Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon railway
Encyclopedia
The Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon (BLS) railway, known since the merger of the "old" BLS with the Bern-Neuenburg-Bahn (BN), the Gürbetal-Bern-Schwarzenburg-Bahn (GBS) and the Simmentalbahn (SEZ) in 1997 as the BLS Lötschbergbahn, is a Swiss railway company. It is the largest standard gauge
network on the Swiss Railway system apart from the Federal Railways, SBB-CFF-FFS
. The railway had not been built at the time that the Federal government took control of the five big Swiss standard gauge railway companies in 1902 and so it led a separate existence, being considered the largest of the Swiss "private" railways, although the majority of its capital was owned by the Cantonal government of Bern
and also the Confederation held about 1/5.
In 2006 the company merged with Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG
to form a new company called BLS AG
.
and Lorraine
to Germany. Also the French-Swiss border crossing at Basel was lost. Because of this, business circles in Paris were interested in co-financing a viable international transit route through Switzerland. Several alternative routes via Frutigen–Lötschberg were proposed but eventually, the Pro-Lötschberg Initiative Committee won the day. The Bern–Lötschberg–Simplon Railway was founded on 27 July 1906 and within a few months construction work commenced.
. Construction began on the 15 October 1906 but within months the Swiss federal authorities ordered the BLS to enlarge the tunnel to double track and to profile its access ramps to suit. Money was not forthcoming for the provision of a double track line throughout and only the Lötschberg Tunnel itself was constructed in this way. Due to an accident on 24 July 1908 in which rock, washed with alpine waters, collapsed into the tunnel gallery killing 25 Italian miners. Construction work was halted for six months before the gallery was sealed and plans made to bypass the site. The plan was to construct three curves inside the mountain and extending the length of the tunnel to 14.612 km (9.079 mi). The breakthrough was finally made on 31 March 1911.
With the completion of the access ramps, the other civil engineering works on the line, 33 tunnels, 3 avalanche galleries and 22 bridges, together with the provision of electrical support masts, power stations, sub-stations, etc., the line, powered at 15,000 Volts, alternating current, 16⅔ Hz was officially opened on 19 June 1913.
In 1915, to shorten the distance through the Jura Mountains, to the French border, the company inaugurated the Grenchenberg line between Moutier and Lengnau which included the 8.5 km (5.3 mi) Grenchenberg Tunnel.
Following World War I
, in 1919, Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France under the Treaty of Versailles
and the importance of Delle as a border crossing point into France became less. Transit traffic was more and more routed via Basle/St Louis. Freight traffic between Germany and Italy, which could be routed via the Lötschberg line meant that the company was able to offset the loss of transit via Delle.
At the end of 1993, the Swiss Confederation commissioned the BLS to provide a “piggyback” corridor along its line for road vehicles with a width of 2.5 m (98.4 in) and a corner height of 4 metre. The construction work began in January 1994 and the opening was delayed, due to geological problems on the southern side of the Simplon, until 11 June 2001. Since opening, the "rolling highway
", the transportation of trucks by rail from Germany to Italy via Lötschberg, has made a considerable contribution towards transferring transit traffic from road to rail.
On 15 May 2001, in order to secure their future, the BLS and SBB agreed on a new task-sharing arrangement. This was largely implemented as part of the timetable changes made on the 12 December 2004 when the BLS took over the running of the SBB's S-Bahn lines and with it, system responsibility for Bern's S-Bahn network, the second largest in the country. This was accompanied by the transfer of long-distance railway operations from the BLS to the SBB. Within the cargo sector the SBB assumed overall control for full-load traffic in Switzerland. Transit and block train traffic has been subject to competition since the signing of the 2001 agreement. The SBB became responsible for rail network management across Switzerland.
