A trip on the Gornergrat railway is a must do’ for every visitor to Zermatt. Take a look at our ‘Ultimate Guide to the Gornergrat Railway’ here:
New POLARIS trains
From September/October 2022, the line will boast five new POLARIS trains – an abbreviation that stands for ‘POpular LAndscape Railway In Switzerland’.
It’s not the first time that Zermatt’s train have had an astronomical name. The regional trains introduced in 2007 operate under the name KOMET, which stands for ‘KOmfotabler MEterspur Triebzug’ (loosely translating to ‘Comfortable Meter-Gauge Coach’).
CHF43 Million Project
The new double cogwheel trains project will cost CHF43 million and are being brought in to make travel faster and smoother.
Compatible with existing trains, the new models are designed by Italian company Pininfarina, and as well as being stylish, have more storage for skis or bikes and better accessibility.
Unusually for Swiss trains, there is Wi-Fi throughout the train, with several power sockets available.
The new trains will join the existing fleet, some of which are 57 years old. They are compatible with the current trains, which means they can be combined in multiple units.
Sustainable Power
The new trains are part of Zermatt’s focus on sustainability. They will be powered by 100% renewable electricity.
In addition, the trains use regenerative braking to recoup power from their forward momentum on the downhill journey.
This excess power is transferred back into the system via overhead power lines, with one downhill journey generating enough power for 16-33% of every upward trip.
“A top international excursion”
“The new and faster vehicles play an important part in the further development of the Gornergrat as a top international excursion.”
Fernando Lehner, CEO, BVZ Group
Accommodation in Zermatt
If you’d like to find accommodation in Zermatt for the World Cup races, then be sure to book early as it is certain to be busy.
Please contact the Matterhorn Chalets team on +41 79 247 15 88