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Voralpen Express

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Voralpen-Express
StadlerFLIRT3"Traverso" EMU, operating asVoralpen-Expresssince 2019, passing throughBollingen
Overview
Service typeInterRegio
First service1992
Current operator(s)SOB(since December 2013)
Former operator(s)SBB,SOB(until December 2013)
Route
TerminiSt. Gallen,SG
Luzern,LU
Stops12 (see route map)
Distance travelled125 kilometres (78 mi)
Average journey time2 hours 16 minutes
Service frequencyevery hour
Train number(s)2402 - 2442
On-board services
Class(es)First and Second Class
Seating arrangementsFirst Class carriage with panorama view (until 2019). Second class coach seating
Catering facilitiesVending machines
Technical
Rolling stocksee article
Track gauge1,435 mm(4 ft8+1⁄2in)
Electrification15 kV 16,7 Hz AC Overhead
Timetable number(s)600; 670; 870;

TheVoralpen-Express(VAE) is anamed trainconnecting small to medium-sized cities and villages inCentralandEasternSwitzerland,carrying this name since 1992. It is operated bySüdostbahn(SOB) and runs every hour as anInterRegio(IR) betweenSt. GallenandLucerne,bypassingZurich.Its name derives from the fact that it traverses thePrealps(German:Voralpen).

History

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The firstthrough trainsbetweenRomanshorn(Lake Constance) andArth-Goldaustarted in 1940 after theelectrificationof the Südostbahn line betweenRapperswiland Arth-Goldau. Romanshorn–Rapperswil had been under wires since 1926/31. The trains,fir greenMUscomposed of CFZe 4/4 and BCFZe 4/4 (both later calledABe 4/4)motor coachesandcoaches,were jointly operated byBodensee–Toggenburg-Bahn(BT),Südostbahn(SOB), and theSwiss Federal Railways(SBB CFF FFS). In 1944, BT addedbuffet carsto thetrainsets.In 1947, some trains continued from Arth-Goldau to Lucerne. In 1960, operation was changed topush-pullconfiguration with very powerful motor coaches (BDe 4/4). The trainsets were at this time painted in green and cream.

1982 brought theclock-face timetablewith a train Romanshorn–Lucerne every two hours, but also the end for buffet cars on this route. In 1991, BT and SOB bought inter-city coaches, model EW IV (Einheitswagen IV,Swiss standard coaches IV), to replace the push-pull sets. The nameVoralpen-Expressappeared for the first time in railway guides in 1992. In 1995, additional, unnamed trains every two hours operated between Romanshorn and Arth-Goldau, again with push-pull sets. After Revvivo coaches had been used for these trains from 1997 on, it was decided to sell the EW IV to Swiss Federal Railways and buy more Revvivos to allow an hourly push-pull trainset between Romanshorn and Lucerne. In 2001, BT and SOB merged into the newSOB,which reduced the number of participating companies to two.VAEran as anInterRegio(IR)express trainuntil 2013.

The concept changed on 15 December 2013. SOB became the sole operator ofVoralpen-Express,and the train service was limited to St. Gallen–Lucerne.VAEbecame a distincttrain category,indicated as such onplatform displays.To cope with the increasing number of passengers, trains at that time generally had seven coaches, which means that twolocomotivesor motor coaches were needed. This is due to the 50‰ (1:20)gradesbetweenPfäffikonand Arth-Goldau. Motive power was at each end, allowing a push-pull service withoutdriving trailers.

  • ABe 4/4 (formerly CFZe 4/4) motor coach with coaches at Biberbrugg station
    ABe 4/4 (formerly CFZe 4/4) motor coach with coaches at Biberbrugg station
  • Push-pull set with motor coach in green and cream livery on the Glatttal viaduct (Herisau)
    Push-pull set with motor coach in green and cream livery on the Glatttal viaduct (Herisau)
  • SLM Re 456 locomotive of BT (in green and cream livery) with SOB EW IV coaches near Biberbrugg
    SLM Re 456 locomotive of BT (in green and cream livery) with SOB EW IV coaches near Biberbrugg
  • Push-pull set composed of two motor coaches (head and tail) and Revvivo coaches arriving in Rapperswil
    Push-pull set composed of two motor coaches (head and tail) and Revvivo coaches arriving in Rapperswil
  • Vending machines inside of a now out of service second class Revvivo coach
    Vending machines inside of a now out of servicesecond classRevvivo coach

