Bill's Excellent Swiss Train & Tram Adventure

[bill937ca]

I recently came back from five day adventure in Switzerland. I have been on many mostly tram focused European adventures since 2011.

 

I flew from Toronto on Swissair and stayed in Zurich for three nights, one night in Basel and another night in Zurich before flying home. My Swiss trip had a greater rail component than any previous trip.

 

For getting around purchased a 6-day second-class Swiss Travel Pass.  Although pricey there is no need to be concerned with fare zones or buying tickets from fare machines.  The Swiss Travel Pass is good on SBB (Swiss Federal Railway) trains, trams, inclines, boats.  Alone in Zurich there are 37 operators.

 

Usually my photography is about 50% trams and 50% buildings and general sightseeing, but two days of steady rain curtailed building photography and sightseeing. I ended up doing far more tram riding and repeated visits to Zurich Hauptbahnhof (main train station).

 

My quest was to ride and photograph high-floor trains in Zurich which are becoming rarer and rarer as the march for accessibility marches on. I succeeded in riding three of the four groups I was targeting and photographing all four groups.

 

While I was there I located one hobby shop and passed on visiting  another because of its outlying location and the stormy weather. From Sunday noon until Tuesday noon there was two straight days of steady rain.  I picked up a Kato Bernina Express Souvenir Coach Api 1301 which doesn't seem to be available in Japan.

Kato #05250-9

Noch #7074061

 

My time in Zurich started with a quick 13 minute ride into the city on the IR75 (the first train that came along) from the airport. By 0730 I was in the city and checked into the hotel.

 

More to come.

 

Photo: Two SBB trains and a Deutsch Bahn train at Zurich HB.

Edited 9 hours ago by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

Zurich Hauptbahhof is the main train station in Zurich. For SBB trains there are 16 surface level tracks, 4 underground through tracks with two platforms and a further 4 underground tracks with two platforms used by S-Bahn trains.  On a workday 405,200 passengers pass through the station on over 3,000 trains. Its a great place to watch trains. Underground there were trains coming through about every 10-15 minutes.  On the main floor trains pulse every 30 minutes.

 

There has been a train station on this site since 1847. The current station with the triumphal arch dates from 1871. The current train shed was built in 1933 behind the 1871 trainshed, which is still there but used for food festival while I was in town.  The underground tracks were added in the 1980s and later.

 

SBB Station user stats https://reporting.sbb.ch/en/stations?=&years=1,4,5,6,7&scroll=2883&highlighted=

 

The Man in Seat 61 has a good article on Zurich HB with lots photos.  https://www.seat61.com/stations/zurich-hb.htm

 

For those who want to know where everything is SBB has a great three dimensional plan.  

https://plans.trafimage.ch/zuerich-hb?lang=en&layer=zurich_innenplan&x=683178.42&y=248017&z=19.98117604498825

 

Photos:

1. Looking across the concourse  on Tuesday morning.

2. Looking out along the tracks.

3. Across the tracks at a busy time. Thursday morning on arrival from Basel. All the electric locomotives was unusual.  Usually the place is full of EMUs.

 

 

[bill937ca]

I found a floorplan  of Zurich HB.

The open area to the right is the old station of 1871.  It is just open space now and used for special events like an annual Christmas market.

[EdF]

Really great live came of the approach to the station.

 

Zurich live cam

[bill937ca]

SBB has an excellent app that will show up coming departures and their departure time, track and load factor in first class (1) or second class (2) along with the travel time and arrival time. The examples below are for Zurich HB to Basel.  

 

Red indicates a full carriage.  There are no reservations in Switzerland apart from trains like TGV or ICE trains.

IR is Inter Regio

IC is Inter City

EC is Euro City...international, cross-border day trains connecting major European cities run by SBB

 

Edited Thursday at 02:03 PM by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

Time to check out some trains.  This is the Stadler Ee 922 shunter. They date from  2009-2015 and there are 25 of them.  Twelve are assigned to Zurich and another 6 to Basel.

 

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB_Ee_922

[bill937ca]

Here's an article from Tagesscahu, a news and public affairs program shared by three Swiss and German tv networks that compares the Swiss SBB to Germany's Deutsche Bahn. Key points:

 

While Switzerland spent €450 per capita in 2022, Germany spent just €114.

