Last update for this page: 23 March 2009.
National Railway System: Schweizerische Bundesbahnen AG (SBB), Chemins de fer federaux suisses SA (CFF) and Ferrovie federali svizzere SA (FFS) are the German, French and Italian renderings of Swiss Federal Railways. The form used on buildings and other fixed installations depends on the language area in which they are situated. At a few locations, notably Biel/Bienne, two langauges are used. Most rolling stock carries all three sets of initials. A few lines in Switzerland are owned by Deutsche Bahn AG, the German national railway.
Language: German is the main language. There is an extensive French-speaking area covering Cantons Vaud, Fribourg, Neuchatel and Jura, plus the western half of Valais and a small part of Bern. Italian is spoken in Canton Ticino. The predominant language in Canton Graubünden is German, but there is a minority language, Romansch.
Currency: Swiss franc
UIC code: numeric 85; alpha CH
Timetable: The Offizielles Kursbuch/Indicateur officiel/Orario ufficiale is published annually and is extremely comprehensive. There are two volumes, one for railways, cablecars, funiculars and shipping services, and the other for buses and trams. There is a full introduction in German, French, Italian, Romansch and English, with tabular material in the language appropriate to the part of the country concerned. Copies may be purchased from the Swiss Centre in London, but they often sell out soon after the new edition is published each spring. The former International volume is not longer published, having been replaced by a series of free pamphlets (because of the different operational dates in adjacent countries). Both the train and bus volumes include route diagrams. The rail diagram, which is fold out, marks principal stations and a number of lengthy tunnels (though some which are marked are shorter than ones which are not). Certain bus routes and the longer funicular railways are also shown. Railways are shown on the bus diagram, which is a loose sheet.
Gauge: The SBB/CFF/FFS system is standard gauge. Most other railways are either standard gauge or metre gauge, and some have sections of both. Various other gauges are used. The Rhätische Bahn and the Matterhorn-Gotthard Bahn together form an extensive metre gauge system with through workings between the three lines.
Electrification: Most standard gauge lines are electrified at 15 kV 16.7 Hz, with 11 kV 16.7 Hz on the RhB/MGB system. Various systems are used by other railways, including low voltage dc. The CFF line from Geneve to the frontier at La Plaine (but excluding the tracks to Geneve Aeroport) is electrified at 1500 V dc, for through running by SNCF trains. There are plans to rebuild this line into 25 kV 50 Hz. Very few lines are not electrified, the main exceptions being the DB AG line from Basel to Schaffhausen which is partly within Switzerland, the steam-worked Brienz Rothorn Bahn and the freight-only Sursee-Triengen line.
Rule of the road: Left, except for right hand running as follows: on DB AG lines through Basel and Schaffhausen, and on the SNCF line between Mulhouse and Basel SBB / Bâle SNCF.
Other Railways: Cantons (local government) have extensive shareholdings in many of these railways. Some railways have amalgamated in recent years or combined their operations. Rolling stock, tickets and publicity may still bear old names in some cases. This is particularly so with Aare Seeland mobil, Montreux Oberland Bernois and BLS Lötschbergbahn. In many cases private railways operate over SBB lines and vice versa. Unless shown otherwise, lines are standard gauge and electrified at 15 kV 16.7 Hz. Funicular railways are not listed.
Tourist lines: Many private railways operate principally for tourists but on a daily basis throughout the year. The following operate with no service for all or part of the winter:
In addition, there are a number of non-commercial "heritage" or "preservation" operations.
Metro: A significant number of local lines around Swiss towns and cities have Metro characteristics. The Metro Ouest, operated by Tramways lausannois www.t-l.ch between Lausanne-Flon and Renens VD is the only metro system designed and built as such. Lausanne also has a full Metro system (the M2) between Ouchy and Epalignes.
Trams: Basel www.bvb-basel.ch (BVB), www.blt.ch (BLT: the BLT-operated routes to Ettingen, Dornach and Rodersdorf appear in the railway section of the Offizielles Kursbuch), www.tnw.ch; Bern www.bernmobil.ch; Geneve www.tpg.ch; Neuchatel (the route from Place Pury to Boudry appears in the railway section of the Indicateur officiel) www.tnneuchatel.ch; and Zürich www.vbz.ch. Part of the line from Basel to Rodersdorf runs through France. An unusual tramway is Riffelalptram, connecting the Riffelalp Resort hotel and the Riffelalp station (GGB). It is 500 m long, located on altitude 2200 m, has 800 mm gauge and is battery-operated www.riffelalp.ch.