With the timetable change of 15 December 2019, the train category was updated toPanorama Express(PE), but because it caused confusion among passengers it was later changed again toIRVoralpen-Express.[3]The locomotive hauled trains (with white, green and bluelivery) were replaced byRABe 526EMUs. TheEMUsconsist of an eight car RABe 526 100/200 set, typeTraverso,with acopperand red livery (with black window frames and grey doors), running the whole route. This set includes a "bistro" car fitted with vending machines in the second class coach bordering the first class coaches. During peak-hours, the copper-red sets are each combined with a silver-red four car RABe 526 000 set (FLIRT or FLIRT3 model) on the section between Rapperswil and St. Gallen. The two sets arecoupled and uncoupled,respectively, in Rapperswil (portion working). The shorter set operates asS40ofZurich S-Bahnbetween Rapperswil andEinsiedeln.This allows passengers to travel between St. Gallen and Einsiedeln without changing trains.

The same EMUs also operate asTreno GottardobetweenLocarnoandZurich/Baselsince December 2020, and asAare LinthbetweenChurandBernsince December 2021.

  • Since 2019, Stadler FLIRT3 trains ("Traverso") operate as InterRegio Voralpen Express between Lucerne and St. Gallen
    Since 2019,StadlerFLIRT3trains ( "Traverso" ) operate asInterRegioVoralpen Expressbetween Lucerne and St. Gallen
  • View of the first class interior of Stadler FLIRT3 "Traverso"
    View of thefirst classinterior of Stadler FLIRT3 "Traverso"
  • View of the second class (family compartment) interior of Stadler FLIRT3 "Traverso"
    View of thesecond class(family compartment) interior of Stadler FLIRT3 "Traverso"
  • Stadler FLIRT3 "Traverso" eight car set (left) coupled with a four car set (FLIRT, right) at Schmerikon railway station
    Stadler FLIRT3 "Traverso" eight car set (left) coupled with a four car set (FLIRT, right) atSchmerikon railway station
  • Stadler FLIRT3 "Traverso" also operates as Treno Gottardo and Aare Linth named trains
    Stadler FLIRT3 "Traverso" also operates asTreno GottardoandAare Linthnamed trains

Route

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Re 446 locomotive with NPZ control trailer (used here as intermediate trailer) and Revvivo coaches driving along Lake Lucerne (Pilatus mountain in the background)
HistoricVoralpen-Expressset with two Re 456 locomotives (head and tail), pulling out of Biberbrugg towards Rothenthurm
Re 456 (head and tail) and Revvivo coaches passing over Wissbach Viaduct
The Sitter Viaduct (SOB) between Herisau and St. Gallen. A second railway bridge, theSitter Viaduct (SBB)on the Zurich-St. Gallen line, is visible in the background

TheVoralpen-Expressruns along the Alpine foothills, stopping at stations in theCantonsofLucerne,Schwyz,St. Gallen,andAppenzell Ausserrhoden.The track also passes throughSamstagernin theCanton of Zurich,butVAEdoes not stop at that station. In conjunction withtimetable changes,VAEservices were suspended to some stations, including the cessation of services between St. Gallen and Romanshorn in 2013, while a few new stops en route were also added (e.g., Meggen Zentrum). The lowest altitude en route is atSchmerikon(408 metres (1,339 ft)a.s.l.) and the highest atBiberegg(933 metres (3,061 ft) a.s.l.), nearRothenthurm.[4]The route is mostly asingle-track railway,with intermittentdouble-track railwaypresent in sections where trains cross regularly.

From St. Gallen to Lucerne, theVoralpen-Expressuses the following railway lines (or sections thereof):Bodensee–Toggenburg,Uznach–Wattwil,Rapperswil–Ziegelbrücke,Rapperswil–Pfäffikon,Pfäffikon–Arth-Goldau,GotthardandLucerne–Immensee.

Besides creating a tangential link on the southern edge of thegreater Zurich area,VAEis popular for the alpine and prealpine scenery.

Connections and tourism

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Several stations en route ofVoralpen-Expressare important junctions, offering timely connections due to thesynchronized Swiss timetable.The trains are used bycommuters(especially duringrush hour) andtouristsalike. The most important stations with connecting trains/busses, regular boat lines on the lakes, and nearby tourist destinations are:

Civil engineering works and scenery

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On its journey, theVoralpen-Expresspasses over a series ofviaductsand through severaltunnels.The mountainous route also parallels scenic lakes andmoors.Here are some noteworthy examples:

Travelling with theVoralpen-Expressalso offers scenic views on theAlpsand Prealps. Some notable peaks visible on the way arePilatus,Rigi,Mythen,Speer,Churfirsten,andSäntis.The route also crosses several creeks and rivers, among others theReuss,Biber,Alp,Sihl,Jona,Thur,andSitter.