The federal debt brake also contains loopholes to ensure SBB's financial resources. 

"Parliamentary sessions are aligned with the timetable, because a large proportion of members of parliament travel by train.

Almost 93 percent of all SBB trains are on time. That means they're less than three minutes late. This works even in winter, when it snows. 

 

https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/unternehmen/bahn-schweiz-winter-schnee-sbb-100.html

 

 

 

Edited Thursday at 11:24 PM by bill937ca

[miyakoji]

Thanks Bill, I like the engines lined up at the physical end of the tracks.  Was there a cafe there?  I always thought such an arrangement should include a cafe, like a scene from a European movie.  I love those switchers too.  Wikipedia says they can do 62 mph.  Hmm…

[bill937ca]

Most SBB trains I encountered in Switzerland were double deck trains. There are InterCity and InterRegio versions.  The RABe 502 by Bombardier has been problematic as its tilting technology has not worked properly.  I read recent have complaints from riders that this shaking issue has never been resolved.  There are 23 sets with eight cars each.

 

German language Wikipedia notes:

After the first trains were delivered, the roll compensation system generated negative feedback from passengers and train crew. The shaking movements and the associated lateral acceleration were perceived as above-average, especially on the upper deck. A software update was intended to dampen these movements and increase ride comfort. However, passengers rated the increase in ride comfort as minimal. [ 28 ] In the meantime, the situation has improved through various modifications. [ 29 ] However, train crews continue to complain about the increased physical strain caused by prolonged work on the train. [ 30 ]

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB_RABe_502

 

Photos:

1. RABe 502 at Zurich HB.

2. Close of the registration numbers.

Edited Thursday at 11:57 PM by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

26 minutes ago, miyakoji said:

Thanks Bill, I like the engines lined up at the physical end of the tracks.  Was there a cafe there?  I always thought such an arrangement should include a cafe, like a scene from a European movie.  I love those switchers too.  Wikipedia says they can do 62 mph.  Hmm…

Yes.  Actually several cafes have a view of the train shed. II Baretto is on the concourse with a view in the general direction of track 3 way across the concourse. I had breakfast the final morning at Cafe Oscar but sat inside because of the raw weather.

 

Cafe Oscar and Action Burger are back in the old train shed with a view towards the 1933 train shed.

 

Brasserie Federal also has outside seating in the old 1871 trainshed, but it is further back.

 

https://plans.trafimage.ch/zuerich-hb?identifier=geo-cafe-oscar-8162&layer=zurich_innenplan&x=683157.72&y=248046.31&z=19.98117604498825

 

[bill937ca]

Heading to Basel.

 

Wednesday was my day to head to Basel for one night.   I took the IR36 to Basel.  It runs every 30 minutes and takes just over an hour to arrive at Basel SBB.  Basel actually has two main train stations, the Swiss station at Centralbahnplatz and the Deutsche Bahn station at Basel Bad.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basel_SBB_railway_station

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basel_Badischer_Bahnhof

 

As is typical my IR36 (Inter Regio) was due to arrive at 8.52am and depart at 9.08am, a span of 13 minutes.  Indeed it was on time.  There are five stops on the way to Basel.  I will post photos from the train during the trip later.

 

Photo:

IR36 arriving at Zurich HB.

[bill937ca]

More information about SBB.

 

Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian and Romansh.

 

Swiss Federal Railways rolling stock is labeled with initials of its three official names: SBB CFF FFS. The official English abbreviation is SBB.

SBB - German

CFF - French

FFS - Italian

 

The system is 100% electrified and the only such national system in the world.

 

Only the Japanese travel more by train.

 

From the Federal Office of Transport Fact Sheet:

 

Modal split in freight  transport
The railways play a particularly important role in transporting freight across the Alps. In 2022, around 73% of all goods crossed the Swiss Alps by rail, and 27% by road. Rail accounts for 38% of all freight transport in Switzerland. 

 

Direct transport and clock-face timetable
Switzerland‘s ‚national direct transport‘ system, in which just one ticket is needed for a journey no matter how many transport companies are involved, is unique in Europe. The system allows the use of travelcards such as the GA or Half-Fare Travelcard, which cover practically the entire Swiss public transport network.