On 27 September 1992, the Swiss people voted with an overwhelming majority in favour of the NEAT Project (Neue Alpentransversale), also known as the “AlpTransit”. In voting "Yes" the Swiss people gave their approval for the construction of two transverse routes through the Alps, one at the Gotthard, the other at the Lötschberg. The original AlpTransit Lötschberg Project provided for two single bore tunnels between Frutigen and the Rhône valley, a distance of 41 km (25.5 mi). For financial reasons the tunnel length was shortened to 34.6 km (21.5 mi), and the greater part of one of the bores was only be constructed as a shell.
The new base line was inaugurated on the 15 June 2007 and full standard traffic will start with the new timetable on the 9 December 2007. In full operation trains will be able to travel through the Lötschberg Base Tunnel
at speeds of 160–200 km/h (99.4–124.3 mph). From the completion of NEAT and the opening of the new Lötschberg Base Tunnel, the BLS will be responsible for the operation of train services along the entire Lötschberg–Simplon route.
. The new undertaking belongs to the canton of Bern (55.8%), the Swiss Confederation (21.7%), further cantons and private persons (22.5%). The BLS AG was actually founded on 24 April 2006, when the cantons of Berne, Lucerne, Solothurn, Valais and Neuchâtel exchanged their BLS and RM shares for BLS AG ones.
As a result of the fusion of the companies, the BLS AG becomes the second biggest traffic undertaking in Swiss standard-gauge railways after the Swiss Federal Railways. The BLS AG operates regional traffic in an area which lies between the Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Lucerne and the Jura Mountains and the Simplon Massif. It is also responsible for the Bernese Suburban Railway (S-Bahn).
The main line runs from Bern, the Swiss capital, through Spiez
and the Lötschberg Tunnel
to Brig
, where it reconnects with the SBB
network. It then enters the Simplon Tunnel
Italy
which it enters at Iselle di Trasquera. It then connects to the line to Milan. The line forms a key part of the Bern-Milan
artery which the company operates jointly with the SBB. The company also operates extensive commuter services as part of the Bern S-Bahn
network. In 1994 the BLS moved 9.2 million passengers.
The BLS network operates trains over 245 km (152.2 mi) of standard gauge track, but the BLS actually owns only 115 km (71.5 mi). The whole network is electrified at 15 kV 16⅔ Hz.
Re 425 170-190 are fitted with ETCS and thus able to pull trains over NBS Mattstetten - Rothrist and through Lötschberg Base Tunnel
. Other Re 425 could act in MU as second or third engine and, if required, also behind an Re 465.
Re 425 191-195 were fitted with Railvox public address system and thus primarily used for
push-pull services. There are 6 driving trailers for passenger services. By December 2010 the use of such consists for additional trains of S-Bahn Bern ended. Five consists are in use around Spiez (2011).
Third field of use are the car shuttles through (old) Lötschberg Tunnel
. A total of 9 driving trailers is available for this purpose.
CLASS Re4/4 II
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
network on the Swiss Railway system apart from the Federal Railways, SBB-CFF-FFS
SBB-CFF-FFS
Swiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
. The railway had not been built at the time that the Federal government took control of the five big Swiss standard gauge railway companies in 1902 and so it led a separate existence, being considered the largest of the Swiss "private" railways, although the majority of its capital was owned by the Cantonal government of Bern
Canton of Berne
The Canton of Bern is the second largest of the 26 Swiss cantons by both surface area and population. Located in west-central Switzerland, it borders the Canton of Jura and the Canton of Solothurn to the north. To the west lie the Canton of Neuchâtel, the Canton of Fribourg and Vaud. To the south...
and also the Confederation held about 1/5.
In 2006 the company merged with Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG
Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG
Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG was a 1997 merger of* EBT - Emmental-Burgdorf-Thun-Bahn* VHB - Vereinigte Huttwiler Bahnen* SMB - Solothun-Münster-Bahnwhich had been under common management for decades already....
to form a new company called BLS AG
BLS AG
BLS AG is a Swiss railway company created by the 2006 merger of BLS Lötschbergbahn and Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG. It is 55.8 % owned by the Canton of Berne, and 21.7 % by the Swiss Confederation. It has two main business fields: passenger traffic and infrastructure.BLS has a subsidiary BLS...
