Virtual Railfan Tour of Switzerland - Thursday - Zurich Hauptbahnhof - Part Two


IC2000 train with an Re 460 in a livery promoting the rail unions.

Yesterday we explored the interior of the station. Today we go further afield.
Open air
It is worthwhile to leave the dark train shed and walk the considerable distance to the end of the platforms where you can get a much better view of the rail movements that are invisible from inside the station. This is the best way to see the incredibly complex trackwork and double slip switches that control the approaches to Zurich HB.

Sightseers watching the train movements

IC2000 train leaves Zurich HB, curving to the left to take the line to Luzern, while another IC2000 approaches in the distance

Dirty DB ICE train heads back to Germany

This passenger train needed additional power and has two SBB Cargo Re 4/4.  The train is so long the locos are beyond the signal and barely clear the switch blade.

Re 4/4 in 1970s Trans European livery brings in a passenger train from Stuttgart. It has the older diamond pantograph.

Special excursion trains can commonly be seen in Zurich on weekends. This is a steam railcar running into Zurich HB for a special photo op.

Underground platforms
There are several underground platforms with the most recent one opened in 2014. These are through platforms and avoid the problems with stub end platforms where trains have to to a reversing move. S-Bahn trains and regional trains from Geneva and Lausanne use the underground platforms so they can proceed directly to Zurich Airport and St Gallens.

The SZU railway also has its own underground platforms.

The underground platforms are darker and more difficult to photograph.

S-Bahn Class 511 train on the underground platforms (41-44)

Station surrounds
It is possible to see trains in Zurich without even going to the Zurich HB since the rail infrastructure in Zurich dominates the surrounding areas.
Stores and restaurants under the railways arches in the approaches to Zurich HB

Much of the area north of the main station is former industrial and tracks still runs through some of these areas

Some tracks have been abandoned

... while some are still active. The Zurich station storage tracks provide access to a mill north of the main station. This requires street running boxcars down a main street. This also means crossing the metre gauge tram tracks of the VBZ

On occasion, these industrial areas around Zurich HB still see steam excursions

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