Swiss trams

Since the opening of the horse-drawn first Tram until our days, the Swiss trams knew an evolution rich and animated which would justify, with it only, a work of great scale. The Swiss , regarded by the ferrophiles as being the paradise of the Railroad par excellence, was not in remainder relating to this railroad on road, Geneva even had during a few years the wide-area network of trams of Europe.

Practically the totality of the Swiss trams are (or were) with spacing Métrique and electric Traction, D.C. current (between 500 and 900 V for the majority). In the first years one saw also the Cheval, the vapor, the Gas for domestic use or the Compressed air like means of propulsion.

Some dates

June 19th 1862: inauguration of the first tram (Geneva - Carouge). Ways with standard spacing of 1 ' 435 mm and traction hyppomobile.
1877 : first tram with vapor of Switzerland (Geneva).
June 4th 1888: second electric tram of the world between Vevey, Montreux and Chillon. Tension 480 volts D.C. current, bipolar contact system Siemens formed of two drivers out of hollow tubes and socket-outlet by shuttles captrices drawn by the railcars. This contact system is replaced in 1913 by a more conventional system (unipolar line, bow on the vehicles and tension carried to 600 volts).
August 1893 - May 12th 1894: tensile tests to gas with Neuchâtel.
1901 : tests with Bern of trams with propulsion by compressed air (Mekarski system).
March 7th - June 3rd 1904: exploitation with Geneva of the line of the City (Street of the Currency - Borough of Furnace - Street Verdaine - Street of Italy) with a maximum slope of 118 ‰ (stiffest of Swiss in Adherence), slope which was right of the line three months after its opening.
1923 - 1924: maximum extension of the Genevese network, then largest of Europe. 119,7 km, including 15,6 km on French territory.
June 2nd 1991: rebirth of the tram in Lausanne after 27 years of absence. However, the TSOL (Tram of Lausannois South-west) is connected more with the light subway: layout in exclusive right of way, broad gauge and vehicles accessible to the public by elevated quay.

Urban trams

(1) except the line of the City (118 ‰) which lasted less than three months (see above)

(2) 1976: removal of the last urban line (line 3, Neuchâtel - Peseux-Corcelles)

Current urban trams

Nowadays, only five Swiss cities always use trams:

Basle : 8 urban lines (65,9 km) BVB + 3 suburban lines (51,8 km) BLT
Bern : 3 urban lines (13,5 km) BernMobil
Geneva : 5 urban lines (12,6 km) TPG
Neuchâtel : 1 suburban line (8,9 km) TN
Zurich : 13 urban lines (112,3 km) VBZ

Contrary to the table above, the length includes/understands the totality of the lines, and not of the network. Thus the sections traversed by several lines are counted several times.

Zurich: the greatest current network

With 68,45 km of ways and 109,30 km of lines, Zurich can be praised to have today the vastest network of trams of Suisse, which is logical, because with its 370.000 citizens, it is more the Swiss big city.

The network has also the strongest slope for a Swiss railway line with Adhérence (without having recourse to the Crémaillère) with 77 ‰ on the line 13 (Frankental-Albisgütli) between Utohof and Albisgütli.

Another curiosity: on the lines 7 (Bahnhof Stettbach-Wollishofen) and 9 (Hirzenbach-Triemli), between the stations Schwamendingerplatz and Milchbuck , the trams borrow a 2.213 m long tunnel which includes/understands 3 underground stations (Tierspital, Waldgarten and Schörlistrasse). This is to some extent a Prémétro as one can meet some in Belgium with Brussels, and in Austria with Vienna. In the beginning, this tunnel was a study of the federal polytechnic school of Zurich (ETHZ- EPFZ) for the future Métro inhabitant of Zurich. When the project fell at water for reasons from cost, it was decided to re-use the tunnel for the service road by tram of the districts in the north of Zürichberg. The trams circulate in the underground since 1986. Plan of the ways of this “Prémétro” on this bond

With the coming into effect of the new schedule the December 10th 2006, the VBZ opened with the exploitation the first part of the network of trams of the Valley of Glatt in the north of the city. Line 11 is thus prolonged of Messe/Hallenstadion with Auzelg , that is to say three additional kilometers and five stations. In the long term, the trams will circulate until the airport. Plan of the network inhabitant of Zurich (format pdf)

Basle: paradise of the suburban tram

Third Swiss town of after Zurich and Geneva, the Rhenish city has a dense network of urban and suburban trams. The first, of green color, are exploited by the company BVB (Basler Verkehrsbetriebe: public transport bâlois); the seconds, yellows with red band, belong to BLT (Baselland-Transport: transport of Basle-Countryside, the other demicanton, with that of Basle-City)

Nowadays, the 8 urban lines of BVB add up 65,9 km and the vehicles circulate on 46,58 km of ways.

