The Bernina Express railway line, built at the beginning of the century, is the highest railway in Europe and links the town of Coira, capital of the Grisons Canton, with Tirano in Italy. It is a 145 km track. Markus Bachmann, the station master at the Ospizio Bernina, the highest point on the line, occupies his time with various activities; and the temperature may descend to minus 30 degrees and the snow may be 5 metres deep.