Bernina Express vs the Regional Red Train: What's the Difference?
Same track, two trains: the panoramic Bernina Express has sealed glass and a paid reservation; the red train has opening windows and runs about hourly.
The Bernina Express and the regional “red train” run on the same St. Moritz–Tirano track past the same glaciers, lakes and viaducts. The Bernina Express is RhB’s panoramic train: glass that curves into the roof, windows that do not open, a mandatory paid seat reservation and 5 departures each way a day in summer 2027 (two or three in winter). The red train is the ordinary regional service: standard coaches, windows you can open, roughly hourly departures and an optional CHF 5 reservation.
Most day trips from Milan put you on the red train, usually in 2nd class. Only two tours on this site guarantee a panoramic coach.
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The two trains side by side
Both trains climb from Tirano at about 430 m to Ospizio Bernina at 2,253 m, the highest point of the RhB network, and both cross the Brusio circular viaduct, pass Lago Bianco and stop near Alp Grüm. What differs is the train around you.
| Bernina Express | Regional red train | |
|---|---|---|
| Carriages | Panoramic cars, glass curving into the roof | Standard RhB coaches |
| Windows | Do not open | Can be opened |
| Seat reservation | Mandatory and paid, reported at about CHF 32 St. Moritz–Tirano | Optional, CHF 5 per person and route |
| Departures (summer 2027) | 5 each way per day | Roughly hourly |
| Departures (winter 2026/27) | 2 each way, 3 on some days | Roughly hourly |
| On board | Snacks and drinks, free Wi-Fi, onboard commentary | No catering, passenger info screens |
| Pullman Class | 1930s-style coaches, max 32 passengers | None |
| Bicycles | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Route | Chur or St. Moritz to Tirano | Stops along St. Moritz–Tirano |
RhB times the Bernina Express at about 2 hours 15 minutes from St. Moritz to Tirano and about 4 hours from Chur. Only the trains that start in Chur cover the Albula line and its Landwasser Viaduct; the Chur to Tirano guide explains that longer route.
RhB itself warns that some third-party sellers call regional trains “Bernina Express”. In everyday use, “Bernina red train” and “trenino rosso” almost always mean the regional service. When a listing does not say “panoramic carriage” in its inclusions, assume the red train.
On board food is a small point of confusion. RhB says snacks and drinks are served at your seat on the Bernina Express, while other guides describe it as a minibar with no dining car. Either way, plan lunch in St. Moritz or Tirano. The regional train has no catering at all, so carry water.
Windows, glass and photos
This is the difference most photographers care about. The Bernina Express glass is sealed. You see a wide sweep of sky and glacier, but every photo is shot through glass, and reflections from the interior can show up, especially on sunny days. Some travelers report a small opening window in the luggage area of each panoramic car, but you cannot count on standing there through the best curves.
The regional train has classic windows that open. On a clear day you can lean out at the Montebello curve or above Lago Bianco and shoot without glare. Two caveats: the train you board is not guaranteed to have opening windows in every car, and in winter an open window at 2,253 m is cold for everyone around you.
The tour operators selling the red train lean on this point. The From Milan: Bernina Red Train & St. Moritz day trip (our breakdown) says its regional train has “windows that can be opened for unobstructed views and photos”, and the Bernina Train, Swiss Alps & St. Moritz day trip promises “opening windows for glare-free photos”.
What the panoramic train does better is the view upward. Glaciers and peaks above the line fill the roof glass, and the seats face big, low windows. If you want to sit back and look, it suits you. If you want sharp photos, the red train gives you better odds.
For tips on where to point the camera, read which side to sit on. RhB does not let you choose a side on either train.
Which trains the tours actually use
Most “Bernina Express” day trips from Milan do not ride the panoramic train. They ride the regional red train in 2nd class, and the better listings say so in plain words.
- The Lake Como Cruise, St. Moritz & Bernina Red Train, the Bernina Train and St. Moritz Day Trip and the Milan to St. Moritz Bernina Train Tour with Guide state the ride is 2nd class with opening windows, not the panoramic carriage.