During the Fasnacht, celebrates it Carnaval of Basle, when the downtown area is completely blocked by the festivities, the BVB then bring into service special lines with diverted routes and carrying numbers in score (21, 24…).

Starting from 1907, the countryside bâloise is furrowed tram lines local. Rare fact in the history of the rail-bound transports, all these lines are still in service. The four companies amalgamated at January 1st 1974 to become transport of Basle-Countryside. The agglomerations of Basle and Pratteln extended so much that they ended up meeting. By this fact the exploitation of the line of Pratteln, entirely in urban site, was yielded to the BVB.

The three lines of BLT (lines 10,11 and 17) also cross the city by borrowing the ways of the BVB and are also by this fact of the urban trams.

An astonishing element to raise, line 10 of BLT serves, of enough far unfortunately, the French village of Leymen. The station it even is in French territory and when one leaves the station of Ettingen one can thus see a panel announcing that one leaves the federal territory, one rolls for a few minutes on French soil. The terminus, Rodersdorf, are again in Suisse territory.

Plan of the network bâlois (format pdf)

Geneva: rebirth of the trams

Geneva saw in 1862 the first Swiss trams. The city and the canton had in the Twenties the European wide-area network of trams, urban and suburban confused.

In 1904, lasting nearly three months, CGTE (Genevese Company of the electric trams) exploited the stiffest line of Suisse in Adhérence. The slope reached 118 ‰ , but the danger which such uneven represented quickly meant the end of this line. (see above, chapter “Some dates”).

In the Sixties, the car took the advantage and, of all the lines, only line 12 (Carouge-Moillesulaz) remained.

January 1st 1977, the CGTE became the ''' TPG ''' (Genevese public Transport).

In 1995 the tram started its rebirth. Nowadays five lines (12, 13,15,16 and 17) furrow the city, and work of prolongation goes good progress (see with this bond). Currently, following the example lines 15 and 16 of Basle, the Genevese trams change lines arrived at some their termini. Thus, the 12 becomes 17 with Bachet-of-Pesay, and the 13 becomes 15 with the Pallets, and vice versa.

Since 2004 the longest trams of Europe furrow the streets of Geneva (they since were exceeded by the trams of Strasbourg (longer of the world), of Grenoble, Paris, Bordeaux,…) : the 21 Cityrunners of Canadian Bomber, manufactured in the factories of Vienna in Austria, measure 42 meters length and can transport 409 travellers . They are moreover the only bidirectional urban trams of Suisse, with doors laid out of the two sides and cabin at each end. Thus, in the event of interruption of the traffic, the convoy can set out again without other in the opposite direction.

New a double track of 9km is in construction between the Cornavin Station and the CERN, via Meyrin and Avanchets. Line 16 will be prolonged between Gare Cornavin and Avanchets in December 2007 with the creation of the line 14, the remainder of work finishing in 2009 until the stop " Gravière" and 2010 until the CERN. A prolongation on the French territory (Saint-Genis, Thoiry and Ferney) is considered.

Two new concessions were required, for an extension of the network towards Bernex (via Onex, Lancy, Pont of the Island), for a prolongation of the line 14 (and the creation of line 18) and for a prolongation of line 13 towards the Largeone. A prolongation on the French territory towards Ferney is considered.

Two other extensions are being studied (with a date of realization 2015-2020): a line enters the Water-Sharp and Vésenaz and a line serving the commune of Sliding gauge and Lignon. Plan of the Genevese network (format pdf) also including/understanding the Trolley bus, bus, trains and Gulls

Plan of the tram lines alone (format HTML)

Bern: the network of the capital

With a current length of 13.43 km double tracks, the network of trams of Bern hardly changed since its apogee in the Thirties. Recently, the green dress and cream of the vehicles yielded its place to the dark/black red of BERNMOBIL.