.
History
With the opening of the Gotthard line in 1882 the canton of Bern became separated from the main north – south traffic route. The administration, not being happy with the situation, made full use its federal rights to built its own line but it could not rely on financial aid from the Swiss Confederation, the authorities being vehemently opposed to any rival transit route. Bern had to look elsewhere to raise the necessary funds and these were to come from an unexpected source. In 1871, due to the Franco-Prussian War, France had surrendered provinces AlsaceAlsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
and Lorraine
Lorraine (province)
The Duchy of Upper Lorraine was an historical duchy roughly corresponding with the present-day northeastern Lorraine region of France, including parts of modern Luxembourg and Germany. The main cities were Metz, Verdun, and the historic capital Nancy....
to Germany. Also the French-Swiss border crossing at Basel was lost. Because of this, business circles in Paris were interested in co-financing a viable international transit route through Switzerland. Several alternative routes via Frutigen–Lötschberg were proposed but eventually, the Pro-Lötschberg Initiative Committee won the day. The Bern–Lötschberg–Simplon Railway was founded on 27 July 1906 and within a few months construction work commenced.
The Lötschberg tunnel
Possibly because of French finance the construction of the “Mountain Route” the 58 km Frutigen–Brig line, was assigned to a French construction consortium, the major civil engineering work on the section being 13.7 km (8.5 mi) single track Lötschberg TunnelLötschberg Tunnel
The Lötschberg Tunnel is a long railway tunnel on the Lötschberg Line, which connects Spiez and Brig at the northern end of the Simplon Tunnel cutting through the Alps of Switzerland. Its ends are at the towns of Kandersteg in the Canton of Berne and Goppenstein in the Canton of...
. Construction began on the 15 October 1906 but within months the Swiss federal authorities ordered the BLS to enlarge the tunnel to double track and to profile its access ramps to suit. Money was not forthcoming for the provision of a double track line throughout and only the Lötschberg Tunnel itself was constructed in this way. Due to an accident on 24 July 1908 in which rock, washed with alpine waters, collapsed into the tunnel gallery killing 25 Italian miners. Construction work was halted for six months before the gallery was sealed and plans made to bypass the site. The plan was to construct three curves inside the mountain and extending the length of the tunnel to 14.612 km (9.079 mi). The breakthrough was finally made on 31 March 1911.
With the completion of the access ramps, the other civil engineering works on the line, 33 tunnels, 3 avalanche galleries and 22 bridges, together with the provision of electrical support masts, power stations, sub-stations, etc., the line, powered at 15,000 Volts, alternating current, 16⅔ Hz was officially opened on 19 June 1913.
Take overs and wartime changes
In 1913 the BLS made a successful takeover of the Lake Thun railway (TSB) (Thun/Scherzligen-Interlaken-Bönigen), and became the operating company for three other companies in the area, the Berne–Neuchâtel railway (BN), the Gürbetal–Berne–Schwarzenburg railway (GBS) and the Spiez–Erlenbach railway (SEZ) adding some 130 km (80.8 mi) to its system. The BLS/TSB merger meant that the Lötschbergbahn also became the proprietor of the shipping company on Lakes Thun and Brienz.In 1915, to shorten the distance through the Jura Mountains, to the French border, the company inaugurated the Grenchenberg line between Moutier and Lengnau which included the 8.5 km (5.3 mi) Grenchenberg Tunnel.
Following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, in 1919, Alsace and Lorraine were returned to France under the Treaty of Versailles
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
and the importance of Delle as a border crossing point into France became less. Transit traffic was more and more routed via Basle/St Louis. Freight traffic between Germany and Italy, which could be routed via the Lötschberg line meant that the company was able to offset the loss of transit via Delle.
