SOB to operate Gotthard Bergstrecke from 2020

[zuriblue]

http://www.fm1today.ch/suedostbahn-betreibt-ab-2020-zwei-linien-fuer-die-sbb/532884 (in German, sorry)

The Swiss South-East Railway (SOB) is to operate two lines for SBB from December 2020, including the Gotthard mountain route. Operational responsibility lies with the SOB, which runs however under the roof of a uniform SBB long-distance traffic concession.

This long-term cooperation, the contracts of which were signed on Friday, has been preceded by intensive talks over the past four months. "Both sides have taken steps towards each other, have been open and have overcome prejudices" said SOB CEO Thomas Kuechler in Zurich in front of the media.

From the end of 2020, the SOB will be operating the line Zurich-Zug-Arth-Goldau-Gotthard Mountain Route-Bellinzona-Locarno / Lugano and Basel-Olten-Luzern-Gotthard Mountain Route- Bellinzona-Locarno with their own rolling stock and marketing in the so-called co-branding SOB-SBB. For this, they will be compensated by SBB.

It's not clear whether the direct trains will go to Lugano or reinstate the connection to Locarno - they have to negotiate with Kanton Ticino.

They also want to operate Bern - Langenthal - Olten - Zürich - Landquart - Chur.

The concessions are up for renewal at the end of this year with applications to be submitted to BAV (Federal Transport office) by the end of September.

SOB want to operate the lines using Stadler Flirt III units that they are ordering for the Voralpen Express - they have already signed options for the new trains. The trains will be fitted out for long distance travel with 2-1 seating in 1st class, a buffet (or at least vending machines which is what they have on the Voralpen Express), a kids play area and space for bikes.

 

[Polarbear]

Thanks for posting this - it's good news as since the base tunnel opened, SBB haven't exactly been enthusiastic about operating services "over the top". My understanding was that possible closure of at least part of the route was a possibility.

 

[Gordon]

Thanks for posting this - it's good news as since the base tunnel opened, SBB haven't exactly been enthusiastic about operating services "over the top". My understanding was that possible closure of at least part of the route was a possibility.

The trouble is, the 'romance' of the Gotthard mountain route for most enthusiasts was the interaction of your own train with huge freights one after another, and long distance passenger trains with interesting mixed formations, going the other way, or even trains going the same way as you being visible at weird points and angles as you travelled. Once it is just a few multiple unit trains on the line the same romance isn't really there.

I travelled on a Flirt on the north ramp in April - with nothing else on the line it really wasn't that interesting.


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[Polarbear]

The trouble is, the 'romance' of the Gotthard mountain route for most enthusiasts was the interaction of your own train with huge freights one after another, and long distance passenger trains with interesting mixed formations, going the other way, or even trains going the same way as you being visible at weird points and angles as you travelled. Once it is just a few multiple unit trains on the line the same romance isn't really there.

I travelled on a Flirt on the north ramp in April - with nothing else on the line it really wasn't that interesting.


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True - I'm going to Switzerland next week & have the Gotthard "old route" penciled in on the itinerary so will see how that pans out.

Personally, I'd like to see a few panoramic's on the route, maybe coupled with some sort of dining experience (similar to that offered on the Glacier Express route). I think I may be waiting a long time though...

 

[Mag_seven]

The trouble is, the 'romance' of the Gotthard mountain route for most enthusiasts was the interaction of your own train with huge freights one after another, and long distance passenger trains with interesting mixed formations, going the other way, or even trains going the same way as you being visible at weird points and angles as you travelled. Once it is just a few multiple unit trains on the line the same romance isn't really there.

I travelled on a Flirt on the north ramp in April - with nothing else on the line it really wasn't that interesting.

Agreed - however I was quite surprised to note on my last visit that there is still some limited freight over the BLS route through Kandersteg.

 

[in_luzern]

Personally, I'd like to see a few panoramic's on the route, maybe coupled with some sort of dining experience (similar to that offered on the Glacier Express route). I think I may be waiting a long time though...

They have introduced a panoramic service on the Gotthard route, see this link :
https://switzerlandtravelcentre.ch/en/tours/gotthard-panorama-express/

 

[Bletchleyite]

Agreed - however I was quite surprised to note on my last visit that there is still some limited freight over the BLS route through Kandersteg.

Loads of it from experience of staying at the Scout centre.

The Loetschberg is still scenic and worthwhile even without the big stuff.

 

[Gordon]

Agreed - however I was quite surprised to note on my last visit that there is still some limited freight over the BLS route through Kandersteg.

This is not a surprise, the Lötschberg base tunnel (LBT) is a different beast to the Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT). The LBT has more limited capacity and more restrictions, and since the LBT opened there has consistently been freight over the top, notably Crossrail's trains before Crossrail ceased.

Plus this summer the Lötschberg is theoretically busier due to the closure of the one of the southern end links to the Gotthard route.

Also don't forget that throughout the year there are timetabled car carrier trains Kandersteg - Iselle, which guarantees a picture opportunity of a BLS 'brownie' on the Lötschberg south ramp.



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[Polarbear]

They have introduced a panoramic service on the Gotthard route, see this link :
https://switzerlandtravelcentre.ch/en/tours/gotthard-panorama-express/

That's a start, but the trains concerned are dated and don't run all year. Also, the trains that do run with the panorama cars seem to be timed to tie in with the boats, which means they don't always connect that well with other trains. Unusual for Switzerland!

 

[in_luzern]

That's a start, but the trains concerned are dated and don't run all year. Also, the trains that do run with the panorama cars seem to be timed to tie in with the boats, which means they don't always connect that well with other trains. Unusual for Switzerland!

I think this is because it's being specifically marketed as a boat + train tour. The expectation is that tourists will book the complete package from Luzern to Flüelen by boat, then on to Bellinzona on the panoramic train or vice versa.

 

[Jamesrob637]

This is not a surprise, the Lötschberg base tunnel (LBT) is a different beast to the Gotthard Base Tunnel (GBT). The LBT has more limited capacity and more restrictions, and since the LBT opened there has consistently been freight over the top, notably Crossrail's trains before Crossrail ceased.

Plus this summer the Lötschberg is theoretically busier due to the closure of the one of the southern end links to the Gotthard route.

Also don't forget that throughout the year there are timetabled car carrier trains Kandersteg - Iselle, which guarantees a picture opportunity of a BLS 'brownie' on the Lötschberg south ramp.



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I thought Crossrail was still going?