Accommodation search
Accommodation search
All accommodations in Grainau

Zugspitze Cogwheel train


The cogwheel train of the Bayerische Zugspitzbahn AG is one of only a few cog railways operated in Germany. Enjoy the ride with this special vehicle, that takes you to the plateau of the Zugspitze at 2,600 m. Starting point is near the train station Garmisch-Partenkirchen at the Zugspitze station.

The railway was built in the years 1928 to 1930 in three sections to go on 8 July 1930 in the whole in operation.

The white-blue train starts its journey at the station in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and stops at several stations on the valley route, such as Hausbergbahn, Alpspitz and Kreuzeckbahn, Hammersbach and Grainau. Here ends the adhesion route.

Then it goes on to the mountain route from Eibsee, to the request stop Riffelriss and finally up to Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze.

Cogwheel train winter, © Touristinformation Grainau - Foto Bäck
Cogwheel train winter
Zugspitzbahn in summer, © Tourist Info
Zugspitzbahn in summer
Cogwheel train winter, © Touristinformation Grainau - Foto Bäck
Zugspitzbahn in summer, © Tourist Info

Technical data

  • length total: 19,5 km
  • distance Garmisch - Grainau: 7,5 km
  • distance Grainau - Eibsee: 3,2 km
  • distance Eibsee - Riffelriss: 4,3 km
  • distance Riffelriss - Zugspitzplatt (=Zugspitz-Tunnel): 4,5 km
  • maximum speed: 70 km/h