The November 24th 2002, whereas the people Vaudois decided in favor of the future subway lausannois m2, the Bernois refused by cantonal voting the prolongation of the tram towards Bümpliz and Bethlehem. The credits provided for by the Confédération with the construction of the tram Bern-West were finally versed with the construction of the subway lausannois. A new project was prepared and the November 26th 2006, the Bernese people accepted the prolongation towards Bümpliz and Brunnen. Plan of the Bernese network (format pdf)

Neuchâtel: only one line survivor

In service since the end of the XIXe century, the network neuchâtelois had to seven lines of which the major part was with single track. During all the duration of exploitation of the urban lines the material used was that of origin, except three motor coaches (81-83) repurchased thereafter. The outdatedness of the trackside equipment, the seniority of rolling stock and the many sections with misconception in single track were the main arguments in favor of the closing of the tram lines, reconverted progressively in line of trolley bus. The last tram line urban was removed in 1976.

line 5: NCB in Littorail

Currently, only the line 5, which skirts the Neuchâtel Lake in direction of south-west, remains in service. Although amputated by its branch Areuse - Cortaillod since 1984, yielded it also to the bus following the many complaints of the inhabitants of Cortaillod who found that the station of tram was too distant. The stop was at approximately a kilometer of the village, and which more is with the bottom of a severe slope.

The line five, open in 1892, was first of all exploited by the NCB (Neuchâtel-Dovecote-Boudry) using two small engines with vapor. The line then connected Boudry/Cortaillod - Areuse - Colombier - Serrières and finally Neuchâtel, the terminus of the trains being located on the place of weapon. A section with toothed rack traversing the street of the Composts and the avenue of the station allowed the trains of the NCB continuing until the latter. This section was converted into electric tram in 1898 already, with the help of the removal of the toothed rack. The NCB was repurchased by the TN in 1901, and the line was shortened until the place Pury, node of the star shaped network of the city.

In 1981, rolling stock, dating from the electrification of 1902, was replaced by new rolling stock of type Be 4/4, delivered by Schlieren. The loops of the Place Pury and Boudry were then removed, the luminous automatic block installed and the speed of line carried with 75km/h. These improvements made it possible to carry the Cadence of the trains at the twenty minutes (it was of thirty since the beginnings of the NCB) and the line was baptized " Litorail" in reference to the littoral which it skirts, nevertheless the oars continued to post number 5.

Line 5 is today more one line of suburban light trains that a line of Tramway S in a strict sense of the term, moreover TN classify rolling stock under the " category of it; Trains". Nevertheless the users continue to speak about " Tram".

Plan of the network neuchâtelois (format pdf)

Suburban or interurban trams

Following the example other European countries (Belgium, Netherlands, France), the Suisse formerly had many networks of trams regional, known as sometimes “local”. Just like elsewhere, the car condemned the majority of these regional lines, so that today very few suburban trams remain in Switzerland.

The initial ones mean of it that the tram is not any more in service nowadays.

Except adverse opinion, all these lines are with metric spacing and electric traction.