Recent and Future Changes:
Boncourt - Delle was closed in 1996 but repopened to passenger traffic in December 2006.
Sihltal – Zürich – Uetlibergbahn opened a new section of dual track between Zürich Giesshübel and Saalsporthalle 15 March 2007, including a new halt at Saalsporthalle.
RBS opened a new section of dual track between Worblaufen and Papiermühle in August 2007. Together with the in sommer 2006 opened dual track section between Ittigen and Bolligen this forms a dual track section, except for a 100 section close to the station Ittigen.
The WAB announced late in 2007 that the old line Wittimatte – Wengen would be lifted. It was taken out of service, and not used during the 2008 Jungfrau Marathon.
The main elements of AlpTransit are new Gotthard and Lötschberg base tunnels and upgrading the Brig to Geneve line. Work has progressed on the 57 km Gotthard tunnel and operation is planned to start late in 2017. The Lötschberg base tunnel opened for limited traffic on 15 June 2007, and for full traffic on 9 December 2007.
Matterhorn-Gotthardbahn has rebuilt the exit from Brig station towards Andermatt. The new line joins the existing line east of the station near Bitsch, and the section passing Naters has been lifted. This was opened on 9 December 2007.
It is planned to extend the Genève Eaux Vives branch to La Praille, allowing trains to run to the main station, and as a first step, local trains operate Genève Cornavin – Lancy-Point-Rouge, in the freight yard. A third track on the section Genève Cornavin – Coppet was completed in December 2004.
The high-speed line Matstetten – Rothrist (Bern – Olten) was opened at the timetable change, 12 December 2004. At the same time the connecting links Solothurn – Rothrist (Gieshübel Tunnel), and the direct curve Rothrist – Zofingen were opened. The line from Solothurn is mainly an upgrade of the closed line Solothurn – Herzogenbuchsee. The old line is removed between Inkwil and north of Herzogebuchsee. The lines (Lenzburg -) Gruemet Jn – Dättwil – Wettingen and Aarau – Buchs AG – Suhr were closed to passenger traffic. The former will be retained for freight and diversions, the latter has transferred to AAR (ex WSB) and is being rebuilt to metre gauge.
The S-bahn Bern was extended, also the same date. SBB and BLS have exchanged staff, duties and equipment to fit the new plan, where BLS holds the main responsibility for S-bahn Bern. The BLS (former RM) line Affoltern-Weier – Huttwil now only sees limited service (see CH09/5).
The Geneva tramway was extended from Cornavin station to Place des Nation (United Nations) om 14 December 2003, and from Plainpalais to Lancy-Pont-Rouge on 12 December 2004. This line was extended to Palettes and the existing line there on 13 May 2006. The first section of the TCMC line from Cornavin station to Les Avachets opened on 8 December 2007, it is planned to reach Meyrin in autumn 2009 and CERN in autumn 2010.
The double track between Cham and just outside Rotkreutz opened on 14 December 2008.
The Lausanne Metro M2, Ouchy – Epalignes (Croisettes) was officially opened on 18 September 2008, but due to technical difficulties, did not open for public use until 27 October.
A third track has been authorised Lenzburg – Gexi Jct (the line towards Wohlen), planned for completion in December 2010.
The work on the new Engelberg tunnel, which has been delayed by to much water within the mountain, is now planned for completion in December 2011, provided this winter is suitably cold and long.
The first section of the Glattal tramway Messe/Hallenstadion (VBZ) – Auzelg opened on 10 December 2006, the second Oerlikon(VBZ) – Zürich Flughafen(Airport) Freight area on 14 December 2008. The third section Auzelg – Stettbach station is planned to open on December 2010.
Work on the new 9.6 km “Diameter Line” including a four track sub-surface station Löwenstrasse under tracks 4-8 at Zürich HB has started in September 2007. See www.railway-technology.com/projects/zurich_capacity or mct.sbb.ch/mct/infra-infrastruktur_bahnausbauten_dml.pdf (in German) or commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bahnhof_Löwenstrasse_(Zürich_Hauptbahnhof) (Pictures). This project includes the sub-surface station and the Weinberg tunnel to Zürich Oerlikon, enabling trains to travel from the West (Zürich Altstetten or the South (Zürich Wiedikon) to continue towards Winterthur/St Gallen without reversal at Zürich HB. This will reduce travel times up to 30 minutes for long distance trains. It is planned for S-bahn (commuter trains) to start in 2013, and for Intercity within two years after this. The extension from Zürich HB to Altstetten started in 2008 and completion is planned for 2015.
