Friday 5 September 2025 - Visits to the BLS Lotschburg Tunnel work and Spiez Train Control Centre

 

Waiting for an assignment at Spiez - there are not many of these left now

Today we took an early train from Zurich through to Spiez and changed for the train to Frutigen. Being a Friday passenger traffic was heavy. There were many people in military uniform and carrying their weapons going to or from their assignments.

Our first appointment was to view the BLS tunnel work. We had an English-speaking guide who understood the workings of the BLS and who knew the operations through the tunnel in great detail. He gave us a very good rundown of the development and the arrangements for safety in the tunnel as well as the working for the new extensions. There are a few exhibits outside the old BLS station which acts as their office.

This is an Ae8/8 like a double 4/4 but permanently joined back to back. It was opened up for us to see inside.

Ancient electrics. The BLS heritage has an operable one 

We were taken in a minivan to one of the tunnel area stations and shown through the working, particularly how people could be evacuated and how the tunnel could be cleared of smoke. There is a viewing platform where we could see a train running through at 200 kmph. The glass is very heavily armored glass.

One of the "clean" areas

The train control office turned on the lights for us

Our guide knew precisely when the train would pass us.

A train passing through at 200 kmph

This visit took up the entire morning and was extremely interesting. 

We then had to catch a train to Spiez for a 2 p.m. appointment to view the BLS Train control center. Once again, we were given a very thorough examination of the way the BLS controls it's entire rail system.

A view of the trackage at Frutigen  - from the train controller's panel.

Part of the office. The controllers were asked if they minded my taking a picture, One even stood up and combed his hair. It was a tremendous friendly visit.

The office is right next to the station. We were tired and caught the next direct train back to Zurich. It was routed via Bern and Olten.





 Paragraph who left the office and walked the short distance to the platform and took the first direct train back from Spirits to zurich. It had been raining on and off all day but this afternoon clouds cleared up a little and we had quite a bit of blue sky and sunshine.

Comments

  1. MarkSeptember 5, 2025 at 8:09 PM

    Is Paul going to create a controller panel like that for his layout? That would be pretty awesome!

    ReplyDelete

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