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22.09.2020: Temporary change of web domain
On account of temporary problems with the web domain proaktiva.ch, I am temporarily moving this newslog onto the domain proaktiva.eu .
The full (temporary) web address is:
www.proaktiva.eu/tram/zurich/newslog/newslog.html
In the meantime this page will remain as is but not be updated. Please use the above link to see the current version (if you are on the proaktiva.ch domain).
I hope to resolve the problem shortly.
08.09.2020: Ceneri Base Tunnel opens
The 15.5km base tunnel through Mount Ceneri (in the canton of Ticino) opened on 4th September. This is a transformational link in the Swiss rail network completing the new cross-Alpine link (NEAT), of which the Gotthard Base Tunnel (opened on 1st June 2016) was the largest component.
08.09.2020: Liechtenstein S-Bahn rejected
90 million EUR plans to create an S-Bahn in Liechtenstein with cross-border services to Switzerland and Austria, were rejected by 62.3 percent of voters in a referendum on 30th August.
08.09.2020: Flexity not yet in service
Inofficial predictions that Flexity would debut on route 11 yesterday did not come to fruition.
08.09.2020: Zürich's first Flexity
As we eagerly await the apperarance of a Flexity tram in passenger service, it is interesting to reminisce that it will not be the first Flexity to carry passengers in Zürich, or even on route 11. That honour goes to Augsburg 882 which spend two weeks on demonstration on route 11 from 7th to 20th June 2010. That this is now more than 10 years ago reflects on the huge delay in the acquisition process.
More pictures here.
03.09.2020: Flexity in service on Monday
Flexity is expected to deput on route 11 on Monday (7th September).
31.08.2020: Moscow trolleybus RIP
Sad news from Moscow. What was not too long ago one of Europe's largest trolleybus systems, was closed down on 25th August.
28.08.2020: Mirage back in service
The Mirage coupled set (taken out of service due to pneumatic/brake problems earlier this month) is reported as back in service (typical timings here).
28.08.2020: Mirage and Karpfen in Vinnitsa
Several contributors on bahnforum.ch have been sharing recent photos of the ex-Zürich trams in the Ukrainian city of Vinnitsa.
One of the contributors also mentions that according to Vinnitsa staff, they are seeking to acquire VBZ's Tram 2000s when these become available.
28.08.2020: Limmattalbahn, final tram design revealed
The final design of the Stadler trams for Limmattalbahn has been released. The eight trams are being built in Stadler's Valencia works. The new line will open in December 2022.
28.08.2020: Limmattalbahn to Baden, the film
While on the topic of Limmattalbahn, here is a film published on the website of limmattalerzeitung.ch along the proposed future extension of Limmattalbahn beyond the Killwangen terminus of the phase presently under construction, going on via Wettingen into Baden. Click ... (more)
28.08.2020: Depot Hard
Found online, this artist's impression of the new residential block to be built at Hard Depot (Escher-Wyss-Platz). On the left is the present building.
Morger Partner Architekten, Basel
25.08.2020: Minor photo update
I am uploading a small and rather eclectic mix of recent photos on different topics.
11.08.2020: Depot Hard rebuilding
The rebuilding of Depot Hard (that is the depot by Escher-Wyss-Platz) will lead to total closure of the depot for trams from January 2021 for the duration of the work. This will lead to a pinch in terms of ... (more)
10.08.2020: Shunting the Swissmill siding
A fascinating youtube clip showing shunting on the street running siding to the Swissmill, including the crossing of tram tracks at Escher-Wyss-Platz and an environment not expecting a heavy train. The siding is shunted several times daily on weekdays.
10.08.2020: Schaffhausen: Battery bus instead of trolleybus
Schaffhausen's trolleybus system has been endangered before. But now it seems that conventional trolleybus operation will soon be a thing of the past. The trolleybus fleet has recveived similar modifications to the Zürich fleet with larger batteries permitting a ... (more)
10.08.2020: ÖBB to order 20 further night trains
Back to the topic of night trains, ÖBB are to order another 20 night trains, in addition to the 13 already on order from Siemens. These will probably replace present rolling stock.
09.08.2020: The railway siding that crossed a motorway on the level
A recent discussion on bahnforum.ch reminisces on an interesting feature of the old Gotthard railway line. The Ritom hydro power station is located close to the southern end of the Gotthard tunnel not far from Airolo, and was built in ... (more)
08.08.2020: Tram features in zoo advert (subtitles)
On popular demand, the same clip, now with English subtitles.
08.08.2020: Tram features in zoo advert
Rather off-topic, but an amusing sketch with the comedians Giacobbo and Müller in an zoo advert reminiscing on how easy it is to get to Africa - by tram.
