Glattalbahn to Uster?
With the opening of Glattalbahn's phase 3 approaching (11th December), the project is being mentioned in the news almost every day — doubtlessly in part due to VBG's clever marketing strategy. The NZZ newspaper is even running an extensive series looking at different aspects of the project and route served. Did you know, for example, that the Wallisellen to Dübendorf viaduct is the longest railway bridge in Switzerland, measuring 1209 metres? The stop at Zentrum Glatt is on level with the top level of the car park and a new entrance to the shopping centre is being provided this way, leading to a redesign of the shopping complex.
Among the articles are also some more visionary ideas that were maybe not part of VBG's official media strategy. This website has already mentioned the propeller powered vehicle that traversed the longest bridge. A more serious contribution comes from two Uster politicians proposing that Glattalbahn could be extended from Stettbach to Uster (a distance of some 16km). Tram historians will recall that one of the longer tentacles of Zürich's extended tram system did once reach Uster (the Uster Oetwil Bahn, which connected to Forchbahn at Esslingen but was closed in 1949). Zürich's tram still marks its presence in Uster today through ex-VBZ Pedaler 1517, which stands at Wagerenhof. Today Uster's commuters benefit from a fast S-Bahn service to Zürich, a service that has made Uster more attractive for commuters and largely contributed to its recent growth, a development that (who knows?) may one day make the return of a tram possible.
this item was added on 01.12.2010 (4894 days ago)
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