RAILWAYS ALONG THE RHINE

RUNTIME: 60 MINS

CAT: AWA303
UPC: 881482330393
RRP: $14.95

From its North Sea outlets in Rotterdam and Amsterdam to its source 1,320 kilometers away in the Swiss Alps the River Rhine has railways for company. This one-hour program follows the great waterway and shows the Dutch, German, French, Austrian and Swiss railways which cross it and run along its banks. There’s interesting traffic on the river itself, of course, and the scenery is magnificent. In the central Rhine area from Köln to Mainz, the deep river runs through a narrow valley strewn with medieval fortresses. Freight trains thunder along the east bank and Eurocity, Intercity and local passenger trains lean to the sharp curves of the west bank.

It’s possible to board the Eurocity Rembrandt in Amsterdam and travel virtually the whle length of the river to Chur in Switzerland. From there to Disentis, near the source of the river, it’s just a 60 minute journey in a narrow gauge train of the Rhätische Bahn. This program takes a more diverse method of travel. Significant places of interest are visited along the way and the great variety of trains which come into contact with the Rhine – from the fireless steam locomotives of a power station to the great international expresses  - are shown in detail.