{"id":11659,"date":"2024-12-15T17:31:48","date_gmt":"2024-12-15T17:31:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/?p=11659"},"modified":"2024-12-15T17:31:50","modified_gmt":"2024-12-15T17:31:50","slug":"albula-bernina-railway-a-swiss-fusion-of-heritage-and-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/?p=11659","title":{"rendered":"Albula-Bernina Railway, a Swiss fusion of heritage and innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Renato Fasciati, CEO of the Rhaetian Railway, attributes the railway’s UNESCO status to three key qualities: its iconic stone viaducts, its seamless integration into the Alpine landscape with stunning views, and its continued operation, with well-preserved stone bridges and tunnels still serving commuters and tourists as they did over a century ago.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the Swiss Alps usher in the winter tourism season, commuters and tourists alike aboard the scenic trains passing through Ospizio Bernina, the highest rail-crossing train station in the Alps, are not merely traveling — they’re embarking on a journey through time. As the train glides across century-old stone viaducts, passengers can scan QR codes for audio guides on their hydroelectric-powered ride.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, the Albula-Bernina railway is an inspiring example of Switzerland’s ability to harmonize tradition with modernity, balancing heritage preservation with contemporary development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ENGINEERING WONDER<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Albula-Bernina railway, one-third of the century-old Rhaetian Railway (RhB), spans 122 km from Thusis, Switzerland, to Tirano, Italy, traversing 196 bridges, 55 tunnels, and 20 towns across alpine landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You can see all these different seasons and landscapes, from snow-covered peaks to sunny Italian valleys, all within just one hour,” said Renato Fasciati, CEO of the Rhaetian Railway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fasciati attributes the railway’s UNESCO status to three key qualities: its iconic stone viaducts, its seamless integration into the Alpine landscape with stunning views, and its continued operation, with well-preserved stone bridges and tunnels still serving commuters and tourists as they did over a century ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Over a century ago, using only local materials like stone and wood, the railway and tunnels were built in just five years,” Fasciati said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We know the value of such old things, but these old things also should be in use, not only in a museum,” said Karl Baumann, head of engineering at Rhatische Bahn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Felix Amberg, president of Amberg Group AG, the Swiss engineering company in charge of Albula-Bernina railway maintenance, highlighted the railway’s dual identity as both a historical treasure and a functional modern system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The Albula-Bernina railway line is more than a relic of the past,” Amberg said. “It operates on a historic track but boasts modern features like electrification and Wi-Fi, seamlessly integrating into our daily transport network. It’s not just a preserved artifact in the museum for you to see how it was in the past; it’s a living, breathing part of our infrastructure, serving commuters and tourists every day.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/
Renato Fasciati, CEO of the Rhaetian Railway, poses for a photo with a train model after receiving an exclusive interview with Xinhua in Chur, Switzerland, Dec. 2, 2024. (Xinhua\/Lian Yi)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

LIVING PIECE OF HISTORY<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Albula-Bernina railway exemplifies innovative solutions to integrate historical heritage organically with contemporary life and sustainability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RhB now operates all its trains except historic vintage trains using 100 percent hydroelectric energy, aligning with Switzerland’s commitment to sustainable transportation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I am convinced that innovation and tradition do not exclude themselves. You can bring these two things together. We have to establish a system to renew these tunnels while keeping them operational, ensuring the character of the tracks and infrastructure remains unchanged,” said Fasciati.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“All bridges, tunnels, and retaining walls of the Albula line, with stone infrastructure of 111 years old, remain unchanged in their original state,” said Baumann.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The refurbishment of retaining walls is done using traditional stone techniques, as it is not allowed to put concrete on the surface for the sake of UNESCO standards,” Baumann added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Maintaining a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a unique responsibility. While the outward appearance of bridges and tunnels must remain unchanged, we use cutting-edge technology like drones and advanced construction methods to ensure safety and structural integrity,” said Amberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Every night, we work to refurbish a few meters of the tunnel, ensuring everything is safe and ready for trains by morning. This approach minimizes disruptions while maintaining safety and operational efficiency,” Amberg said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Our night-time refurbishment work allows trains to operate daily, striking a delicate balance between preservation and modernization,” Amberg added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HEART OF THE ALPS<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, railways in Switzerland are deeply intertwined with culture and identity, as they connect remote communities and bring tourists to the heart of the Alps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“It’s a railway, but it’s also a railway in the landscape,” said Fasciati. “It’s a railway deeply connected to the people who live here, as well as those who come to visit. It connects communities, transports goods, and offers an unforgettable tourism experience.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Switzerland, many people are great fans of vintage items like old industrial ships, locomotives, and cars, said Baumann. “Many clubs are dedicated to restoring and renovating old locomotives and ships.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Thanks to the Rhaetian Railway, restaurants in the vicinity are able to serve high-quality meals made with fresh vegetables, meat, and fish, providing visitors with a classy ambiance even in this secluded area,” said Giovanni Muller, a worker at the Ospizio station and a resident of Poschiavo, a small town along the railway line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“The century-old Rhaetian Railway is not just a means of transport,” said Fasciati. “It’s something people are proud of — not just a way to get from A to B, but a wonderful experience of nature, history, and technique.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reference Link:- https:\/\/english.news.cn\/20241215\/18227cd55c934ed383ddd2ecaace398f\/c.html<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Renato Fasciati, CEO of the Rhaetian Railway, attributes the railway’s UNESCO status to three key qualities: its iconic stone viaducts, its seamless integration into the Alpine landscape with stunning views, and its continued operation, with well-preserved stone bridges and tunnels still serving commuters and tourists as they did over a century ago. As the Swiss […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2],"tags":[8146,282,29,132,105,1868,1553,1430,8148,8149,1021,8147],"class_list":["post-11659","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sample-category","tag-albula-bernina-railway","tag-bri","tag-china","tag-economy","tag-geopolitics-2","tag-heritage","tag-innovation","tag-railway","tag-swiss-fusion","tag-switzerland","tag-unesco","tag-a-swiss-fusion-of-heritage-and-innovation"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11659","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11659"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11659\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11661,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11659\/revisions\/11661"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11659"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11659"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gsrra.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11659"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}