of well maintained and documented [http://www.wanderland.ch/en/welcome.cfm '''hiking trails and cycling routes'''].
+
+
The trails are well-planned (after a number of centuries, why not?), easy to follow, and the yellow trail signs are actually accurate in their estimate as to how far away the next hamlet, village, town or city is–once you've figured out how many kilometers per hour you walk (easy to determine after a day of hiking).
+
+
There are plenty of places to sleep in a tent (but don't pitch one on a seemingly pleasant, flat piece of ground covered by straw–that's where the cows end up sleeping after a lazy day of eating, and they'll gnaw at your tent string supports and lean against your tent sides. And definitey don't do this during a rainstorm!), [http://www.sac-cas.ch/en/huts/search-a-hut.html lots of huts] on mountain tops, B & B's on valley floors, or hotels in towns and cities. You could even send your luggage ahead to the next abode and travel very lightly, with the necessary water and Swiss chocolate!
+
+
====Bicycle====
+
[http://www.velolandschweiz.ch/en/welcome.cfm ''Veloland Schweiz''] has built up an extensive network of long distance cycle trails all across the country. There are many Swiss cities where you can rent bicycles if that is your means of traveling and you can even rent electric bicycles. During the summer it is quite common for cities to offer bicycle 'rental' for free!
+
+
[[Cycling]] in cities is pretty safe, at least compared to other countries, and very common. If you decide to bicycle in a city, understand that (in most cities) you will share the road with public transport. Beware of tram tracks which can get your wheel stuck and send you flying into traffic, of the trams themselves which travel these tracks frequently (and may scare you into getting stuck into the track as just noted), and the buses, which make frequent stops in the rightmost lane.
+
+
====In-line Skating====
+
+
Besides the main types of transportation, the adventurous person can see Switzerland by in-line skating. There are three routes, measuring a combined 600-plus km (350 mi) designed specifically for in-line skating throughout the country. They are the Rhine route, the Rhone route, and the Mittelland route. These are also scenic tours. Most of the routes are flat, with slight ascents and descents. The Mittelland route runs from Zurich airport to Neuenburg in the northwest; the Rhine route runs from Bad Ragaz to Schaffhausen in the northeastern section of the country. Finally, the Rhone route extends from Brig to Geneva. This is a great way to see both the countryside and cityscapes of this beautiful nation.
===By car===
===By car===
Line 338:
Line 355:
* In general, drive at a speed which allows you to stop within the distance you can see, in order to be safe; and drive so that you would be happy to meet yourself coming the other way!
* In general, drive at a speed which allows you to stop within the distance you can see, in order to be safe; and drive so that you would be happy to meet yourself coming the other way!
* During Winter, although most vehicles are equipped with '''winter tires''' (not to be mismatched with all-season tires or even summer tires; winter tires request by Swiss law at least a tread depth of 4mm and are made of different rubber), it may be required to apply '''tire chains''' to the wheels of your car if driving in an area with snow on the street. Autos rented in Switzerland are routinely supplied with tire chains, but ask. Some mountain roads, towns and villages may require chains. Illustrated signs showing snow chains will be posted at the beginning of the route. If chains are requested, winter tires are not sufficient at all! Failure to obey may incur a fine. Service stations located on these routes may provide a chain installation service, for a fee. It's worth the expense, since an inexperienced driver can be tortured for an hour or more, sometimes in terrible weather, learning to self-install tire chains. Don't assume all roads are open; higher altitude moutain passes (ex: Gotthard, Furka, Grimsel, Oberalp, Julier) will be closed for part or all of the winter. Check that a mountain road or pass is open before driving, or you may encounter a red multilingual "CLOSED" sign at the beginning of the route.
* During Winter, although most vehicles are equipped with '''winter tires''' (not to be mismatched with all-season tires or even summer tires; winter tires request by Swiss law at least a tread depth of 4mm and are made of different rubber), it may be required to apply '''tire chains''' to the wheels of your car if driving in an area with snow on the street. Autos rented in Switzerland are routinely supplied with tire chains, but ask. Some mountain roads, towns and villages may require chains. Illustrated signs showing snow chains will be posted at the beginning of the route. If chains are requested, winter tires are not sufficient at all! Failure to obey may incur a fine. Service stations located on these routes may provide a chain installation service, for a fee. It's worth the expense, since an inexperienced driver can be tortured for an hour or more, sometimes in terrible weather, learning to self-install tire chains. Don't assume all roads are open; higher altitude moutain passes (ex: Gotthard, Furka, Grimsel, Oberalp, Julier) will be closed for part or all of the winter. Check that a mountain road or pass is open before driving, or you may encounter a red multilingual "CLOSED" sign at the beginning of the route.
−
−
===Bicycle===
−
[http://www.velolandschweiz.ch/en/welcome.cfm ''Veloland Schweiz''] has built up an extensive network of long distance cycle trails all across the country. There are many Swiss cities where you can rent bicycles if that is your means of traveling and you can even rent electric bicycles. During the summer it is quite common for cities to offer bicycle 'rental' for free!
−
−
[[Cycling]] in cities is pretty safe, at least compared to other countries, and very common. If you decide to bicycle in a city, understand that (in most cities) you will share the road with public transport. Beware of tram tracks which can get your wheel stuck and send you flying into traffic, of the trams themselves which travel these tracks frequently (and may scare you into getting stuck into the track as just noted), and the buses, which make frequent stops in the rightmost lane.
−
−
===In-line Skating===
−
−
Besides the main types of transportation, the adventurous person can see Switzerland by in-line skating. There are three routes, measuring a combined 600-plus km (350 mi) designed specifically for in-line skating throughout the country. They are the Rhine route, the Rhone route, and the Mittelland route. These are also scenic tours. Most of the routes are flat, with slight ascents and descents. The Mittelland route runs from Zurich airport to Neuenburg in the northwest; the Rhine route runs from Bad Ragaz to Schaffhausen in the northeastern section of the country. Finally, the Rhone route extends from Brig to Geneva. This is a great way to see both the countryside and cityscapes of this beautiful nation.
==Talk==
==Talk==