Brienz Rothorn Bahn

The conception of an idea to construct a railway up to this peak was the vision of the Lucerne engineer A. Linder. In what may only be described as record time, the Swiss Parliament authorised the railway consession in 1889. The same summer saw the intensive manual work begin on the slopes above Brienz. Some 640 men were imported from Italy and the Tessin regions to cut the 6 tunnels, galleries and rock faces allowing the track work to be laid and stations to be built.

On Thursday the 16th June 1892 the Brienz Rothorn Railway was inaugurated. The length oft he railway is 7.6 km. During the journey from Brienz to Rothorn Kulm the railway climbs a total of 1678 meters at an average of 225m/km. There are 6 tunnels and 2 gallery sections and the journey up or down is 1 hour in duration.

The BRB is the only rack railway to have locomotives from 3 generations of design in daily use, the oldest are the original machines from 1891/92. The second generation date from 1933/36 and the newest are advanced oil fired locos introduced in 1992/96.

At the summit station Rothorn Kulm is situated the mountain hotel oft he Brienz Rothorn Railway. This classic hotel offers a range of accommodation for overnight guests and a restaurant for those looking for top quality Swiss cuisine in alpine surroundings. The romantic situation and panorama to be enjoyed from the hotel is the perfect setting for a memorable dinner and evening in the Swiss Alps.