 

Another important element is the ‚clock-face‘ timetable, involving public transport connections at regular intervals (e.g. every 30 minutes) and good connections at transport hubs.

 

More info on Swiss passenger trains from the Man in Seat 61:

• Swiss domestic journeys don't need to be pre-booked, trains cannot 'sell out', regular full-price tickets are available in unlimited numbers, good for any train that day.  For any Swiss domestic journey you can just turn up, buy a ticket at the station and hop on the next train.
• Seat reservation is not even possible on most Swiss trains, you just turn up, buy a ticket, hop on and find any empty seat.  However, it's possible to reserve a seat on some longer distance trains for a small fee if you really want to.
• The only exceptions where seat reservation is compulsory are a handful of panoramic tourist-orientated trains such as the Bernina Express, Glacier Express or Golden Pass Panoramic trains.  But regular trains on the same routes, or even in some cases regular cars attached to the same train, don't need reservation, just an open ticket.

Edited 10 hours ago by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

Now the S-Bahn network. There are 32 lines in the Zurich S-Bahn network. Of those 32 lines 31 run through Zuirch's main station. The S-Bahn will get you to work, take you to or from the airport. All services operate every 30 minutes with some lines doubling up for 15 minute frequencies. There is also the Forchbahn interurban lines S18 which is part of the S-Bahn network.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zurich_S-Bahn

 

These trains in the photos are RABe 514 double deck commuter sets.  There are 74 first class seats, 304 second class seats in a 100 meter four-car train.  These sets are frequently doubled up. S-Bahn sets are red and white with blue roofs. The lower level of one of cars of each set has a very generous provision for baby carriages and bicycles.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB_RABe_514

 

The photos were taken at Zürich Tiefenbrunnen, Bahnhof at the south end of the VBZ tram and trolleybus network on the east shore of Lake Zurich.

Edited 19 hours ago by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

On the return trip from Basel I took the IR37 which was simply the first train I encoutered heading for Zurich. It takes a different route than the IR36 and the travel time is comparable.

 

Photos are on arrival at Zurich and inside the lower level coach.

 

[chadbag]

The one time I was in Basel I took a French train so ended up at the Basel SBB Bh.   I was in Offenburg for a few hours and then took a train to Strasbourg / Straßburg and took the train from Strasbourg to Basel where I spent a few hours and then a train to Bern (actually Zollikofen).  That's because that was my actual destination where I had a bed waiting and an early morning appointment the next day. This was all 35 years ago.  So it was all loco hauled normal wagons back then.

 

I'd love to go ride the rails in Switzerland and visit the various places.  I've been in Zürich and/or Bern a few times but it was all back in the early 90s.  I've gotten a bunch of late model Swiss locomotives plus the RhB stuff from KATO as well.  So I need to go see the real ones.  I'd like some of the IC/IR stuff but Euro models have gotten so €€€€

 

Thanks for the pics Bill

Edited 17 hours ago by chadbag

[bill937ca]

I came across SBB RABe 501 High Speed train at Zurich HB.  The RABe 501 is another Stadler product with 117 first class seats and 286 second class seats for a total of 403 passengers in an eleven car train.  

 

As of December 2020, Giruno units operate services from Basel and Zürich to Chiasso and Lugano. Services between Zurich and Milan have also operated since 12 August 2020, and have later expanded to Venice, Genoa and Bologna.[24]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB_RABe_501

 

All photos were taken at Zurich HB.

Edited 2 hours ago by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

A few more train shots at Zurich HB.

 

 

Edited 9 hours ago by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

On 5/15/2025 at 7:30 PM, miyakoji said:

Thanks Bill, I like the engines lined up at the physical end of the tracks.  Was there a cafe there?  I always thought such an arrangement should include a cafe, like a scene from a European movie.  I love those switchers too.  Wikipedia says they can do 62 mph.  Hmm…

 

There's the cafe right out on the concourse on the left of the photo and the end of one of tracks on the right. The stuff dreams are made of!!!!

