Bernina Express · winter seasonOver the pass in winter

Does the Bernina Express run in winter?

Yes. The Rhaetian Railway (RhB) has a summer and a winter timetable for the Bernina Express, and the reservation prices apply continuously from 14 December 2025 to 12 December 2026. There is no break on the Bernina line like that of the Glacier Express, which does not run at all from 11 October to 4 December 2026.

What changes is the number of trains. In the summer timetable (2 May to 25 October 2026) five Bernina Express trains run in each direction. In the winter timetable from 26 October there are two a day, and three at weekends and during holidays.

Winter timetable 2026: all trains

The weekend trains PE 970 and PE 977 ran to the same pattern last winter: from 14 December 2025 to 26 April 2026 on Saturdays and Sundays, daily over the New Year (26 December – 2 January), during the February holidays (6 – 20 February) and at Easter (3 – 6 April). The timetable from 13 December 2026 has not yet been published. The Rhaetian Railway releases the trains for the new timetable period in the webshop between mid and late October each year – only then can you reserve for Christmas and January.

Rule of thumb: In winter the only daily departure from St. Moritz is at 15:30. If you want to experience the pass in the morning, book the opposite direction from Tirano (10:06) or the long journey from Chur (08:17).

What is cheaper in winter – and what stays the same

The fare does not change: Chur – Tirano costs CHF 66 in 2nd and CHF 113 in 1st class, St. Moritz – Tirano CHF 33 and CHF 57 respectively. Only the reservation on the long route gets cheaper. Prices are in Swiss francs (CHF), not euros.

The Swiss Half Fare Card (Halbtax), GA, Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail and Interrail apply to the fare as in summer; everyone pays the reservation in full, children included. The full fare overview is on Bernina Express prices.

Snow on the Bernina Pass: what can be documented and what cannot

The line climbs to Lago Bianco at 2,253 m above sea level – that is the highest point. The photo shows that the line has to be cleared up there in winter. But the operator makes no promise about when and how much snow there will be, and neither do we. If you want to be sure of seeing white, look at the region’s webcams shortly before you travel rather than at the calendar.

The panoramic cars are air-conditioned and have windows up to the roof edge, sockets and Wi-Fi; snacks and drinks are served at your seat, payment is cashless only. The season changes none of that.

Honestly: The daily winter train from St. Moritz leaves at 15:30 and arrives in Tirano at 18:00. In November and December that means travelling into dusk – check before booking when the sun sets on your day of travel. For a CHF 32 reservation you want to see the pass in daylight. Better to take PE 972 from Tirano or PE 951 from Chur.

What is different in winter 2026

• Diversion from 29 October to 13 November 2026. Because of engineering works, trains PE 951 and PE 952 run via Landquart, Klosters and the Vereina Tunnel to Pontresina during this period. The Albula line with the Landwasser Viaduct is then left out. If you want to see the whole World Heritage route, schedule the journey from Chur before 29 October or after 13 November.
• The Bernina Express Bus to Lugano takes a winter break. In 2026 it runs from 26 February to 22 March from Thursday to Sunday, from 26 March to 25 October daily, and from 29 October to 22 November again from Thursday to Sunday. In between, the journey ends in Tirano.
• Regional trains keep running. Alongside the Bernina Express, Rhaetian Railway regional trains run on the Bernina line – without panoramic cars and catering, but the reservation is optional (CHF 5). If the one winter train does not fit your day, that is the solution.

If you are arriving from Italy: how to get from Milan to Tirano and what a day tour costs is on Bernina Express from Milan. You will find all the basics about the journey on the main Bernina Express page, and the seating question on seats in the panoramic car.