Enthusiast's Guide to Travelling the Railways of Europe

SWITZERLAND (Suisse/Schweiz/Svizzera)

Lines with obscure or sparse passenger services

This list is based on the timetable dated 9 December 2007. Standard abbreviations used are explained in the General Information document. In the heading to each entry the map reference for the line in the Schweers+Wall Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz (2004 edition) is shown, in italic, in addition to the reference to M.G. Ball's European Railway Atlas.

Last update for this page: 20 April 2008.

Obscure services

Genève Lancy-Pont-Rouge — Stade de Genève (97A3 not shown, 46A) CH08/01

This extension of the Lancy-Pont-Rouge line, to a halt in La Praille marshalling yard, is used by special or extended trains for home football matches of Servette FC at the nearby stadium. Details of fixtures may be found at www.servettefc.ch.

Renens avoiding line: Denges Echandens (Les Léchires) — Bussigny [150, 210] (91A1, 46C) CH08/02

This north to west curve connects the Neuchâtel and Genève lines and is used by hourly ICN trains not booked to call intermediately between Yverdon and Morges.

Kerzers [305.2] (92A3 not shown, 24D not shown) CH08/03

The Bern - Neuchâtel and Lyss - Payerne lines cross at Kerzers by means of a flat crossing. This short west to south curve connects the two and is used by the hourly S5 stopping service between Bern and Murten. These trains reverse on the Neuchâtel line and use the curve between calls at Kerzers and Galmiz.

Bern avoiding line: Zollikofen (Löchligut) — Ostermundigen (Wankdorf) (92B3, 72B) CH08/04

This north to east curve enables trains to run between the Olten and Brig / Interlaken lines without reversal.

Huttwil — Affoltern-Weier [304.2] (87A1-92B3, 26B-27A) CH08/05

The map in the Offizielles Kursbuch shows the service between Huttwil and Affoltern-Weier to be provided by bus, but the following are still trains.

On the occasion of the slowUp Emmental cycle event on the second Sunday in September a special service uses this section. Details from www.dbb.ch or www.slowup-emmental.ch. Similarly, for other special events at Huttwil, BLS may operate an extension of S4 services from Bern.

Wengi – Visp (Lötschberg Basistunnel) [300] (92B1-100A3 not shown, 38D-53C) CH08/06

The new Lötschberg Base Tunnel is used by trains between Spiez and Visp.  Overnight trains between Brig and Spiez may still use the old main line via Kandersteg if the rolling stock is not authorised for use through the tunnel.

Hindelbank (Abzw Hardfeld) — Bern (Abzw Mattstetten Ost) [450] (92B3 not shown, 26A) CH08/07

This connection onto the Olten - Bern high speed line is used by trains calling at Burgdorf and running non-stop between there and Bern.

Solothurn — Rothrist (Abzw Wanzwil) (via Gishübel Tunnel) [410] (86B1 not shown, 15D-16C) CH08/08

This branch off the Olten - Bern high speed line is used by trains non-stop between Olten and Solothurn.

Rothrist — Bern HB (Wylerfeld) (via Murgenthal and Grauholz tunnels) [450] (87A1 - 92B3 not shown, 16C, 16D, 25B, 26A, 72B) CH08/09

Zürich - Bern and Luzern - Bern trains not stopping intermediately between Rothrist and Bern use the new direct line, while stopping trains use the original route. Zürich - Solothurn trains (see CH08/08) and non-stop trains between Burgdorf and Bern (see CH08/07) use parts of the direct line.

Rothrist — Olten (via Born Tunnel) [450] (87A1, 16D) CH08/10

This line opened in 1981, but now forms the northern part of the Olten - Bern high speed line. It is used by trains between Olten and Langenthal or Bern which do not stop at Aarburg-Oftringen, also by trains non-stop between Olten and Solothurn. Note, however, that IR trains terminating in Olten have been observed being routed via Aarburg-Oftringen instead of via this route.

Aarburg-Oftringen south curve: Rothrist (Aarburg West) — Zofingen (Aarburg Süd) [510] (87A1 not shown, 16D) CH08/11

This west to south curve links the lines from Bern and from Luzern to Olten. It is used by the hourly fast trains between Bern and Luzern via Zofingen. (Note that trains via this curve normally use the connection off the south side of the main line at Rothrist in both directions. Only the local services from Rothrist to Aarburg-Oftringen use the dive-under).