Coming up-to-date
Problems with the operation of a single line railway were being seriously felt in the 1960s, but it was not until 1976 that the Federal Council gave their approval to loan of CHF 620,000,000 to upgrade the line to double track, the work to be carried in several stages, commencing the following year. The line, entirely double-track, was officially inaugurated on 8 May 1992.At the end of 1993, the Swiss Confederation commissioned the BLS to provide a “piggyback” corridor along its line for road vehicles with a width of 2.5 m (98.4 in) and a corner height of 4 metre. The construction work began in January 1994 and the opening was delayed, due to geological problems on the southern side of the Simplon, until 11 June 2001. Since opening, the "rolling highway
Rolling Highway
A rolling highway is a combined transport system to transport trucks by rail....
", the transportation of trucks by rail from Germany to Italy via Lötschberg, has made a considerable contribution towards transferring transit traffic from road to rail.
Politics and railways
The economic, political and legal operating environment for European railways changed to such an extent towards the end of the 20th century that restructuring amongst railway operators became inevitable. Liberalisation and competition also started to make an impact on railways. (Using EU legislation Britain’s railway network can probably show best and worst what happened with its divisions and fragmentation). Although not bound by EU directives Switzerland is surrounded by EU countries and as details arrived from Brussels notice was taken of happenings elsewhere. The BLS Lötschbergbahn reacted early and realigned itself strategically. On 1 January 1997, the jointly-operated BN, GBS and SEZ railways merged with BLS to form BLS Lötschbergbahn AG. The organisation was also changed, the company being now based around the three profit-focused core business of infrastructure, passenger traffic and cargo.On 15 May 2001, in order to secure their future, the BLS and SBB agreed on a new task-sharing arrangement. This was largely implemented as part of the timetable changes made on the 12 December 2004 when the BLS took over the running of the SBB's S-Bahn lines and with it, system responsibility for Bern's S-Bahn network, the second largest in the country. This was accompanied by the transfer of long-distance railway operations from the BLS to the SBB. Within the cargo sector the SBB assumed overall control for full-load traffic in Switzerland. Transit and block train traffic has been subject to competition since the signing of the 2001 agreement. The SBB became responsible for rail network management across Switzerland.
On 27 September 1992, the Swiss people voted with an overwhelming majority in favour of the NEAT Project (Neue Alpentransversale), also known as the “AlpTransit”. In voting "Yes" the Swiss people gave their approval for the construction of two transverse routes through the Alps, one at the Gotthard, the other at the Lötschberg. The original AlpTransit Lötschberg Project provided for two single bore tunnels between Frutigen and the Rhône valley, a distance of 41 km (25.5 mi). For financial reasons the tunnel length was shortened to 34.6 km (21.5 mi), and the greater part of one of the bores was only be constructed as a shell.
The new base line was inaugurated on the 15 June 2007 and full standard traffic will start with the new timetable on the 9 December 2007. In full operation trains will be able to travel through the Lötschberg Base Tunnel
Lötschberg Base Tunnel
The Lötschberg Base Tunnel is a railway tunnel on the BLS Lötschbergbahn's Lötschberg Line cutting through the Alps of Switzerland some below the existing Lötschberg Tunnel. It is currently the world's longest land tunnel and accommodates passenger and freight trains. It runs between Frutigen,...
at speeds of 160–200 km/h (99.4–124.3 mph). From the completion of NEAT and the opening of the new Lötschberg Base Tunnel, the BLS will be responsible for the operation of train services along the entire Lötschberg–Simplon route.
Passenger take over
In June 2006, following their respective Annual General Meetings and with the approval of the shareholders, the Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG and the BLS Lötschbergbahn AG were consolidated into the BLS AGBLS AG
BLS AG is a Swiss railway company created by the 2006 merger of BLS Lötschbergbahn and Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG. It is 55.8 % owned by the Canton of Berne, and 21.7 % by the Swiss Confederation. It has two main business fields: passenger traffic and infrastructure.BLS has a subsidiary BLS...