- The Bernina Red Train & St. Moritz day trip (from $144, 4.8 from 5,110+ reviews), the St Moritz & Alps Day Trip with Bernina Red Train (from $122) and the Bernina Red Train and St. Moritz Tour (from $128) sell the regional train.
- Only the two Frigerio Viaggi tours on this site guarantee a seat in a panoramic Bernina Express coach: the Milan: St. Moritz and panoramic Bernina Express tour on its “Tour with Panoramic Carriage” option, from $186, and the Como: Bernina Panoramic Express & St. Moritz, from $220. Seats are not assigned in advance on either.
Whichever train you pick, the train is a small part of a long day. A Milan day trip runs about 11 to 13 hours, of which roughly 2 to 2.5 hours are on the rails. The rest is coach travel and free time in St. Moritz or Tirano. Our Bernina Express from Milan page compares the two kinds of trip, and Bernina red train from Milan ranks the red-train tours.
Price: ticket, reservation and tour
On your own, both trains need the same rail ticket. The Bernina Express then adds its reservation supplement, reported at about CHF 32 between St. Moritz and Tirano and CHF 40 to 44 from Chur, paid in full by everyone, including Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail and Interrail holders. Check the exact figure on rhb.ch before you book. The red train needs only the ticket; the CHF 5 reservation is optional.
On GetYourGuide, the Tirano: Bernina Red Train Ticket to St. Moritz starts at $75 one-way in 2nd class, with a reseller fee built in. On a tour, the panoramic option on the Frigerio trip costs from $186, against $110 to $194 for the Milan red-train tours. The full breakdown is in Bernina Express ticket prices.
Crowds and when each train fills up
RhB says the Bernina Express is often fully booked well in advance, with weekends and public holidays the busiest days and Monday to Thursday quieter. Because every seat is reserved, a full train means no seat for you, not a standing ride.
The red train never sells out in that way. If reserved seats are gone, you can still board and sit in a free seat, though RhB warns of longer waits at busy times. Tour groups fill whole sections of some departures, so a midday regional train in summer can feel busy. A tour with its own reserved carriage, such as the Bernina Red Train and St. Moritz Tour above, avoids the scramble for seats.
Which one should you ride?
Pick by what you want from the two hours on the rails.
- Photographers: the red train, for the opening windows.
- Travelers who want comfort and a sure seat: the Bernina Express, booked early, or the panoramic option on the Frigerio tour.
- Swiss Travel Pass holders: either works, but the pass covers only the ticket. The panoramic train still costs the full reservation; see Bernina Express with a Swiss Travel Pass.
- Budget travelers: the red train, by ticket from Tirano or St. Moritz, or the cheapest Milan tours from $110.
- Flexible planners: the red train. With roughly hourly departures you can hop off at Alp Grüm or Poschiavo and take the next one.
- Families: the red train skips the reservation supplement, which every child pays in full on the Bernina Express. The Bernina Red Train & St. Moritz day trip does not take children under 6.
Still deciding between tours? Try which Bernina train tour is right for you, or weigh the panoramic upgrade in our Bernina Express verdict.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bernina red train the same as the Bernina Express?
No. They share the St. Moritz–Tirano track and the scenery, but the red train is RhB’s regional service with standard coaches and opening windows. The Bernina Express is the panoramic train with sealed glass and a mandatory reservation.
Can you open the windows on the Bernina Express?
No. The panoramic windows are sealed, which is why reflections can show in photos. The regional red train has classic windows that open, though not every car on every train is guaranteed to have them.
Does the regional train take longer than the Bernina Express?
RhB times the Bernina Express at about 2 hours 15 minutes from St. Moritz to Tirano. Regional trains stop at more stations, so check the timetable for your departure in the SBB app or on rhb.ch.
Do Milan day trips use the panoramic Bernina Express?
Most do not. They use the regional red train in 2nd class. On this site, only the Frigerio Viaggi tours from Milan and from Como guarantee a panoramic coach, and only on their panoramic options.
Is there food on the red train?
No. RhB lists no catering on regional trains. Bring water and snacks, and plan lunch in St. Moritz or Tirano.
Check Which Train Your Tour Actually Uses
Most day trips from Milan ride the regional red train in 2nd class. Only some options guarantee a seat in the panoramic Bernina Express coaches.
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