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Yverdon–Ste-Croix railway

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The Yverdon to Sainte-Croix Railway (French: Chemin de fer Yverdon–Ste-Croix, YSteC) is a 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge railway line and former railway company in Switzerland. The line connects the towns of Yverdon-les-Bains and Sainte-Croix, both in the canton of Vaud, and is some 24 kilometres (15 mi) long, overcoming a vertical height change of 633 metres (2,077 ft). It is now owned and operated by the TRAVYS company (Transports Vallée-de-Joux - Yverdon-les-Bains - Sainte-Croix).

Yverdon–Ste-Croix Railway line
The station at Ste-Croix
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerTRAVYS
LocaleCanton of Vaud, Switzerland
Termini
Stations10
Service
TypeLight rail
Services1
Operator(s)TRAVYS
Depot(s)Yverdon-les-Bains
History
Opened1893
Technical
Line length24 km (15 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Minimum radius100 m (328 ft)
Electrification15 kV  16.7 Hz AC overhead wire
Maximum incline4.4%
Route map

Legend
to Lausanne
0.0
 Yverdon-les-Bains
435 m asl
 La Thielle
79 m
to Olten
0.5
Depot and workshop
1.1
 Yverdon William Barbey
2.2
 La Brinaz
3.0
 Valeyres-sous-Montagny
450 m asl
5.5
 Essert-sous-Champvent
507 m asl
8.5
 Vuiteboeuf
589 m asl
11.5
 Baulmes
631 m asl
14.4
 Six-Fontaines
705 m asl
 Murets
145 m
19.3
 Trois-Villes (until 2020)
907 m asl
 Cochâble
59 m
 Arrêtaz
73 m
 Covatannaz
153 m
 Onglettaz
29 m
24.2
 Ste-Croix
1066 m asl
Source: Swiss railway atlas[1]

History

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One of the original steam locomotives

The line was opened in 1893 by the Yverdon–Ste-Croix railway company, largely as a result of the influence of William Barbey from Valeyres-sous-Rances, who financed the building of the line. The line initially used steam locomotives to the articulated Mallet design. Because of the influence of the religious William Barbey, the line did not operate any trains on Sundays.[2][3]

In 1918, after the death of William Barbey, the line began operations on Sundays. Like many Swiss railways, it suffered from a shortage of coal during the Second World War and, in 1945, it was electrified at 15 kV  16.7 Hz AC, using overhead wires.

In 1974 the railway pioneered the Vevey system of Rollbocks, which allows a train of standard-gauge wagons to be automatically loaded onto transporter bogies so that it can travel on a narrow-gauge line.

On February 14, 1976 two railcars collided head-to-head between Essert-sous-Champvent and Valeyres-sous-Montagny at about 50 km/h (31 mph). Seven people died and 40 others were injured. The accident was put down to human error; the two trains were scheduled to cross at Essert-sous-Champvent, but the line was not equipped with automatic block signalling that would have prevented the accident.[4][5]

In 2001, the Yverdon–Ste-Croix railway company was merged with the Pont-Brassus railway company and the Transports Publics Yverdon-Grandson bus company to form the new TRAVYS company. The company has since also absorbed the Orbe–Chavornay railway company.[6][needs update]

In 2013 and as part of a joint order with Transports de la région Morges-Bière-Cossonay, the Montreux–Oberland Bernois railway and Transports publics fribourgeois, TRAVYS ordered three new trains for the Yverdon–Ste-Croix railway from Stadler Rail. Of these, two will be used to replace older stock, whilst the third will allow the introduction of a half-hourly service on the line. The trains are due for delivery in 2015.[7]

Locomotives and rolling stock

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No. Type Seats: 2nd Builders Details Date Built Notes Image
1 Be4/4 40 ACMV/SIG/SAAS 1981 Named "Yverdon - les - Bains"  
2 Be4/4 40 ACMV/SIG/SAAS 1981 Named "Baulmes".
3 Be4/4 40 ACMV/SIG/SAAS 1981 2004 sold to Chemin de fer Bière-Apples-Morges as No.15  
4 Be4/4 46 SIG/BBC 1945 withdrawn March 2008
5 Be4/4 46 SIG/BBC 1945  
21 Ge4/4 YSC/SIG/BBC 1950  
22 B SIG 1893 Sold to Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme (CFBS)
22" Tm2/2 Schöma/Deutz 1971
23 Tm2/2 RACO/Cummins 1989
26 BF SIG 1893 Sold to CFBS
27 BF SIG 1893 Sold to CFBS
31 B SIG 1929 Sold to CFBS
32 B SIG 1929 Sold to CFBS
35 B 64 SWP 1968 Wired as intermediate coach for 1-3/51-53 and 4-5/54  
36 Ars SIG/RhB/Travys 1913 ex-RhB B 2218, saloon "La Traverse". Rebuilt in 1960 (RhB) and again in 2002 (Travys).
51 Bt 56 ACMV/SAAS 1983 Driving Trailer for 1-3/2000-01
52 Bt 56 ACMV/SAAS 1983 2004 sold to BAM as No.54  
52" Bt Stadler 2007 Driving Trailer for 1-2/2000-01
53 BDt 64 SWP/SWA 1968 Ex-No.33, Rebuilt in 1991 from B, driving trailer for 1-3/2000-01
54 BDt 64 SWP/SWA 1968 Ex-No.34, Rebuilt in 1991 from B, driving trailer for 4  
55 Bt 64 ACMV/SAAS 1981
2000 Be2/6 88 Stadler/Adtranz 2001 Stadler GTW  
2001 Be2/6 88 Stadler/Adtranz 2001 Stadler GTW  

References

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  1. ^ Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz [Swiss railway atlas]. Schweers + Wall. 2012. p. 29. ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7.
  2. ^ "Barbey, William". Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (in French). 5 May 2004. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  3. ^ "Rail". Sainte-Croix/Les Rasses Tourisme. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  4. ^ "Collision de trains sur la ligne Yverdon–Sainte-Croix: septs morts et quarante blessés" [Train collision on the Yverdon-Sainte-Croix line: seven dead and forty injured]. Journal de Genève, Genf (in French). 16 February 1976. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  5. ^ "L'Office fédéral des transport: une erreur humaine" [Federal Transport Office: human error]. Journal de Genève (in French). 17 February 1976. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  6. ^ "travys - Entreprise du mois" [travys - Enterprise of the month] (PDF) (in French). ADNV - Développement du Nord Vaudois. May 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Stadler trains for four rail companies in Western Switzerland". Stadler. 13 March 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
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