. The new undertaking belongs to the canton of Bern (55.8%), the Swiss Confederation (21.7%), further cantons and private persons (22.5%). The BLS AG was actually founded on 24 April 2006, when the cantons of Berne, Lucerne, Solothurn, Valais and Neuchâtel exchanged their BLS and RM shares for BLS AG ones.
As a result of the fusion of the companies, the BLS AG becomes the second biggest traffic undertaking in Swiss standard-gauge railways after the Swiss Federal Railways. The BLS AG operates regional traffic in an area which lies between the Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Lucerne and the Jura Mountains and the Simplon Massif. It is also responsible for the Bernese Suburban Railway (S-Bahn).
Route
Spiez
Spiez is a city in the Frutigen-Niedersimmental administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.-Geography:Spiez has an area of . Of this area, 38.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 29.1% is forested...
and the Lötschberg Tunnel
Lötschberg Tunnel
The Lötschberg Tunnel is a long railway tunnel on the Lötschberg Line, which connects Spiez and Brig at the northern end of the Simplon Tunnel cutting through the Alps of Switzerland. Its ends are at the towns of Kandersteg in the Canton of Berne and Goppenstein in the Canton of...
to Brig
Brig, Switzerland
Brig, officially Brig-Glis is a municipality in the district of Brig in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.The current municipality was formed in 1972 through the merger of Brig , Brigerbad and Glis.-History:...
, where it reconnects with the SBB
SBB-CFF-FFS
Swiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
network. It then enters the Simplon Tunnel
Simplon Tunnel
The Simplon Tunnel is an Alpine railway tunnel that connects the Swiss town of Brig with Domodossola in Italy, though its relatively straight trajectory does not run under Simplon Pass itself. It actually consists of two single-track tunnels built nearly 20 years apart...
Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
which it enters at Iselle di Trasquera. It then connects to the line to Milan. The line forms a key part of the Bern-Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
artery which the company operates jointly with the SBB. The company also operates extensive commuter services as part of the Bern S-Bahn
S-Bahn
S-Bahn refers to an often combined city center and suburban railway system metro in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark...
network. In 1994 the BLS moved 9.2 million passengers.
The BLS network operates trains over 245 km (152.2 mi) of standard gauge track, but the BLS actually owns only 115 km (71.5 mi). The whole network is electrified at 15 kV 16⅔ Hz.
Locomotives and multiple units
CLASS Re 4/4 (Re 425)| BLS No. | Name | UIC No. | Builders details | SLM No. | Built | Equipmt | Date /Notes. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 161 | Domodossola | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4452 | 1964 | Thyristor test unit 1968–1976 | |||
| 162 | Court | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4453 | 1965 | ||||
| 163 | Grechen | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4635 | 1966 | ||||
| 164 | Lengnau | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4636 | 1966 | ||||
| 165 | Moutier | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4637 | 1966 | ||||
| 166 | Aeschi | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4804 | 1969 | ||||
| 167 | Ausserberg | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4805 | 1969 | ||||
| 168 | Baltschieder | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4806 | 1969 | ||||
| 169 | Bönigen | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4872 | 1970 | ||||
| 170 | Brig-Glis | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4873 | 1970 | ETCS | |||
| 171 | Därligen | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4874 | 1970 | ETCS | |||
| 172 | Eggerberg | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4875 | 1970 | ETCS | |||
| 173 | Lötschental | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4876 | 1970 | ETCS | |||
