Forchbahn
Encyclopedia
The Forchbahn is a gauge narrow-gauge (Schmalspurbahn) light railway in the canton of Zürich
, linking central Zürich (Zürich Stadelhofen railway station) to the eastern suburbs near Esslingen
via Forch
. The name is often abbreviated to just FB, which also appears on the trains. Locals call the train "Auntie Frieda" ("Tante Frieda").
Between 1973 and 1976 a tunnel was built under Zumikon
to reduce noise pollution in the town. The Forchbahn has two adjacent underground stops: Zumikon and Maiacher.
In 1976, a regular 15-minute train frequency was introduced. This is now standard throughout the daytime between Zürich
and Forch
. During rush hours, the 15-minute frequency is extended to the whole route. There is now a night Forchbahn as well with an hourly frequency, from 1 AM to 4 AM.
Projected extensions to Zürich Hauptbahnhof and Wetzikon
were under consideration as early as 1979. However, they have yet to become reality.
In 1990, the line was added to the ZVV transportation network. Forchbahn is providing the line S18 of the S-Bahn Zürich, sharing the tracks between Zürich Stadelhofen station and Rehalp with Zürich trams
.
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
, linking central Zürich (Zürich Stadelhofen railway station) to the eastern suburbs near Esslingen
Esslingen, Switzerland
Esslingen is a village in the municipality of Egg, Switzerland, in the canton of Zürich. It is located in the Pfannenstiel region, approximately 15 km southeast of Zürich. In the local dialect it is called Esslinge.The population is 1565...
via Forch
Forch
Forch is a village and a mountain pass located in the municipalities of Küsnacht and Maur in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland.- Geography :Forch is located approximately in the southeast of Zürich, nearby Zumikon and Maur...
. The name is often abbreviated to just FB, which also appears on the trains. Locals call the train "Auntie Frieda" ("Tante Frieda").
History
It opened on November 27, 1912, with the trip taking 67 minutes. By 2002, this had been reduced to just 36 minutes, partly due to new rolling stock.Between 1973 and 1976 a tunnel was built under Zumikon
Zumikon
Zumikon is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland. It is located in the Pfannenstiel region.-History:...
to reduce noise pollution in the town. The Forchbahn has two adjacent underground stops: Zumikon and Maiacher.
In 1976, a regular 15-minute train frequency was introduced. This is now standard throughout the daytime between Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and Forch
Forch
Forch is a village and a mountain pass located in the municipalities of Küsnacht and Maur in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland.- Geography :Forch is located approximately in the southeast of Zürich, nearby Zumikon and Maur...
. During rush hours, the 15-minute frequency is extended to the whole route. There is now a night Forchbahn as well with an hourly frequency, from 1 AM to 4 AM.
Projected extensions to Zürich Hauptbahnhof and Wetzikon
Wetzikon
Wetzikon is a municipality in the district of Hinwil in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Wetzikon has an area of . Of this area, 42.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 17.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 27.9% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
were under consideration as early as 1979. However, they have yet to become reality.
In 1990, the line was added to the ZVV transportation network. Forchbahn is providing the line S18 of the S-Bahn Zürich, sharing the tracks between Zürich Stadelhofen station and Rehalp with Zürich trams
Zürich trams
Trams make an important contribution to public transport in the city of Zurich in Switzerland. The tram network serves most city neighbourhoods, and is the backbone of public transport within the city, albeit supplemented by the inner sections of the Zurich S-Bahn, along with urban trolleybus and...
.
Stations
- Zürich Stadelhofen
- Zürich Kreuzplatz (HottingenHottingen (Zürich)Hottingen is a quarter in the district 7 in Zurich.It was formerly a municipality of its own, having been incorporated into Zurich in 1893.The quarter has a population of 10,100 distributed on an area of 5.05 km²....
quarter) - Zürich Hegibachplatz
- Zürich Balgrist (Weinegg quarter)
- Zürich Rehalp
- Waldburg (ZollikonZollikonZollikon is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Zollikon has an area of . Of this area, 21.2% is used for agricultural purposes, while 37.7% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 40.8% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
) - Spital Zollikerberg
- Zollikerberg
- Waltikon
- ZumikonZumikonZumikon is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland. It is located in the Pfannenstiel region.-History:...
- Maiacher
- Neue Forch
- ForchForchForch is a village and a mountain pass located in the municipalities of Küsnacht and Maur in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland.- Geography :Forch is located approximately in the southeast of Zürich, nearby Zumikon and Maur...
- Scheuren
- Neuhaus bei Hinteregg
- Hinteregg
- EggEgg, SwitzerlandEgg is a municipality in the district of Uster in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.-Geography:Egg has an area of . Of this area, 58.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 23.2% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 18.1% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
- Langwies
- Emmat
- EsslingenEsslingen, SwitzerlandEsslingen is a village in the municipality of Egg, Switzerland, in the canton of Zürich. It is located in the Pfannenstiel region, approximately 15 km southeast of Zürich. In the local dialect it is called Esslinge.The population is 1565...