Timetable changes
Last year, 290 million passenger journeys were made with VBZ in the city (12.4 million, or 4.5% more than in 2006). The most significant growth was on the following tram routes:
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Route 5 (+ 27.2% to 6.6 million), this route was extended from Bahnhof Enge to Laubegg in March 2007
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route 9 (+11.1% to 20,5 million)
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route 11 (+9.7% to 23 million), this route was extended to Auzelg in December 2006 as the first phase of Stadtbahn Glattal
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route 4 (+9.2% to 19.1 million), together with route 13 (+2.7%), this route serves the rapidly developing Zürich West area.
Most of this growth affects shopping and leisure traffic, which now accounts for over 50% of VBZ's total. To better accomodate this, the new timetable to come into effect on 14th Dezember, will bring some major changes:
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Evening frequencies (after 20:30) on all routes to be shortened from 12 to 10 minutes on Fridays on Saturdays.
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On Sundays to Thursdays the same is being stretched from 12 to 15 minutes.
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On working days between 7 and 8:30 and 16:30 and 18:30, intervals will stretch to 7.5 minutes.
Passenger statistics show that trams should be able to cope with the increased loads at peak times. In the case of route 3, the Tram 2000 + pony sets will be replaced by Tram 2000 + Tram 2000 sets. Route 6 will retain its present peak headway, and a peak-only relief service will be worked between Hauptbahnhof and Escher Wyss Platz at 7.5 minute headways. This route will operate until Tram Zürich West opens in 2011. Rather unimaginatively, these trams will not be allocated a route number but display E in their route boxes. These changes will increase operating costs by some 2 million Franks. VBZ hopes to obtain another 4 to 5 percent more passengers as a result.
this item was added on 18.03.2008 (5882 days ago)
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