| 174 | Frutigen | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4894 | 1972 | ETCS | |||
| 175 | Gampel | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4895 | 1972 | ETCS | |||
| 176 | Hohtenn | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4896 | 1972 | ETCS | |||
| 177 | Zweisimmen | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4897 | 1973 | ETCS | ex-SEZ | ||
| 178 | Schwarzenburg | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4898 | 1973 | ETCS | ex-GBS | ||
| 179 | Bern | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4899 | 1973 | ETCS | ex-BN | ||
| 180 | Ville de Neuchâtel | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 4900 | 1973 | ETCS | ex-BN | ||
| 181 | Interlaken | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5037 | 1974 | ETCS | |||
| 182 | Kandergrund | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5038 | 1974 | ETCS | |||
| 183 | Kandersteg | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5039 5153 |
1974 1979 |
ETCS | second carbody after avalanche | ||
| 184 | Krattigen | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5040 | 1975 | ETCS | |||
| 185 | Lalden | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5041 | 1975 | ETCS | |||
| 186 | Leissigen | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5042 | 1975 | ETCS | |||
| 187 | Mund | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5043 | 1975 | ETCS | withdrawn after collision 2007 | ||
| 188 | Naters | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5044 | 1975 | ETCS | |||
| 189 | Niedergesteln | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5045 | 1975 | ETCS | |||
| 190 | Raron | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5222 | 1982 | ETCS | ETCS equipment ex 187 | ||
| 191 | Reichenbach | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5223 | 1982 | Railvox | |||
| 192 | Spiez | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5224 | 1982 | Railvox | |||
| 193 | Steg | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5225 | 1983 | Railvox | |||
| 194 | Thun | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5226 | 1983 | Railvox | |||
| 195 | Unterseen | SLM/BBC/MFO/SAAS | 5227 | 1983 | Railvox | |||
Re 425 170-190 are fitted with ETCS and thus able to pull trains over NBS Mattstetten - Rothrist and through Lötschberg Base Tunnel
Lötschberg Base Tunnel
The Lötschberg Base Tunnel is a railway tunnel on the BLS Lötschbergbahn's Lötschberg Line cutting through the Alps of Switzerland some below the existing Lötschberg Tunnel. It is currently the world's longest land tunnel and accommodates passenger and freight trains. It runs between Frutigen,...
. Other Re 425 could act in MU as second or third engine and, if required, also behind an Re 465.
Re 425 191-195 were fitted with Railvox public address system and thus primarily used for
push-pull services. There are 6 driving trailers for passenger services. By December 2010 the use of such consists for additional trains of S-Bahn Bern ended. Five consists are in use around Spiez (2011).
Third field of use are the car shuttles through (old) Lötschberg Tunnel
Lötschberg Tunnel
The Lötschberg Tunnel is a long railway tunnel on the Lötschberg Line, which connects Spiez and Brig at the northern end of the Simplon Tunnel cutting through the Alps of Switzerland. Its ends are at the towns of Kandersteg in the Canton of Berne and Goppenstein in the Canton of...
. A total of 9 driving trailers is available for this purpose.
CLASS Re4/4 II
| BLS No. | Name | UIC No. | CFF/SBB No. | Builders details | SLM No. | Year Built | Date / Notes. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 501 | 420 501-9 | 11110 | SLM/SAAS/BBC/MFO | 4642 | 1966 | Ex-SBB/CFF,July 2004 | |
| 502 | 420 502-7 | 11117 | SLM/SAAS/BBC/MFO | 4649 | 1966 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2004 | |
| 503 | 420 503-5 | 11119 | SLM/SAAS/BBC/MFO | 4651 | 1966 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2004 | |
| 504 | 420 504-3 | 11123 | SLM/SAAS/BBC/MFO | 4655 | 1966 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2004 | |
| 505 | 420 505-0 | 11137 | SLM/SAAS/BBC/MFO | 4669 | 1966 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2004 | |