Former rolling stock

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Former logo
SLMRe 456 with former SOB livery

Between 2013 and 2019, fourteenlocomotivesandmotor coachesformed seven pairs of motive power for theVoralpen-Express.

Count Vehicle Vehicle numbers Notes
4 Re 446 91 85 4 446 015–018 locomotives worked as pairs (head and tail) during peak-hours
6 Re 456 91 85 4 456 091–096 locomotives worked as pairs (head and tail) during peak-hours
4 RBDe 561 94 85 7 561 081–084 NPZ motor coaches worked as pairs (head and tail) during peak-hours

The Re 446 locomotives were purchaised fromSwiss Federal Railways(Re 4/4IV) in 1994 and 1996. The Re 456 locomotives were acquired byBTand named after towns along the former BT owend route. The different motive power vehicle types could not be combined. If less than five pairs were available,SOBleased aRe 420(Re 4/4II) from Swiss Federal Railways (in February 2014 it wasRe 421393), which could be used together with a Re 446.

Thirty-oneair-conditionedRevvivo coaches, 1997/99 rebuilts from EW I coaches (Einheitswagen I,Swiss standard coaches I), were the backbone of theVAEcoaching stock. Ten NPZ vehicles (1991/95) were later added to the stock to allow for enough capacity. Four older coaches were kept as a reserve, but the Revvivo prototype of 1995 (BR 748) had been withdrawn. The sets included first class coaches (A), bistro coaches with vending machines (BR), second class coaches (B), and part first part second classcontrol trailers(ABt).

Count Coach Coach numbers Notes
8 Revvivo-A 50 85 18-35 711–718
1 Bodan 50 85 17-35 719 ExSBBB 6000/BT B 350, rebuilt in 1991; reserve
16 Revvivo-B 50 85 20-35 721–736 Numbers 735–736 withSchlierenbogies
7 Revvivo-BR 50 85 20-35 741–747 Numbers 741–744 were ex BT AB 251–254; 1 coach was kept as reserve
6 NPZ-B 50 85 29-35 781–786 Built in 1991; operated as pairs
4 NPZ-ABt 50 85 80-35 181–184 Built in 1995; control trailers used as intermediate trailers
3 B EW I 50 85 20-35 753–754, 767 Ex BT (1967–68); number 767 was kept as reserve

Fivetrainsetswere needed for the daily operation, and a sixth set was available in Herisau as a reserve. It allowed to exchange the sets in order to clean and maintain them. The six sets were either formed from two locomotives with seven coaches:

  • Re–ABt–B–B–BR–A–B–B–Re (4 sets)

or with two motor coaches and six coaches:

  • RBDe–A–B–B–BR–A–B–RBDe (2 sets)

The seventh pair of locomotives was kept as an additional reserve. Thus, if one motor coach RBDe needed maintenance, an additional set with locomotives could have been formed.

While the coaches and motor coaches had the typical white, green and blueliveryand sported the formerVoralpen-Expresslogo, the locomotives were frequently used as mobileadvertising hoardingsor showed the SOB livery.

The Revvivo coaches were in use forVAEuntil December 2019. They were afterwards sold toLe Train des Mouttes(aheritage railway) inFranceandMÁVRail Tours inHungary.[5][6]The Re 446 locomotives were purchaised byEisenbahndienstleister GmbH(EDG),[7]while the Re 456 locomotives were sold toSihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn(SZU),Verein Depot Schienenfahrzeuge Koblenz(DSF), andBRM Investment.[8]

References

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  1. ^Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz.Cologne: Schweers + Wall. 2012. pp. 13–15, 24–25.ISBN978-3-89494-130-7.
  2. ^"Zürcher S-Bahn/S-Bahn St.Gallen/S-Bahn Bodensee"(PDF)(in German).Swiss Federal Railways.12 December 2021.Retrieved24 December2021.
  3. ^Info24:https:// info24news.net/voralpenexpress(in German)
  4. ^"Topographische Informationen − Voralpen-Express − SOB".
  5. ^SOBdirekt:https://direkt.sob.ch/news-detail/wo-sind-sie-geblieben(in German)
  6. ^SOBdirekt:https://direkt.sob.ch/themen/bahnwissen/die-wohl-wichtigsten-fahrten-der-revvivo-wagen(in German)
  7. ^Bahnonline.ch:https:// bahnonline.ch/3555/sob-verkaufte-ihre-4-lokomotiven-der-serie-re-446-an-die-edg/(in German)
  8. ^Bahnonline.ch:https:// bahnonline.ch/6600/sob-verkauft-je-zwei-re-456-an-szu-und-dsf/(in German)
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