Muttenz — Liestal [500] (86B2 not shown, 8C) CH08/12

Fast trains between Basel and Liestal not booked to call intermediately use this line which passes through the new Adler tunnel (5.3km).

Basel avoiding line: Basel Bad Bf (Gellert) — Muttenz [500, 700] (86B2, 68A-68D) CH08/13

This north to east curve enables trains to run between the DB station at Basel Bad and the Olten/Zürich main line without reversal.

The following trains reverse at Basel SBB, though not advertised to call there: DZ13200, DZ13201, DZ13208 and DZ13209.

Additional trains sometimes operate to Basel Bad Bf for exhibitions and trade fairs, details of which can be obtained from Messe Basel, Messeplatz, CH-4021 Basel; fax +41 61 686 21 94. A regular schedule is 07:56 Zürich HB - Basel Bad Bf.

Basel SBB — Muttenz (via Gbf Wolf) [500] (86B2, 68A-68D) CH08/14

An alternative to the normal main line east out of Basel, via high level lines through Basel Güterbahnhof and the overbridge approach to the west end of Basel Rangierbahnhof, thence by a spur to Muttenz station.

For pathing reasons, alternate eastbound trains of the S3 local service Laufen - Basel SBB (reverse) - Olten are booked to use this route hourly from 06:01 to 22:01 from platform 15 on the south side of Basel SBB station.

Basel SBB — St Jakob (86B2, 68A-68C) CH08/15

Special trains operate for FC Basel home matches to a platform adjacent to the St Jakob stadium, on the the route from Basel SBB to Muttenz via Gbf Wolf (CH08/14). Outward trains from platforms 1 to 5 use the new diveunder route beneath the station throat to Basel Gbf, but trains from other platforms follow the ground-level route CH08/14.

For evening matches, there is normally just one outward train, at 18:45 from platform 4 at Basel SBB. Return trains - at 21:30 and 22:07 - generally follow route CH08/14. Routing and timing variations occur from game to game: timings and departure platforms are advertised by paper notices at each platform entrance, usually the day before a match.

Information on FC Basel matches can be found at www.fcb.ch.

Olten avoiding line: Tecknau — Dulliken [500, 650] (87A2, 16B) CH08/16

The hourly service of IR trains between Basel SBB and Zürich HB, calling at Liestal and Aarau, uses this north-to-east curve to avoid reversal at Olten.

Brugg avoiding line: Villnachern — Lupfig (87B2, 17B) CH08/17

This line can be used by trains between Basel and the Gotthard line not calling at Luzern or Zürich, though route CH08/16 provides and alternative.  The following may run this way, but confirmation is required:

Killwangen-Spreitenbach — Othmarsingen [650] (87B2) CH08/18

Fast trains between Zürich HB and Olten not booked to call at Baden or Brugg AG use this line which passes through the Heitersberg tunnels (4.9km) to the south of Baden.

Trains with no scheduled stops between Zürich HB and Arth-Goldau may also run via this line and Wohlen.

Zürich HB north avoiding line: Zürich Altstetten — Zürich Oerlikon (Hard) [650, 700] (97A2, 70A) CH08/19

An hourly IR service operates between Basel SBB and Zürich Flughafen via this curve. Trains are shown calling at both Zürich Altstetten and Zürich Oerlikon, but not Zürich HB, on table 700. This line is also used by:

Zürich HB south avoiding line: Zürich Wiedikon — Zürich Altstetten [720, 801, 900] (97A2, 70C) CH08/20

This curve is used by local trains not calling at Zürich HB.  There have been no long-distance trains via this route since winter 2006.

Zürich HB - Thalwil [720, 900] (97A1 not shown, 18B-18D) CH08/21

Fast trains between Zürich HB and Thalwil not booked to call intermediately use this line which passes through the new Zimmerberg-Basistunnel (9.4km). The extension towards Zug is not yet in use.

Romanshorn avoiding line: Egnach (Romanshorn Stw. I) - Amriswil [840, 845] (89A2, 12D) CH08/22

This curve enables trains to use an alternative route between Rorschach and Winterthur without reversal at Romanshorn.

There is no booked service but this route is often used for diversions when the Buchs SG - Feldkirch line is closed for engineering works. This has occurred for the last several years in late April and early May, and applied to the following trains (NB these diversions may not apply in 2008 due to the Sargans - Buchs SG engineering works):

During 2008, overnight engineering works between Sargans and Buchs SG cause the diversion of the following trains via this route on certain dates:

Note: {1}: Zürich HB departures on 25 - 28 February, 3, 4, 6, 25 - 27, 31 March, 1 - 3, 7 - 10, 14 - 17, 21 - 24 April, 5 - 7, 13 - 15, 19 - 22, 26 - 29 May, 2 - 5 June 2008.