French-speaking Switzerland

(Al): initially AA (Aubonne-Allaman) during 2 years. Line of 9,93 km exploited between 1896 and 1952.
Al (Eagle-Leysin): exploitation of a tram between 1900 and 1946 to tractor draw the crémaillière trains on the section in adherence Eagle Station-Deposit, and prolongation to the Large-Hotel until in 1945. The line is exploited today by trains of TPC on the totality of the course.
BVB (Bex-Villars-Bretaye): not to confuse with the “ Basler Verkehrsbetriebe ”, the trams bâlois. In the past BGVC (Bex-Gryon-Villars-Chesières). Exploitation of trams on the sections in adherence Bex-Bévieux and Gryon-Chesières as of 1898. Removal of the Villars-Chesières section in 1961 and removed iron 2 years afterwards. Exploitation still nowadays (1 outward journey and return between Bex and Bévieux in 2006)
(Clarens-Chailly-Blonay): between 1911 and 1955 out of 5,63 km. Connected to its terminus downstream with the VMCV , and to Fontanivent in Montreux-Oberland Bernois ( MOB ) which ensures maintains it rolling stock. On the other hand, not of junction with Blonay with CEV (electric Railroads veveysans) whereas the ways and current of traction, however identical, were separate only of a few meters.
(Genevese Company of the electric trams): this company, created in 1900, included the same year TS (Swiss Trams) and VE (Genevese Company of railroads to narrow gauge railway). The Genevese trams served all the canton, in particular the localities of Veyrier, Chancy, Chevrier and Hermance in Suisse, Annemasse, St-Julien, Ferney and Gex in close France. The trams since deserted the Genevese countryside and the CGTE became TPG at January 1st 1977.
(Nipple-Begnins): a small line of 3,73 km, in service between 1906 and 1954, built in 4 months, it passed by Vich. 2 railcars, 1 trailer, 2 freight cars and 1 small van alone constituted the park during these 48 years.
MCA (Monthey-Champéry-Morgins, then AOMC Eagle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry since 1946): railroad, but exploited a road section through Monthey between 1909 and 1976.
NCB (Neuchâtel - Cortaillod-Boudry): in service as of 1892, attached to TN (Trams of Neuchâtel) in 1901. Except for the section of Areuse with Cortaillod closed in 1984, circulates always today like line 5 of TN and named " Littorail".
(Regional electric of Jorat): brought into service in 1902 and attached as of 1910 to the TL (Trams lausannois). Connected Moudon, Savigny and Montheron with the chief town of Vaud. Outage of the last section (Lausanne - Wall) in 1963.
(Poker-Gimel): connected between 1898 and 1938 the edges of the Lac Léman to the plate of Gimel, large village already connected by AAG . These two trams, however compatible in any points, were never connected between them, in spite of their respective ways separated from a few meters only.
(Feature-Boards): crémaillière tram connecting two districts of Montreux between 1898 and 1912. Length of the line: 392 meters!
(Vevey - Montreux - Chillon-Villeneuve): VMC as of 1888 and CBV (Chillon-Byron-Villeneuve) as of 1903, fusion in 1913. 12,99 km exploited right from the start with electricity (see above). Replaced by Trolley bus between 1957 and 1958.
(Tram of Valley-of-Ruz) connected the Tops-Geneveys to Villiers between 1903 and 1948. Replaced by a Trolley bus, then by a Bus.

German-speaking Switzerland

(Altstätten-Berneck-Bahn), becomes RhStB (Rheintalische Strassenbahn) in 1915, then finally RhV (Rheintaler Verkehrsbetriebe) as of 1958: network of tram which developed starting from 1897 in the valley of the the Rhine upstream of the Bodensee and served the localities of Altstätten (SG), Berneck, Diepoldsau and Heerbrugg. The bus will replace definitively the tram in 1973.
(Altdorf - Flüelen): layout parallel with the line CF of the Gotthard, exploited between 1906 and 1951.
(Arth- Rigi - Bahn): section exploited by tram with normal way between Arth amndt See and Arth-Goldau (1875 - 1959). Electrified in 1906.
BEB (Birseckbahn): Basle Dreispitz-Dornach as of 1902. Today line 10 of BLT .
BLT (Baselland-Transport): fusion at January 1st 1974 of the companies BEB , BTB , BUeB and TBA .
BMGWB (Bern - Matured-Gümligen-Worb-Bahn), then BWB (Bern - Worb-Bahn), VBW (Vereinigte Bern - Worb-Bahnen), and finally RBS (Regionalverkehr Bern - Solothurn) as of 1984: in service as of 1897, today line G of the network RBS .
BTB (Birsigtalbahn): Basle Steinen-Therwil as of 1902, then Rodersdorf as of 1910 (serves the village of Leimen in German territory, then French as of 1918). Today lines 10 and 17 of BLT .
BUeB (Basellandschaftliche Überlandbahn): Basle Schänzli-Muttenz as of 1922, then Pratteln (1923). Today line 14 of BVB .
(Elektrische Strassenbahnen im Kanton Zug: Electric trams in the Canton of Zoug). Network in exploitation of 1913 with 1955.
(Meiringen - Reichenbach-Aareschlucht): in service of 1912 with 1956.
RiT (Riffelalp-Tram): connected between 1899 and 1960 the railroad of Gornergrat to the Riffelalp Large-Hotel, the top of Zermatt. 675 m length, narrow gauge railway of 80 cm and three-phase current of 550 V. Given in service as of 2001, the original cars are equipped today with accumulators. Regarded as the tram highest of Europe. Internet site (in German)
(Sissach-Gelterkinden): brought into service in 1891, it circulates for the last time the opening day before of the line CF Basle - Olten by the basic tunnel of Hauenstein and which serves the two localities (1916).
(Strassenbahn Schwyz - Seewen), become SStB (Schwyzer Strassenbahnen): a network developed around the chief town of the canton of the same name (Schwyz) between 1900 and 1963, going until Brunnen, at the edge of the Lake of the Four-Cantons.
(Steffisburg- Thun - Interlaken): built between 1913 and 1914, circulated on northern bank of the lake of Thoune before being replaced between 1939 and 1958 by a Trolleybus. Today, the Trolleybus has in its turn yielded its place to a Autobus.
(Strassenbahn Schaffhausen - Schleitheim): as of 1905 connected the chief town to the locality of Schleitheim located near the German border. Removed in 1964.
(Strassenbahn Stansstad- Stans): built in 1893, this small tram have a short existence and in 1903 was removed already.
(Spiezer-Verbindungsbahn; tram of connection of Spiez, not to confuse with Städtische Verkehrsbetriebe Bern, the trams of Bern, to see above): circulated between 1905 and 1960 between the unloading dock and the station BLS located on the heights of the city.
TBA (Trambahn- Basel - Aesch): Basle Ruchfeld-Aesch as of 1907. Today line 11 of BLT .
(Uster-Oetwil): tram of the back country inhabitant of Zurich, in service between 1909 and 1949. It offered a correspondence with the BFR (Forchbahn) to Esslingen, and with WMB in Langholz, its southern terminus.
(Wetzikon-Meilen-Bahn): in service between 1903 and 1950 in Oberland (back country) inhabitant of Zurich.
(Zuger Berg- und Strassenbahn): brought between 1907 and 1959 the tourists coming from Zoug to Schönegg, the beginning of the funicular which mêne in Zugerberg.

