Solothurn–Worblaufen railway

Solothurn–Worblaufen railway
Overview
Line number308
Termini
Service
Operator(s)Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn
Technical
Line length29.71 km (18.46 mi)
Number of tracks1–2
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)
Electrification1250 V DC overhead catenary
Maximum incline3.0%
Route map

Legend
km
elev
SBB lines from Biel and Moutier
asm to Niederbipp
0.00
 Solothurn
432 m
SBB line to Olten
1.97
 Bleichenberg
(until 2008)
460 m
BLS line to Burgdorf
3.00
 Biberist RBS
459 m
4.76
 Ammannsegg
(until 2008)
475 m
6.15
 Lohn-Lüterkofen
465 m
7.41
Küttigkofen-Kräiligen
(until 2008)
475 m
9.98
 Bätterkinden
472 m
12.33
 Schalunen
501 m
13.97
 Büren zum Hof
506 m
15.05
 Fraubrunnen
495 m
16.25
 Grafenried
518 m
Jegenstorf Spital
(until May 1984)
20.03
 Jegenstorf
521 m
22.21
 Urtenen
530 m
23.17
 Schönbühl RBS
525 m
23.56
 Schönbühl Shoppyland
525 m
24.37
 Moosseedorf
530 m
SBB line from Olten
SBB line from Biel/Bienne
25.61
 Zollikofen Ost
548 m
26.95
 Zollikofen
560 m
old line to Bern
27.41
 Oberzollikofen
560 m
from Worb Dorf
29.71
 Worblaufen
(Keilbahnhof)
520 m
SBB line to Bern
RBS line to Bern
Source: Swiss railway atlas[1]
This diagram:

The Solothurn–Worblaufen railway is a 29.71 kilometre-long, metre-gauge and electrified railway in the cantons of Bern and Solothurn in Switzerland. The Solothurn–Zollikofen section was opened in 1916 by the Elektrische Schmalspurbahn Solothurn–Bern (Solothurn–Bern Electric Narrow-gauge Railway, ESB), which was merged with the Bern–Zollikofen Railway to form the Solothurn-Zollikofen-Bern Bahn (Solothurn-Zollikofen-Bern Railway, SZB) in 1922. The Zollikofen–Worblaufen line was opened in 1924, allowing trains to run directly between Bern and Solothurn (until then passengers had to change in Zollikofen). The two companies were merged into the Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn (RBS) in 1984. Passenger traffic is now integrated into the Bern S-Bahn, while operation of the remaining freight traffic was transferred to SBB Cargo in December 2012.

The line is served by line S8 and RE5 (RegioExpress) services. Worblaufen is the centre of operations and also has a depot and the RBS workshop. All trains run from Worblaufen ro Bern on the Zollikofen–Bern railway .

The line is constantly being improved. Except for a short section, there are multiple tracks between Worblaufen and Jegenstorf and between Grafenried and Fraubrunnen.

Operating points

RBS trains in Worblaufen
Bätterkinden station in 1916
Operating point Track infrastructure Opening Remarks
Worblaufen "Wedge" station: six tracks, two island platforms, two outside platforms 1912 *1973 Many sidings, several depot facilities, three tracks to Oberzollikofen
Oberzollikofen Island platform and a third track 1974 Transfer track between standard and metre gauge (three tracks)
Zollikofen Two outside platforms 1916 *2005 Common railway station with the SBB (lines S3 to Lyss – Biel/ Bienne, S4 to Burgdorf – Affoltern-Weier),
Prodega Service station Running towards Jegenstorf, after the one-track section at the underpass under SBB line to Biel.
Moosseedorf Island platform 1916 *1990 Partly underground
Schönbühl-Shoppyland Island platform and a siding 1975 *1999
Schönbühl RBS Two outer platforms 1916 *1989 New structure on other side of the level crossing
Urtenen Two outside platforms
Jegenstorf An outside platform and an island platform, three tracks 1916 *1998 Track one is just a dead-end track
Grafenried Two outside platforms 1916 *1956 *2008
Fraubrunnen Main station platform, island platform 1916 *2008 Island platform, unused in normal operations
Büren zum Hof Two tracks, main platform 1916 Request stop, infrastructure warehouse
Schalunen Halt 1916 Request stop
Hof Service station 2002 End of the double track from Bätterkinden
Bätterkinden Main station platform, island platform 1916 Sidings
Küttikofen-Kräiligen Halt 1916 Request stop with reduced service until 2008, but now no longer served.
Lohn-Lüterkofen Island platform 1916 Sidings
Ammannsegg Halt 1916 Request stop with reduced service until 2008, but now no longer served.
Biberist RBS Two outside platforms 1916 *2013 Two outside platforms, new platforms with a pedestrian underpass.
Bleichenberg Halt 1916 Request stop with reduced service until 2008, but now no longer served.
Solothurn Island platform 1916 *1968 Large rolling stock yard and depot

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz [Swiss railway atlas]. Schweers + Wall. 2012. pp. 8, 19, 66. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7.

Sources

  • Stolz, Theo; Bucher, Paul (1979). Solothurn-Zollikofen-Bern-Bahn. Geschichte und Rollmaterial (in German). Worblaufen: Solothurn-Zollikofen-Bern-Bahn.
  • Wägli, Hans G. (2004). Bahnprofil Schweiz '05' (in German). Grafenried: Diplory Verlag.
  • Wägli, Hans G. (2010). Schienennetz Schweiz und Bahnprofil Schweiz CH+ (in German). Zürich: AS Verlag. ISBN 978-3-909111-74-9.