Note: {2}: Zürich HB departures on 2 - 4, 6, 9, 25 - 27, 31 March, 1 - 3, 7 - 10, 14 - 17, 21 - 24 April, 4 - 7, 13 - 15, 18 - 22, 25 - 29 May, 1 - 5 June 2008.

Sargans — Trübbach (via eastern loop) [880, 900] (95A3, 31B) CH08/23

Through trains between the Ziegelbrücke and Buchs SG lines (mainly EC trains between Zürich and Innsbruck) use this route to avoid reversal at Sargans. Other trains (principally between the Chur and Buchs SG lines) use the western loop.

Klosters (Sasslatsch Nord) — Susch (Sasslatsch II) (Rhätische Bahn) [910, 960] (96A3, 33D) CH08/24

This is the south-west curve out of the Vereina Tunnel, on which services commenced 28 May 2000. Note that the north point of the triangle, at Sasslatsch Nord, is inside the tunnel.

Sursee — Triengen (Sursee-Triengen Bahn) (87A1-87B1, 17C) CH08/25

This private railway has no regular passenger trains but a special public service is provided annually in conjunction with Dampfbahnverein Surental (DVS) www.dampfzug.ch, usually on the fourth Sunday in September, with trains about every hour and a half.

Capolago Lago — Capolago Riva San Vitale (Ferrovia Monte Generoso) [636] (101B1, 66C) CH08/26

This 250 metre extension northwards from the normal terminus, adjoining Capolago-Riva San Vitale FFS station, is used to connect with the seasonal calls of vessels of Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano. Vessel calls and trains are subject to suspension during rough weather or in times of poor visibility.

Service operates 19 March to 2 November 2008.

Cross-border services

The following cross-border services are not included in the Offizielles Kursbuch/Indicateur official/Orario ufficiale, but are shown in a series of SBB/CFF/FFS leaflets.

• Buchs SG - Schaan-Vaduz (Liechtenstein): Infrequent local trains between Buchs and Feldkirch, and longer distance services from Zürich to Innsbruck and Wien. See alternatively ÖBB Fahrpläne table 401.
• St Margrethen - Lustenau (Austria): Local trains between St Margrethen and Bregenz, and longer distance services from Zürich to München. See alternatively ÖBB Fahrpläne table 401.
• Basel SBB - Basel Bad Bf - Weil am Rhein/Lörrach/Grenzach (Germany): Local services on all lines and long-distance expresses to destinations via Karlsruhe. See alternatively DB AG Kursbuch Regionalverbindungen Baden-Württemberg tables 702, 730 and 735.
• Basel SBB - St Louis (France): Local trains between Basel, Mulhouse and Strasbourg, and longer distance services to Luxembourg and Paris. See alternatively SNCF Indicateur Horaires Réseau Nord-Est table 172.
• Le Locle - Morteau (France): Infrequent local service, most trains to and from Besançon. See alternatively SNCF Indicateur Horaires Réseau Sud-Est et Corse table 535.
• Les Verrières – Pontarlier (France): TGV services between Paris and Bern, twice daily.  See alternatively SNCF Indicateur Horaires Réseau Sud-Est et Corse table 531.
• Vallorbe - Frasne (France): TGV services beween Paris and Lausanne, plus EN220/221 between Paris and Roma. See alternatively SNCF Indicateur Horaires Réseau Sud-Est et Corse table 531.
• Genève Eaux-Vives - Annemasse (France): Local service, with some trains running to or from Évian-les-Bains, La Roche-sur-Foron, Annecy or St Gervais-les-Bains. See alternatively SNCF Indicateur Horaires Réseau Sud-Est et Corse table 517.

Other sparse services

The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) — fewer than five trains each way on at least three days a week.

{1} = preservation / museum service: limited dates / days of operation

The following lines do not have service throughout the winter:

{1} = preservation / museum service: limited dates / days of operation

Deletion since previous edition:

CH07/25 Lauterbrunnen (Witimatte) — Wengen (Wengernalp Bahn): Line taken out of use.

Last complete update January 2008. Subsequent amendments: CH08/22 amended (20 April 2008).

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