are both of these fairly scenic rides? Is one better than the other? We are hoping for dramatic Alpine scenery. thanks, Elaine
I can't tell you about Zürich to Innsbruck, but I went over Brenner Pass from Innsbruck to Italy last summer. For someone from Washington, DC, it might be dramatic, but for someone from Colorado, it was pretty mundane.
You might also think about Zürich to Milan on the Gotthard line via Lugano and the Italian-Swiss lake district, then Milan to Verona.
I've done the Zurich-Innsbruck-Salzburg ride in a panoramic coach, and it is well worth the time. Don't expect 'enormous mountains', but do expect beautiful high alpine meadows, dramatic valleys, waterfalls, etc...
I cannot speak to the Verona ride, as I haven't done it.
I have done the Golden Pass Line (Lake Lucerne to Geneva), and it has more dramatic mountains -- and also done the Glacier Express (Zermatt-St.Moritz) which also has more dramatic rocks / snow. That said -- of the three I've done in Switzerland, Zurich-Innsbruck is my favorite -- it mixes some mountains, some snow, and lots of green meadows.
Here is another resource if you'd like to research other options for swiss Scenic Rail... and another one.
Ditto the Innsbruck to Verona as a letdown. Coming from Seattle, the pass was not scenic.