08.08.2020: Routemaster bus at Zürich Zoo
It has (regretably) been many years since I last visited Zürich's Zoo, but while googling the topic to find the above clip I came across pictures of an RTL routemaster bus - within the zoo grounds. The bus immedaitely ... (more)
07.08.2020: Mirage presently unavailable
Due to a brake problem on 1674, the mirage coupled set is presently not working on route 13. On 5th, 6th and 7th August it was substituted by other trams.
07.08.2020: Alstom's Bombardier Transportation acquisition approved
The European Commission has approved the Acquisition of Bombardier Transportation by Alstom. Conditions include the divestment of certain Bombardier designs including the Zefiro high-speed train (jointly developed with Hitachi) and the Talent 3 family of multple units. Alstom must ... (more)
06.08.2020: Night train developments, some clouds and a lot of silver lining
The last few months have seen numerous developments on the night train scene. Although many services were temporarily suspended due to the corona virus, these have mostly resumed and, with growing concerns over the environemtal imapct of flights, there ... (more)
06.08.2020: All change on Waldenburgerbahn
Waldenburgerbahn (Liestal- Waldenburg) will soon be regauged from 750mm to meter gauge. The present tram 2000 based trains will be replaced by Stadler Tramlinks. The line will be closed for total reconstruction from 6th April 2021 to 10th December ... (more)
05.08.2020: Crocodile locomotive finally returns to Oerlikon
A dream finally came true. The SBB crocodiles are among the most iconic of all Swiss locomotives. 51 were built between 1919 and 1927 for the electrification of the Gotthard railway. With their long snouts, large wheels, steam-engine-like coupling rods ... (more)
04.08.2020: Old Polybahn car finds new home
The surving 1889 car of the original Polybahn funicular, which has been leading an errant life since its withdrawal in 1996, and finally threatened with scrapping, has seen an unexpected upturn in its fortunes. The car is not only ... (more)
04.08.2020: Forchbahn in Madagascar
Some pictures of the ex-Forchbahn cars awaiting their uncertain future in Madagascar can be seen on Franz Stadelmann's photo gallery. More about the Forchbahn project in Madagascar by the same author can be read on priori.ch. Despite sitting in ... (more)
04.08.2020: Still awaiting third flexity
The recent post suggesting the imminent arrival of the third Flexity in Zürich turned out to have been a false alarm.
30.07.2020: No more flags for special days?
Is a fine tradition threatened by health and safety concerns? Zürich's trams are traditionally decorated with flags on special days. But on the approaching 1st August Swiss national holiday, trams will have to run without.
30.07.2020: Third Flexity arriving
According to bahnforum.ch the third Flexity is being delivered today (Thursday 30th July).
Update: this was a false alarm.
30.07.2020: Flexity in service soon?
According to a bahnforum.ch item dated 17th July, the first Flexity, 4001, should debut in passenger service on route 11 on 30th August. However, this news is from an informal source and may also be outdated. Other sources suggest ... (more)
30.07.2020: Mirage still in service
The Mirage double set (borrowed from the tram museum on account of VBZ's shortage of trams) is still in service on route 13. The typical schedule (Monday to Friday) is depart Depot 8 (Oerlikon) circa 15:15, Salersteg in direction ... (more)
30.07.2020: Ex BLT trams on Thüringerwaldbahn
Ex-BLT trams are entering service on Thüringerwaldbahn in Germany. The headlight cluster is being modified to suit German requirements. It appears the BLT livery is being retained with the red stripe being replaced by blue.
04.04.2020: Trolleybuses on route 83 update
Delivery of new trolleybuses is proceeding at pace, with 204 being reported in service. There has been some doubt over the precise number of new vehicles being delivered, with earlier sources saying eight, and more recent ones saying nine, although ... (more)
31.03.2020: Trolleybuses on route 83
Although the occasional rare sighting of number 183 on route 83 has not been unknown, it is now official that the route is now being converted to trolleybus and that the eight new trolleybuses (200-207) presently being delivered are ... (more)
30.03.2020: Forchbahn still waiting in Madagascar
A contribution on bahnforum.ch reports on a visit by member Cyrill to the railway workshops of Antananarivo in Madagascar, with photographs of the ex-Forchbahn cars and also the ex-Trogenerbahn unit. They are still in surprisingly good condition despite having ... (more)
18.03.2020: Corona virus restrictions
Restrictions in connection with the Corona virus are getting increasingly drastic. All regular railways within Switzerland are still operating, but in many cases with reduced frequency. Ridership is down to about 10 percent of normal levels. Tourist railways have ... (more)
11.03.2020: Second Flexity approaching
Further to today's earlier report on the delivery of the second Flexity car today, the tram is reported as currently being on a motorway car park on the German side of the border somewhere to the north of Basel.
