Virtual Railfan Tour of Switzerland - Tuesday - Roadside Tramway Dietikon to Wohlen

A tram approaches the terminus at Dietikon

The Aargau Verkehr (AVA) runs several railways immediately west of Zurich. These railways have merged operations several times, the most recent being in 2018 when the AWA was formed.

The AVA runs S14 S-Bahn services between Menziken, Aarau, and Schöftland as well as the S17 S-Bahn from Dietikon to Wohlen. The AVA will also run the future Limmattalbahn.

S17 Route
The S17 line of the Zurich S-Bahn is a roadside tramway which runs from Dietkon to Wohlen. Dietikon is on the mainline to Zurich and the line run across several ridges and valleys via Bremgarten to connect to Wohlen which is in the main freight route to the Gottard and also part of the Lucern S-bahn network.

Fourteen Stadler ABe 4/8 EMU were acquired in 2010. 

The route began operation in 1912 with dual gauge standard and metre gauge tracks. This route was operated by the BDWM until 2018. Standard gauge tracks were removed several years ago and only metre gauge equipment can run. The line runs alongside roads for most of its length. The section from Dietikon to Bremergarten is especially tight with some 25m radius curves, which is shorter than the 37m  length of the EMU.

Dietikon is on the main line to Zurich and is close to the large Limmattal marshaling yards serving the Zurich area.

Typical sight at Dietikon. SBB Kiss units. The mainline to Zurich has frequent passenger service.

Of course there is excellent interchange between the two railways and buses at Dietikon

Waiting for the tram

S17 runs every 30 minutes. SBB Dietikon has places to get a drink while waiting. SBB to the right, buses to the left and trams behind

The Dietikon  tram station is very simple and compact.

Stadler EMU street running in Dietikon.

Stadler EMU

Sunflowers in the fields outside Dietikon

Bremegarten is a pleasant Swiss town on a river with an old town centre, large church with a clock, and cafes which over look the railway bridge.
Old town centre in Bremergarten

Bremergarten


Railway bridge crossing the Reuss river at Bremgarten

Entering the bridge at Bremgarten

View crossing the Reuss river from the train

Wohlen station is on the main freight route to the Gottard. S-Bahn connections to Luzern come through here as well as much freight. Just outside town are large storage yards where the SBB stored its unused passenger fleet during the 2020 wind down of services. Most of these are now running.
AWA station at Wohlen

SBB boxcars at Wohlen station

S26 S-Bahn at Wohlen

2018 Video showing the application of new livery with formation of the new company AWA. The 0:50 mark shows the very tight turns as the tramway follow the road into Bremengarten

Good general video

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