All Switzerland articles – Page 4
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NewsWinner of 510-train framework contract confirmed
SWITZERLAND: The Federal Administrative Court has rejected Alstom’s challenge to the decision by Swiss Federal Railways, Thurbo and RegionAlps to award Stadler a framework contract for the supply of up to 510 electric multiple-units. The tendering process began in May 2020, with SBB and its two ...
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NewsStreet-running railway goes underground
SWITZERLAND: Chemin de fer Lausanne-Echallens-Bercher’s 1 km tunnel from the underground Lausanne-Flon terminus to Lausanne-Chauderon has been extended by 1·7 km to Union-Prilly, replacing a street-running section of single track line along Avenue d’Echallens. The double-track tunnel has been built to increase ...
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NewsBOB park-and-ride EMUs to relieve valley roads
SWITZERLAND: Berner Oberland-Bahnen has announced a SFr66m order for six Stadler ABeh 4/8 three-car electric multiple units to enter service in winter 2025-26. The order will enable a 15-min headway service to be provided at the proposed Matten station between Interlaken Ost and Wilderswil, where a ...
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In depthTrack Maintenance: Sittertobel renovation improves track forces
Schweizerische Südostbahn worked with industry partners including Getzner Werkstoffe to renovate its historic Sittertobel viaduct and install a more optimised track structure. The benefits of the changes have been quantified in series of tests assessing the rail deflection generated by passing trains.
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NewsNarrow gauge EMUs enter service
SWITZERLAND: Chemin de Fer Nyon-Saint-Cergue-Morez has put into service the first two of six additional electric multiple-units being supplied by Stadler. NStCM ordered an initial four ABe4/8 two-car 1·5 kV DC metre-gauge EMUs in 2009, which entered service from December 2015. It ...
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NewsElectric loco refurbishment programme completed
SWITZERLAND: Swiss Federal Railways has completed a five-year programme to refurbish its fleet of 119 Re460 electric locomotives. The 230 km/h multi-purpose locos rated at 6·1 MW were supplied by SLM and ABB in 1992-96. They are currently used to haul EW IV single-deck and IC2000 ...
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NewsTwo options to develop wagonload freight
SWITZERLAND: Two options to determine the future of the wagonload freight business are to be analysed further with a view to the government setting the direction of future policy later this year. Rail currently handles about 25% of all freight traffic in Switzerland, but it has ...
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NewsMountain railway trains enter service
SWITZERLAND: Mountain railway and cable car operator Rigi Bahnen officially unveiled its new Stadler rack EMUs on April 7, with the first train entering passenger service the following day. Equipped with the Riggenbach rack technology, the 1·5 kV DC Bhe 4/6 EMUs will initially be used ...
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Metro Report InternationalLimmattalbahn light rail vehicle delivered
SWITZERLAND: Aargau Verkehr has taken delivery of the first of eight Stadler Tramlink Be6/8 light rail vehicles for the Limmattalbahn project to the west of Zürich. The metre gauge LRVs were procured jointly with Baselland Transport. They are 44·3 m long, with ...
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NewsWengernalpbahn locomotive delivered
SWITZERLAND: Wengernalpbahn has taken delivery of the first of three Hem 4/4 narrow-gauge electro-diesel locomotives that it ordered from Stadler Bussnang in October 2019 at a cost of SFr13·5m for use on the Wengen Shuttle service. The first locomotive was delivered on ...
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NewsPortable brake force measurement device
SWITZERLAND: Measurement device specialist Kistler has developed a highly portable device for measuring brake force on trains. Kistler developed the BFMS for staff at SBB’s maintenance depots in Oberwinterthur where the operator was keen to optimise the brake force measurement process. The device comprises four 9303A1B ...
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Metro Report InternationalAutomatic incident detection system for Swiss level crossings
SWITZERLAND: Nokia has partnered with Schweizer Electronics to deploy its Scene Analytics technology to improve level crossing safety on Baselland Transport’s network. Nokia Scene Analytics monitors level crossings in real time using computer vision and artificial intelligence to detect any foreign objects on or near the ...
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In depthSwitzerland: Timetable recast in Luzern could add capacity
The congested terminus at Luzern is one of the main infrastructure bottlenecks preventing an increase in services on the busy lines in central Switzerland. Reshaping the timetable pattern to make the most of the two-track approach to the terminus from the north could free up more paths to generate up to a 40% increase in capacity.
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NewsGauge-changing panorama coaches ordered
SWITZERLAND: Montreux-Oberland Bahn has awarded Stadler a SFr12m contract to supply four low-floor gauge-changing panorama coaches for the future Goldenpass Express service between Montreux and Interlaken. The order is being financed by MOB with the support of the cantons of Bern, Vaud and Fribourg and the ...
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Metro Report InternationalBLT signs contract for 25 TINA trams
SWITZERLAND: Baselland tram operator BLT has formally awarded Stadler a SFr125m contract to supply 25 TINA trams. Stadler had been named preferred bidder in February. The contract signed on November 12 followed agreement on the vehicle specifications, together with the confirmation of funding from the federal ...
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NewsUetlibergbahn electrification conversion planned under SZU modernisation programme
SWITZERLAND: Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn has unveiled a phased programme of infrastructure enhancements and standardisation to complement its fleet renewals, paving the way for a more intensive service to operate over its two routes west of Zürich.
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NewsTunnel to enable double-tracking of Neuchâtel – Biel/Bienne line
SWITZERLAND: Work has begun to double the last single-track section of the Neuchâtel – Biel/Bienne line, following approval for construction of the 2 130 m long Ligerz tunnel which will replace the existing alignment on the shore of Lake Biel. Work to ...
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NewsAutomated brake test system development completed
EUROPE: Austrian company PJM has completed the technical development of an automated brake testing system which it envisaged could save up to 45 min when preparing a 500 m long freight train. The system has been extensively tested on 200 SBB Cargo wagons, and approvals are ...
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NewsStadler selected to supply up to 510 EMUs to Swiss operators
SWITZERLAND: Stadler has been selected as the winner of the ‘largest tender in Swiss rail history’. The framework contract covers the supply of up to 510 Flirt electric multiple-units to Swiss Federal Railways, Thurbo and RegionAlps, with a firm order for an initial 286 units worth ...
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NewsNEAT completion boosts rail’s share of transit freight
SWITZERLAND: Rail’s share of the north-south transit freight market reached its highest level for 25 years in the first half of this year, according to the Federal Office for Transport.