 

[bill937ca]

Zurich has 29 railway stations. I have never seen a place with so many impressive stations.  This Stadelhofen one of the first stations outside of Zurich HB. Lines coming here are running on the east side of finger shaped Lake Zurich.  The SBB station is served by 9 SBB S-Bahn lines and two additional peak hour lines.  Outside on Stadelhofenplatz are the interurbans of the S18 Forchbahn line and VBZ tram lines 8, 11 and 15.  At the far end of the square further VBZ tram lines 2 and 4 running down the east side of the lake to Tiefenbrunnen.  The major Bellevue tram hub is only about 4 blocks away.

 

Like many SBB stations and VBZ tram hubs, Stadelhofen Station has a modern and attractive travel centers where tickets and passes can be purchased.

 

The overhead signs indicate what a busy place this is.  Along with many stations another trait of Zurich train lines is lots of tunnels.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zurich_Stadelhofen_railway_station

Edited 9 hours ago by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

In one day I did five SBB train stations in Zurich. The main Zurich HB, Bahnhof Enge, Stadelhofen, Tiefenbrunnen and Wiedikon.

 

Wiedikon is an impressive neighborhood station. It is west of the main core on tram lines 9 and 14.  Outside the station is a bus terminal for VBZ and PostBus lines from outlying communities.  In the age of ticket machines the ticket concourse remains viable with a Kkiosk convenience shop and a expresso shop.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zurich_Wiedikon_railway_station

 

While I was there an intercity train arrived and I saw people arriving with suitcases. As far as I know this is only a S-Bahn station. Perhaps this was a private hire train. I can't imagine that type of train being accommodated at busy Zurich HB. It remained at the platform for quite a while I photographed trams and buses at street level.

 

The glass walled building in the background of the train platform photos is a large tram depot.  It covers several blocks and at the top end the city has built cooperative apartments over the tram depot.  More later.

 

 

SBB intercity train in the foreground and a S-Bahn train in the background.  The beige building in the background is the section of the tram depot with coop apartments over that section of the tram depot.

 

Before the intercity train arrived from the top end of the station. After this station, the trains go back into tunnels.

Edited 4 hours ago by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

The very common SBB Re 420 electric locomotives were produced over a period of 21 years, from 1964 to 1985.  It is the largest series of locomotives on the Swiss Federal Railways and they are the most common type of locomotive in Switzerland.  They were used for passenger services alone or in pairs throughout Switzerland, but as of 2024 these workhorses are mainly in freight traffic.  I the photos I got at Zurich HB I believe were in shunting duty.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB_Re_420

 

First three photos were taken at Zurich HB and the final photo from the train enroute to Basel.

Edited 3 hours ago by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

The day I took the photos of the lineup of electric locomotives, it was dominated by SBB Re 460 locomotives.  These are mainly used for long-distance passenger trains. There are 119 of the Re 460.

 

Wikipedia notes:

The Lok 2000-family locomotives are the last mainline locomotives to be quasi fully developed and produced by Swiss companies. Locomotive construction in Switzerland has since been largely discontinued for economic reasons. Only Stadler Rail still manufactures shunting and rack railway locomotives in the country.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB_Re_460

 

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/SBB_Re_460

Edited 3 hours ago by bill937ca

[bill937ca]

I did get into one of the two model train shops I had targeted for a visit.  This was Zuri-Tech GmbH at Stampfenbachstrasse 14 within walking distance of the train station.

 

From the Central tram hub one stop east of Zurich HB you walk north on Stampenbachstrasse.  The store is on the right side of the street.  

 

While I was there I got a Kato/Noch Bernina Express Souvenir Coach Api 1301. I will photograph it tomorrow.

[bill937ca]

One of my key inspirations for my European tram adventures was a 1976 ERA Headlights article Why Not a European Vacation? written by the late John Bromley.  John was a long time member of the Toronto Transportation Society, a group focused on buses and streetcar operations as I am. John recommended eating in train stations and this was the first time I have done this.

 

The Man in Seat 61 recommended a schnitzel & fries or bratwurst & rösti and decent beer at the Brasserie Federal on the north side of the main concourse. As this was the type of food I wanted to try I was all in.  Its not cheap, but nothing is in Switzerland.

 

Third photo is after my model train store adventure.

Edited 2 hours ago by bill937ca