Rail from Lucerne to St. Moritz- Scenic or not?

The stretch from Landquart to St Moritz (Albula line) is considered to be one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world.

You don't necessarily have to book a departure now, as they're sold on short notice, too. But I would go by day. The scenic rail ride to get there is actually many people's incentive to head to St. Moritz, whether you detour down to Andermatt to connect with the Glacier Express (7 - 8 hours, or are you doing that route later?) or whether you take the faster route via Landquart and Chur (4 - 4.5 hours).

The line that goes through the Vereina Base Tunnel is a bit less scenic because of the tunnel. Take the route given by SBB changing at Thalwil and Chur. The second leg is quite scenic, but the third borders on the dramatic. You will pass over the famous Landwasser stone viaduct, the one that is on virtually every Swiss travel brochure. then you go through a couple of fantastic spiral tunnels and emerge high up and look down at the tracks in the valley where you entered the tunnel. The part from Chur to St Moritz follows the same tracks as the Glacier Express.

We are planning to travel from Lucerne to Milan with a break in St. Moritz. Due to time shortage, )which every traveler seems to have!) I want to spend as much time as possible in Lucerne as possible before heading over for the Bernina Express. From what I'm reading, it seems the trip from Lucerne to St. Moritz is very scenic and not to be traveled at night if possible. Is that everyone's assessment? Thank you!

No way you should do this after dark. There are two ways you can do this:

1) The quick route: Luzern - Zürich - Landquart - St Moritz. Takes 4½ hours. Cost CHF 80.00, 2nd class single without railcard.

2) The scenic route: Luzern - Göschenen - Andermatt - Reichenau - St.Moritz. Takes 6-7 hours. But instead of going round the Alps (at least until after Zürich), you are going straight through the middle. Cost CHF 95.80, 2nd class single without railcard.

I reconmend making a day of it and choosing route (2), but either way do it by daylight, or you will regret it.
See: http://www.sbb.ch/content/dam/infrastruktur/trafimage/karten/karte-sts-gueltigkeit-de.pdf for a rail map of Switzerland.

Chris and all other responders,

What helpful responses! It never occurred to me to go any other direction than thru Zurich to get over to St. Moritz. We will check out the route you mentioned and see if that will work out. Are any of the little towns you mentioned along the longer route worth getting out to wander thru on our way to St. Moritz?

Thanks for your help!
Shirley