SWITZERLAND | Railways

[GENIUS LOCI]

It deserved that status

I always loved that line and really find amazing the loop

[Coccodrillo]

Int runs partly on streets. Photos by myself.

[Momo1435]

Yes, both lines have to be added!

The Albula line has to be my favorite railway line in the world, I spend many holidays in Bergün when I was younger (I should go back again) watching the trains thrice going up and down the mountain.

If they make the list the RhB should stop using their loco's as giant billboards, it's better when it's a red loco hauling up to 15 red carriages as the snellzug nach St. Moritz mit halt in Preda und Samedan.

[vidya]

Originally Posted by Coccodrillo

Int runs partly on streets. Photos by myself.

beautiful pics

[railcity]

Swiss Railway Station Turns into an Opera Set - Live Streaming on swissinfo.ch

BERN, Switzerland, September 23 /PRNewswire/ -- On 30 September 2008 the main railway station in Zurich will become the setting for a melodious cultural experience which commuters, onlookers and television audiences at home will all be able to enjoy. The opera "La Traviata" will be broadcast live on SF 1, TSI, HD suisse and Arte simultaneously, starting at 20.05 (18.05 UTC/GMT). Swissinfo and SF will be streaming this major event over the internet.



An opera performance amid throngs of commuters at Zurich's main station: "La Traviata at Zurich main railway station" is an innovative arts project being produced by Schweizer Fernsehen (SF) in cooperation with the Franco-German culture channel Arte, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and Zurich Opera House.



This production presents a major challenge both artistically and technically, since SF is staging the opera live in various parts of the railway station, including the main concourse, cafés and the platform area. It is only when they reach the screen that the individual scenes will merge together into a single performance. Television audiences at home will have front-row seats.

The ensemble, choir and orchestra of the Zurich Opera House are providing the music, directed by Paolo Carignani. Eva Mei sings the leading role of Violetta, Vittorio Grigolo plays Alfredo and Angelo Veccia appears as Giorgio Germont.

http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=237690



Links to Internet Live Streaming:
http://www.sf.tv/sf1/latraviata/index.php
http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/index.html

images: sf.tv

[Momo1435]

I like the way they often use the big space in the main hall for interesting events like this.

[railcity]

It's still running at this moment: the 3rd act. Violetta is very ill....

In the 1st act, Alfredo left the scene with the train....

[Küsel]

I was also there! Took a lot of pics but they turned out to be quite bad except at the beginning of act 2 where I was standing in first row by chance

Impressive, great actors and superb location. I hope they will make a DVD and cut out all this unnecessary talking they showed on TV. I am also not a big Traviata fan, but that was really unique

Excerpts:

[railcity]

Here is the 1st Act until the moment when Alfredo leaves the scene with the intercity train. :-)

[pipouchat]

I want to introduce you this small train. The line is 3 km long. Only 3 little bridges. 1 train every hour, 2 in the rush hours. 2 Stations and 2 stops.
ORBE-CHAVORNAY oc (Orbe pop. 4500 - Chavornay pop. 2800) Nespresso has a private station in Orbe.









Orbe's station


St-Eloi station


Chavornay's station

[YelloPerilo]

cute!

[zaphod]

That's silly. Why don't they just a bus?

We have one of these in the US, too. the Princeton Branch in New Jersey.

[pipouchat]

Originally Posted by zaphod

That's silly. Why don't they just a bus?

We have one of these in the US, too. the Princeton Branch in New Jersey.

Orbe has many industries. Nespresso products are made here, they use the line to connect in Chavornay with the federal swiss rail company, and the rest of Europa. It was the first electrified line in the country in 1893 I think...it's more ecological than a bus. Maybe a bus will be more efficient, but it's a part of the regional identity...Have you pics from the Princeton Branch? Sorry my englisch isn't fluent, I hope it's clear...:-)

[tuckerbox]

Brilliant-- A beautifull little railway and countryside, as only the swiss can do.
This is what public transport is all about.To compare this with a major city Metro network is wrong. This little line runs on CLEAN energy-- no POLLUTING diesel busses needed here!

[pipouchat]

Originally Posted by tuckerbox

Brilliant-- A beautifull little railway and countryside, as only the swiss can do.
This is what public transport is all about.To compare this with a major city Metro network is wrong. This little line runs on CLEAN energy-- no POLLUTING diesel busses needed here!

Yes you're right, we use hydraulic energy. The river through the village give the electricity for houses too. It's a bit expansive but a good solution.

[Coccodrillo]

Originally Posted by zaphod

That's silly. Why don't they just a bus?

Because the line has a lot of goods trains (compared to other branch lines), so the passenger service is created with little extra costs. Even the passenger rolling stock doesn't represent a great cost: there have been only 5 EMU since the opening in the XIX century: number 11, a two axle railcar built about in 1893, 12 and 13 arived in about 1913 (third photo), 14 (first and second photos, in the '80), and 15 (third photo, bought second hand in 2007-2008).

Interestingly the line is electrified with 750 V DC, but all other mainline railways use 15 kV 16,7 Hz AC. So freight often use diesel locomotives, but there are also a few 750 V DC electric locos, but they can't be used on AC or diesel tracks.

[Spam King]

Originally Posted by pipouchat

Yes you're right, we use hydraulic energy. The river through the village give the electricity for houses too. It's a bit expansive but a good solution.

i assume you mean hydroelectric :P

[Momo1435]

Nice, Switzerland has even more of these kind of these lines.

Meiringen-Innertkirchen-Bahn, MIB (4.99 km)
Bulle – Broc-Fabrique, (5,44 km)

And much more longer lines that on first sight go from nowhere to nowhere, but still are in use and provide a good service to the local communities.

[pcrail]

Originally Posted by pipouchat

Did you recognize those strange looking lower headlights? They serve also as side buffers!

The Trossinger Railway is an other quit similar short line in Germany. The 1898 commissioned standard gauge line is 5 km long and electrified with 600 V.
Wikipedia (German)
Official Site

[pipouchat]

1924 St-Eloi