Virtual Railfan Tour of Switzerland - Sunday - International Passenger Trains

Being a land locked country Switzerland receives a large number of trains from other countries.  At one time there were problems because of the different overhead power systems used. Austria, Germany and Switzerland use 15,000V AC, France uses 25,000V AC, Italy uses 3,000V DC. In addition, Switzerland requires a different pantograph than other countries.  In the past this frequently required locomotive changes at borders.  However, technological advances now ensure that trains can run under different systems so that today we see a variety of other countries' trains running into many parts of Switzerland.

Train a Grande Vitesse (TGV) France.
The most common location to see TGVs is Zurich.  These are run under the Lyria banner and the ownership is shared between the SBB and the SNCF 

The most frequent service is from Paris via Basel, a TGV duplex is seen here heading for Zurich at Liestal

Lausanne is another regular destination with some trains extended towards Martigny in the winter for skiing and other winter activities.

A TGV for Paris from Lausanne departing Vallorbe on the border with France.

At one time there was a service from Paris to Bern crossing into France via Frasne.  Seen here at Neuchatel this is an older TGV Atlantique train which has since been scrapped.

Intercity Express (ICE) Germany
The ICE trains come into Switzerland through Basel mostly to Zurich. Many go forward to Chur and in the past to Bern and Interlaken. There is a frequent service between Zurich, Frankfurt and Hamburg which is very convenient for those wishing to visit Miniatur Wunderland

An ICE heading for Zurich through Liestal

Ready to depart for Frankfurt and Hamburg at Zurich

A double ICE heading for Frankfurt at Liestal 

Heading for Interlaken at Bern
The ICE trains on the Hamburg, Frankfurt, Zurich and Chur line are currently being replaced with later versions so it may soon be possible sit behind the driver.

TrenItalia Pendolino trains class 610. Seven car tilting trains
These run from Milan to Zurich and Lausanne.  Some are painted in TrenItalia colors and some are in SBB livery
An SBB Pendolino at Zurich
An Italian train on the old Gotthard line at Wassen. This demonstrates the tilting mechanism.

A TrenItalia train alongside an Austrian Railjet at Zurich.  This shows the driving trailer of the Railjet

Austrian OBB Railjet trains
The OBB run a service of Railjet trains between Zurich and Vienna. These are push-pull trains with a locomotive at one end and a driving trailer at the other.
A Railjet train about to depart Zurich for Vienna with the locomotive leading.

As you can see there is a great variety of trains from other countries penetrating deeply into Switzerland.

The days of the Trans Europ Expresses with changes at the borders are now over.  However, there are still a few SBB Re 4/4 locomotives painted in the special colors. This one, complete with diamond pantograph was bringing an excursion into Zurich from Munich.

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