| 506 | 420 506-8 | 11142 | SLM/SAAS/BBC/MFO | 4674 | 1966 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2004 | |
| 507 | 420 507-6 | 11107 | SLM/BBC/MFO | 4639 | 1966 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2005, withdrawn 2009, 2010 scrapped | |
| 508 | 420 508-4 | 11102 | SLM/BBC/MFO | 4445 | 1964 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2005, withdrawn 2009, 2010 scrapped | |
| 509 | 420 509-2 | 11103 | SLM/BBC/MFO | 4446 | 1964 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2005, withdrawn 2009, 2010 scrapped | |
| 510 | 420 510-0 | 11104 | SLM/BBC/MFO | 4447 | 1964 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2005, withdrawn 2009, scrapped | |
| 511 | 420 511-8 | 11105 | SLM/BBC/MFO | 4448 | 1964 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2005, withdrawn 2009, 2010 scrapped | |
| 512 | 420 512-6 | 11106 | SLM/BBC/MFO | 4449 | 1964 | Ex-SBB/CFF,December 2005, withdrawn 2009, 2010 scrapped | |
| Class | TSI prefix | UIC No. | Builders details | SLM No. | Built | Equimt | Date /Notes. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Re 465 | 91 85 4 | 465 001 - 008 | SLM/ABB | 5638-5645 | 1994–1995 | ETCS | |
| Re 465 | 91 85 4 | 465 009 - 018 | SLM/ABB | 5733-5742 | 1996–1997 | ETCS | originally owned by SBB, now BLS |
| Re 485 | 91 85 4 | 485 001 - 020 | Bombardier | 2002–2004 | ETCS | owned by BLSC | |
| Re 486 | 91 85 4 | 486 501 - 510 | Bombardier | 2009 | owned by BLSC | ||
| RABe 525 | 94 85 7 | 525 001 - 038 | Bombardier/Alstom | 1998–2005 | 031 burnt out Dec 2010 | 037-038 ex-TRN | |
| RABe 535 | 94 85 7 | 535 101 - 121 | Bombardier/Alstom | 2008–2010 | "Lötschberger" | ||
| RBDe 565 | 94 85 7 | 565 721 - 742 | SWP/SIG/BBC | 1982–1992 | 730 burnt out Dec 2009 | ||
| RBDe 566 | 94 85 7 | 566 230 - 242 | SWP/SIG/BBC | 1984–1985 | ex-RM | ||
Abbreviations
- BBC = Brown, Boveri & CieBrown, Boveri & CieBrown, Boveri & Cie was a Swiss group of electrical engineering companies.It was founded in Baden, Switzerland, in 1891 by Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri who worked at the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. In 1970 BBC took over the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon...
- MFO = Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon
- SAAS = Société Anonyme des Ateliers de Sécheron, Geneva
- SLM = Swiss Locomotive and Machine WorksSwiss Locomotive and Machine WorksSwiss Locomotive and Machine Works were a railway equipment manufacturer based in Winterthur in Switzerland...
, Winterthur
Business activities
The BLS is engaged in the following activities:- Maintenance of the infrastructure used by the BLS,
- Passenger rail transportation
- Since a 1994 agreement with the SBB, the BLS has operated many suburban services in Bern, and runs regional services towards Neuchâtel, Luzern and Brig using SBB lines
- BLS was part of the consortium CisalpinoCisalpinoCisalpino AG was a railway company operating international trains between Switzerland and Italy connecting Basel, Schaffhausen, Zürich, Geneva, Milan, Venice, Trieste, Livorno, and Florence...
, together with SBB-CFF-FFS and TrenitaliaTrenitaliaTrenitalia is the primary train operator in Italy. Trenitalia is owned by Ferrovie dello Stato, itself owned by the Italian Government. It was created in 2000 following the EU directive on the deregulation of rail transport.-Passenger transport:...
. Later BLS left Cislapino, and in December 2009 Cisalpino ceased oeprations - Rail freight transportation via the BLS Cargo subsidiary (in 2002 870 million ton-kilometres of freight were conveyed)
- Rail transportation of accompanied cars through the Lötschberg tunnel
- Rail transportation of trucks between Switzerland and Italy via RAlpin SA (a BLS subsidiary), the SBB, and HupacHupacHupac is a railway company in Switzerland. Hupac's Shuttle Net has 108 intermodal trains per day across Europe. Hupac also offers a rolling highway from Basel to Lugano. In 2009, volumes carried fell by 13.5%, to 607,284 road consignments; but profit increased...
(a Swiss road-rail transporter company) - Lake transport ferries on Lakes Thun and Brienz.