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news for year 2018

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14.12.2018: Stadler to modernize Forchbahn Be4/6

Stadler has won a contract to modernize 13 Be4/6 Forchbahn trains by 2024. They will receive Voith converters (a first for a Swiss railway) and should remain in service until 2037

bahnforum.ch

13.12.2018: Tram Affoltern

Another proposed line that is edging towards realization is Tram Affoltern. The information I provided on this has been somewhat sparse recently but the present status is that planning began in March. An opening is envisioned for 2027.

VBZ

(click on map to enlarge)

The new tram line between Radiostudio and Holzerhurd will replace a section of trolleybus 32. With the population of Affoltern growing and further new areas being developed, the existing link is approaching its capacity limit. Furthermore, a tram would provide a direct link to Zürich's city centre.

The line has been in discussion for some time. In the network development strategy presented in 2006, the line was part of the long term planning (beyond 2025). By 2012, the project was clearly gaining political momentum and an opening by 2022 was envisioned. But things got a bit quieter after that with activity now finally resurging. The line will be served by tram route 11, with the 11's present service to Auzelg being taken over by route 15.

13.12.2018: Limmattalbahn to Baden

Plans for the extension of Limmattalbahn to Baden are making progress.

The line will continue beyond its (soon to be constructed) Killwangen terminus and run to Neuenhof, before crossing the river Limmat where it wil form an interchange with a yet to be built station on the S6 line by the Tägerhard shopping centre and then running through the centre of Wettingen and on to Baden station, again crossing the river (probably on the existing bridge).

A pre-project is presently in hand and hopfeully a decison can be made in 2020.

Kanton Aargau

(click on map to enlarge)

Interestingly, this map also indicates the longer term option of extending the line beyond Baden station.

Another point of interest is that the final approach to Baden station is from Schulhausplatz and through Schlossbergtunnel. This was originally a railway tunnel, which was vacated when the railway was realigned in 1961 and then widened (considerably) into a road tunnel (part of the road onward from there towards Neuenhof is also on the old railway alignment). In a project realized from 2015 to 2018, a single-lane bus tunnel was opened on a lower level of the tunnel. It is not clear whether this wil also serve Limmattalbahn, or whether the tram will run on the upper level with road traffic.

13.12.2018: Glattalbahn extension to Kloten

The cantonal government has given VBG approval to proceed with the planning of an extension of Glattalbahn from its present airport terminus at Flughafen Fracht, across the motorway and through the centre of Kloten to Grindel (on the edge of Bassersdorf). The line will be approximetaly 3.5km long and have six stops. The planning will be completed by the end of 2019 and be presented for a public enquiry in 2020. Construction could begin in 2024 for an opening in December 2027.

VBG

04.12.2018: This newslog is 15 years old

I missed the date, but on 12th November, this newslog was 15 years old (here is the 2003 page, when it all began). Activity has dropped off lately as I haven't always found the time. But in total 1219 items have been posted (including this one). The newslog.html page alone has seen 149,754 hits (reads or attempted reads), or 141,002 according to the counter, amounting to 8042 MB of data downloaded (text only, not counting pictures). In reality, effective volume is higher as the news can also be read through newsitem.php or www.proaktiva.ch/tnews.

I cannot promise that I will keep this newslog forever, and if anybody wants to do a better job, I am happy to support them. But neither am I planning to abandon it soon. For as long as I keep getting visitors in significant numbers, I hope to continue providing content.

04.12.2018: bahnhofplatz.net is no more

Regrettably, the forum bahnhofplatz.net is no more. The site, which was always a valuable source for news and discussions closed down on 1st December. Fortunately, the community has found a new home on www.bahnforum.ch .

21.11.2018: Ex-Winterthur GTZ in Kramatorsk

Internet find (November 2017) of one of the two ex-Winterthur GTZ trolleybuses that made it to Kramatorsk (Ukraine).

transphoto.ru/video/3880/

13.11.2018: Mirage trams to return

According to 20 min, the two mirage trams presently with the tram museum will return to service next September (when the strain on the present fleet will rise to new levels due to the opening of the Schlieren extension). ... (more)

13.11.2018: Stadler to supply Limmattalbahn and Waldenburgerbahn

Limmattalbahn and Waldenburgerbahn have placed a joint order for 18 low floor cars, to be supplied by Stadler from their Valencia plant and of the Citylink type. The order will be confirmed next year. The 45m long and 2.4m ... (more)

16.10.2018: SZU seeks new trains

SZU is seeking to acquire five new sets for Uetlibergbahn. The type will be designated Be570 and be required to be compatible to the Be510. They are to be delivered in 2021 and 2022 and should replace the Be4/4 and trailer sets.

Bahnhofplatz.net

10.10.2018: Internet find, 1973 photos

Rare internet find on Drehscheibe Online, rare 1973 rail photos including VBZ and Forchbahn.

10.10.2018: Photo update (minor)

I have uploaded a couple of photos reflecting recent events (Tram Hardbrücke and new trolleybuses, here).

04.10.2018: Trolleybus, Hönggerberg lines to be electrified by 2023?

Today's 20 Minuten features an article on the chronic overloading of the bus routes serving the ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) Hönggerberg site. The site is served by bus routes 69 and 80, both of which have been ... (more)

28.09.2018: New trolleybuses in Bern and Biel

Zürich is not the only city to be taking delivery of Hess trolleybuses right now. At least two double-articulated trolleybuses (similar to the new Zürich ones) are already in Bern (nos 41 and 42). They were preceded by single-articulated ... (more)

24.09.2018: 83 percent want Limmattalbahn

In this weekend's referndum, 83 percent of voters said no to the proposal to cancel the Limmattalbahn light rail project. This is a marked improvement on the 65 percwnt who backed the project in the 2016 referendum.

Limmattaler Zeitung

23.09.2018: Voters give green light for Limmattalbahn (a second time)

Preliminary results of the vote on Limmattalbahn indicate that a massive majority have said no to proposals to abandon the project. The majority is much larger than in the first vote. In contrast to the previous vote, the communities ... (more)

21.09.2018: Three new trolleybuses in Zürich

The thre new HESS double-articulated trolleybuses (ordered in 2017) have been delivered to Zürich. They are classified by HESS as type ST5. The electrical equipment is supplied by ABB and similar to that of 183. They also have the ... (more)

21.09.2018: Limmattalbahn vote this weekend

In 2015, a cantonal referendum approved the construction of Limmattalbahn, the light rail project from Zürich Altstetten to Killwangen Spreitenbach. The first phase, from Altstetten to Scjhlieren, is already under construction and scheduled to open next year (as an ... (more)

21.09.2018: RBS goes to Innotrans, more photos