Switzerland
Welcome to the Swiss railroads section of the FUNET Railway pictures archive
SBB concept wagons and special train types
This page shows some of the famous train concepts of Switzerland´s federal railroads.
The "Swiss express" concept is from the 1970s when pull-push type of pendeling trains became popular in Europe. SBB
built a series of light metal coaches which were used in fast express trains, for example on the important Zürich - Geneve route.
The trains did not have to turn around at end stations, so traffic was fast. Note also the orange colouring: in the seventies
it was an officially accepted trend that all public transport - trams, buses and trains - should all be coloured orange.
Today the Swiss express trains are still used, especially on routes from Zürich to Bern and Luzern and beyond. Often also older
wagons which are not built and tested for pendeling "push" use are attached at the end of the train, leaving the locomotive oddly at the
middle of the train as here this Re 4/4 II series at the Zürich Hauptbahnhof 9. June 2002.
Picture at Zürich main station 9.6.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo
Uploaded June 16th, 2002
The steering wagon of a Swiss express concept train from the 1970s. The looks of the cockpit closely resemble the NPZ or Neue
Pendelzug concept commuter trains´ front parts.
Picture at Zürich main station 9.6.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo
Uploaded June 16th, 2002
SBB´s "Bahn 2000" concept train arriving at Zürich main station. This is the late 1990s high value, high capacity concept train
for IC (InterCity) and IR (InterRegio) express trains: a Lok 2000 concept locomotive (= Re 460) leading a train of typically 8
double decker coaches, the last one of which has a steering cockpit, built by Adtranz in the late 1990s. In the beginning of the new century this is the most often seen express
train type in Switzerland on the most important lines.
Picture at Zürich main station 9.6.2002 by Ilkka Siissalo
Uploaded June 16th, 2002
A typical IC "Bahn 2000" train leaving Thalwil. Note that when the Re 460 locomotive is pushing the train it´s using its aerial at
the very end for the electricity. Also note the typical Swiss sign of end of train: only one red lamp at the last wagon
(which this time is the locomotive). Photo at Thalwil station 21.10.2001 by Ilkka Siissalo
Uploaded 24 June 2002