11.03.2020: Flexity on Glattalbahn
With testing of the first Flexity ongoing, 4001 is now wandering beyond the core VBZ network and welcomed on Glattalbahn.
11.03.2020: Second Flexity to touch down tonight
The second Flexity tram is due to arrive tonight.
10.03.2020: VBZ and Coronavirus
VBZ has announced measures to reduce risk from the Corona virus. Among others, as from tomorrow (11th March) doors will be opened at all stops, avoiding the need for passengers to touch push buttons. To protect staff, the window bewteen ... (more)
09.03.2020: Swisstrolley5 arrives
The first of nine new Hess Swisstrolley5 is now in Zürich. It carries the number 200. The new trolleybuses will be used to permit conversion of route 83 to trolleybus operation. This conversion will not involve the construction of ... (more)
09.03.2020: RBS mandarinli leaves for Madagascar
I missed this one previously, but the project to re-use the ex-RBS Mandarinli in Madagascar is getting serious. According to bahnonline.ch, number 60 was loaded onto a low-loader lorry at Bätterkinden on 3rd February. Sister vehicle, 59, is taking ... (more)
06.03.2020: Rosengartentunnel, what was it all about?
It is almost a month ago that the Rosengarten tunnel was rejected by voters in a cantonal referendum. As is often the case after such clear no votes, the topic goes quiet for a while. In Swiss politics, pragmatism ... (more)
05.03.2020: Night trains world map
A website mapping the night trains of the world, zoomable to a detail level.
04.03.2020: Trolleybuses for Berlin?
It is often implied that trolleybuses are a difficult proposition to sell. Numerous trolleybus systems have vanished between the 1960s and the present day. Even in relatively recent years in Switzerland, often considered a stronghold of common sense and ... (more)
03.03.2020: Photo update, Flexity
On Saturday, the tram museum held a sale of surplus inventory at Escher-Wyss-Platz depot as preparation for their impending move. The city wants to rebuild the depot and create appartments by adding a tower block over the rear part ... (more)
19.02.2020: Alstom to acquire Bombardier Transportation
Alstom is to acquire Bombardier Transportation for between 5.8 and 6.2 billion Euros. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approval and will take effect in the first half of 2021.
10.02.2020: Rosengartentunnel rejected
Yesterday's vote on the Rosengartentunnel project was surprisingly rejected by 63.7 percent to 36.3.
06.02.2020: Rosengartentunnel debate
For those interested in getting a better understanding of the debate about Rosengartentunnel, here is an article in aargauerzeitung.ch.
27.01.2020: FLP and RBS Mandarinli for Madagascar?
Further to my recent mention of RBS Mandarinli units being earmarked for further service in Madagascar, sguggiari.ch adds some further details. The 7 units of this type presently in service on FLP (Lugano to Ponte Tresa railway) will be replaced ... (more)
22.01.2020: Impressions of Rosengarten tram
Further to yesterday's report on the Rosengartentunnel project, I am posting further pictures of the project from the Rosengartentunnel website. Unfortunately there are no mock-ups of the top end around Milchbuck and Bucheggplatz. I understand that rather than running around ... (more)
22.01.2020: End of SEPTA PCCs
I have just learnt that SEPTA (Philadelphia) are to end the operation of PCC trams on 25th January. SEPTA made big waves in the tram world when in 2005 they not only reintroduced trams to route 15, a service ... (more)
21.01.2020: Rosengartentunnel vote on 9th February
An important vote is approaching. On 9th February the voters of the Canton of Zürich will decide on the Rosengartentunnel project. At the centre of this dicussion is the major road via Rosengartenstrasse and Bucheggstrasse that forms the continuation ... (more)
21.01.2020: VBZ Flexity news
VBZ's Facebook feed has published photos of the new Flexity tram on its nightly test runs in front of Hauptbahnhof and also in Oerlikon. In a press release published today, VBZ also re-iterates its ambition to have the first Flexity ... (more)
20.01.2020: Basel tram museum opens
Basel's tram museum opened for the first time on 17th January as part of the museum night. The museum will be open regularly from April on every third Sunday of the month from 13:30 to 17:30. During opening times, heritage ... (more)
16.01.2020: Swisstrolley Plus
Seen yesterday at Bucheggplatz, Swisstrolleyplus 183 now in standard Zürich livery rather than the livery it carried as an experimental bus (as in the photo). It was stated that the research project would end in late 2019, so this ... (more)
16.01.2020: Mandarinli for Madagascar?
It is being reported that a project is underway to ship some of the RBS Mandarinli trains to Madagascar. I hope this is not an echo of the failed attempt to start a service with ex-Forchbahn units there in ... (more)
06.01.2020: 2019 news
News items for 2019 have been moved from the newslog.html main page to the 2019.html page.