I travelled on the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur in June 2025.

I booked my tickets as soon as I decided to visit Switzerland, about three months in advance. Tickets were already heavily booked, so I had to choose an available date and plan my itinerary around it. When I enquired about wheelchair access, I was told that if I wanted to transfer to a regular seat I could book online, but if I wanted to remain in my wheelchair I needed to book by email. I wanted to stay in my wheelchair, so I arranged it that way.

I was using an Interrail pass, which meant I only had to pay the booking fee rather than the full ticket price. The wheelchair space was in the first‑class carriage—that was fine for us since both my boyfriend and I had first‑class passes. They explained that a wheelchair user with a second‑class pass would be upgraded for free, but their travel companion would not.

Boarding was very straightforward. The carriages are raised, so there is a special ramp for wheelchairs. We didn’t need to notify anyone in advance—when we arrived at the platform, staff immediately asked if I needed the ramp. It does take a little time to set up, so it’s worth arriving early. The official advice is to be at the platform about 20 minutes before departure, and wheelchair users are asked to wait by the mobile lift 10 minutes before departure.

Inside, the carriages were laid out with groups of seats facing each other: two across on one side and one across on the other. In the accessible carriage, one of the single seats had been removed to create the wheelchair space. The removed seat was still stored in the carriage, so I assume it’s only taken out when needed. The view from this space was excellent, with a large window beside me and a clear view across to the opposite side.

We didn’t buy food or drink on board, though there was a full meal service available to pre‑book. You could also bring your own snacks.

The train stopped at a few stations along the way. We got off at Chur, though the Glacier Express continues to St. Moritz. We had tickets for another scenic train the next day, which ran along part of the same line before continuing towards Italy. In hindsight, I would have preferred to stay on the Glacier Express for that section. Between Chur and St. Moritz, the train crosses the Landwasser Viaduct, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most photographed landmarks in Switzerland. It The view from the wheelchair space on this train would have been far better than on the one we took the next day.
The scenery throughout was beautiful, and it was so interesting to watch the landscapes shift and transform along the route. There’s also an app you can download with commentary and written information, which added context to what we were seeing.

Overall, I loved the journey. It was fully accessible, and the experience for wheelchair users was exactly the same as for everyone else—nothing was compromised
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