The dual-tracking of the Zentralbahn section closest to Luzern started in December 2008. This includes a 1,5 km tunnel and a sub-surface station at the sport and exhibition centre. One of the tracks will have dual gauge for standard gauge freight to Horw . However the remains of KLB at Kupferhammer will lose its connection. This project is planned for completion in 2013. Another dual track section to be built on ZB is between the Haltiwald tunnel and Hergiswil Matt (500 m), where construction is to start in 2011.
The Jungfraubahn have had capacity problems in certain days in summer 2008, and have proposed a 700 m dual track section above the Eigergletscher station.
The “Western” tramway in Berne is under construction (see www.trambernwest.ch), from the Kaufmännlicher Verband stop on existing line 5 to Bümplitz and Brünnen station, replacing trolleybus # 13 and 14. Planned start is late (probably December) 2010.
The Berne Canton have also made their plans for 2010-2013 public: Tramway line 9 is to be extended to Bern Wankdorf station (2012). The narrow gauge line Niederbipp – Oensingen is to be reopened (2011). However Sumiswald – Affoltern-Weier is suggested to be replaced by bus. Trains will be retained on other lines, for example Zweisimmen – Lenk. Further away on the horizon are new sub-surface stations under Bern HB, first for RBS, later for SBB, a third track to Günlingen and Münsingen, a new tramway line from Ostermündigen to Könitz.
The Rhätische Bahn built a 2 km dual track at Untervaz (opened 2007) and extended the dual track from Schiers to Fuchsenwinkel (1,2 km). This gives a total of 4 km dual track (Grüsch – Fuchsenwinkel). Scoul-Tarasp will be without trains from April to November 2009, because of the renovation of the Tasna tunnel. During this time the Scoul-Tarasp station area will be upgraded as well.
The Swiss Ministry of Transportation (BAV) has authorised the Swiss side of the projects : Mendrisio – Stabio – Acisate – Varese (-Malpensa) and the extension of tramway line 8 in Basel from Kleinhünigen to Weil am Rhein in Germany.
The main tunnel drilling work on the Ceneri Base Tunnel (Bellinzona – Lugano) started on 15 February 2008. It is needed together with the Gotthard base tunnel, otherwise the Mount Ceneri with single track section and gradients up to 2.6%, limit the capacity of the Gotthard base tunnel. Operation is planned to start in December 2019.
Special notes:
Distinctions between main line railways, light railways and tramways are more difficult in Switzerland than perhaps any other country. For example, the main line of the Rhätische Bahn from St Moritz to Tirano has several sections of street running. In Chur, the first section of the Arosa line out from Chur station is street running dual track, but not wide enough to permit trains crossing. In addition there is 11 kV ac over the street.
Fares on some mountain railways are very expensive, though rover tickets and holiday cards may give reductions. Discounts may be available for travel on trains early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
The Matterhorn-Gotthard, Rhätische Bahn and Montreux Oberland Bernois are among the railways running "Panoramic", "Glacier Express" or other trains with special facilities, such as observation cars. A supplementary fare is usually charged and advance reservation compulsory or strongly recommended.
Explanations in English of Swiss (and Austrian) railway signalling can be found at web.utanet.at/smiderkr/.
The webcam in a SBB Re 460, which has been available at www.myswitzerland.com for some years, was removed from this site late January 2005, but was restored within a month. It has been possible to view it late 2008 using the direct link below, but it has not been seen in operation during 2009. When in operation, it normally shows a new picture every 15 minutes, when there is daylight. www.myswitzerland.com/en/loco/lok.cfm
Maps: SBB's "Schweiz Bahn-Karte, which is widely available, shows all passenger railways, inter-urban bus routes, ferries, cable cars and chair lifts on a 1:301000 relief map of Switzerland. "Schienennetz Schweiz: Ein technisch-historischer Atlas", published by AS Verlag (ISBN 3-905111-21-7), includes track layout diagrams and gradient profiles for all Swiss railways, as well as a vast amount of other technical and historical data. There is a map of the Swiss railway network on the SBB site at mct.sbb.ch/mct/netzkarte_schweiz.pdf.
A very good atlas has been published by Schweers + Wall in Germany. Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz, ISBN 3-89494-122-7, is already used as a reference in the Sparse/Obscure pages of this website. It also contains addresses, telephone numbers, and, where available, e-mail and web addresses for all transport companies using rail. Track plans for RhB (ISBN 3-89494-101-4) and MGB (ISBN 3.89494) have been published by Schweers+Wall. A large part of the country can be seen at www.sporenplan.nl.
Last complete update: 23 March 2009.
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