Grison Tessin and

(Tram elettrici mendrisiensi): San Vitale- Mendrisio rivetted - Chiasso Confine (1910 - 1950)
(Tranvie locarnesi): Locarno - Solduno - Minusio (1908 - 1960) Open in 1908 to connect the station of Locarno - St-Antonio of the railroad of Valmaggia (LPB) with Minusio via the station of Gotthardbahn (today Locarno FFS. In 1923, with the opening of the railroad of Centovalli, it was prolonged until Locarno - Solduno.

Small trams become large

Several railroads, established on the roadway during their construction, have " slowly; immigré" on the side in front of the very powerful car. Formerly entirely on road, these trains circulate today in exclusive right of way, and their gauge is somewhat widens. It is not thus any more of the trams. (All are located in German-speaking Switzerland.)

data base (Bremgarten-Dietikon): connect the " banlieue" inhabitant of Zurich with Wohlen in Freiamt since 1902.
BFR (Forchbahn): leaves the center of Zurich and serves the localities of Forch and Esslingen. The BFR formed with the UOe and WMB (see above) a dense network serving all Oberland inhabitant of Zurich. Today, only Forchbahn remains. It should be noted that between its terminus of Zurich Stadelhofen and Zurich - Realp, it borrows the ways of the trams inhabitant of Zurich VBZ . Further, the stations " Zumikon" and " Maiacher" are established in underground, in a tunnel with double track length of 1 ' 758 Mr.
FW (Frauenfeld - Wil): in service since 1887, it connects in 17,44 km the chief town of the Canton of Thurgovie to Wil in the Canton of Saint-Gall.
TB (Trogenerbahn): on, 1,75 km, this train course still downtown area of St-Gall to the way tram: double track and vehicles with the narrow gauge. Built in 1903, it is today the railroad to the stiffest adherence of Switzerland with 75 ‰ (3).
WSB (Wynental- und Suhrentalbahn): born from fusion in 1957 of the companies ACE (Aarau - Schöftland; 1901) and WSB (Wynentalbahn; 1904), this line of 32 km is on the way to lose its last road section between Aarau and Suhr. Indeed, the new layout will borrow soon the platform released by the removal of the parallel line CF.

(3): the trams inhabitant of Zurich VBZ exploit a line whose slope reaches 77 ‰

Museums, clubs and associations

Bonds

Internal bonds

the page '' Wikipédia '' of the trams
List of the trams in Europe
List of the trams of the world
public Transport Genevese

External bonds

WWW.Photos-Trains.ch a splendid site of railway photographs (access to the page devoted to the trams of Switzerland)
Internet site of the review Tram, the reference concerning urban public transport of Switzerland.

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