BLS AG

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BLS AG

logo
legal form Corporation
ISIN CH0025889160
founding 2006 (by merger)
Seat Bern , SwitzerlandSwitzerlandSwitzerland 
management
Number of employees 3052 (as of December 31, 2015)
sales 1.00 billion CHF (operating income, 2015)
Branch Transport company
Website www.bls.ch
Status: 2015

The BLS AG is a Founded in 2006, Swiss standard gauge -Bahngesellschaft. As a railway company, it operates an extensive network in regional transport including S-Bahn, a car transport service on the Lötschberg and Simplon, and shipping on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz . It also provides various services for BLS Cargo AG and BLS Netz AG . The name of the railway goes back to the former Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon-Bahn (BLS).

history

Family tree of BLS AG

BLS AG was founded on April 24, 2006 with retroactive effect to January 1, 2006 and has been operational since June 27, 2006 after approval by the shareholders of the predecessor companies BLS Lötschbergbahn AG (BLS) and Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG (RM). Legally, the merger of BLS and RM to form the new BLS AG was carried out through a share swap, one BLS share (nominal CHF 10.-) corresponded to eight BLS AG shares (CHF 1.-), one RM share (nominal CHF 12.50) 24 shares in BLS AG. The main shareholders of BLS AG are the Canton of Bern with a 55.8 percent stake and the Swiss Confederation with 21.7 percent.

The goods business has been handled by a legally independent subsidiary, BLS Cargo , since 2001 . Before the merger, RM's goods business had been spun off into Crossrail AG and this company had been sold.

After the approval on June 16, 2007, preliminary operations began in the new Lötschberg Base Tunnel (LBT) and full scheduled operation began on December 9, 2007. The BLS AlpTransit AG founded for this purpose had thus fulfilled its purpose. At the same time, however, the federal government demanded that the BLS infrastructure be outsourced to a separate AG under ownership and that the federal government be given a majority in it. That is why the assets and liabilities of the BLS infrastructure were transferred to BLS Alptransit and the company was renamed BLS Netz AG (BLSN). The operational activities in the infrastructure area will continue to be carried out by BLS AG staff.

In March 2019 it became known that the BLS had billed the public sector , namely the federal government and seven cantons, 45 million Swiss francs too much since 2004 . As with the PostBus subsidy scandal , this practice has been pointed out for years, but nothing has been done.

Route network

Existing and Lötschberg base line

When the company merged to form “BLS AG” in 2006, the route network owned by the new company totaled 402.39 km, of which 242.84 km from “BLS Lötschbergbahn AG” and 159.55 km from “Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG” »Originated - without double counting (Bern – Holligen, Holligen – Fischermätteli) and shared routes (Obermatt – Langnau, Thun – Scherzligen). The previously dismantled lines of the predecessor companies are not taken into account, namely the Huttwil – Eriswil line of the Huttwil-Eriswil Railway (HEB) opened in 1915 - closed and dismantled under the VHB in 1978 - the Derendingen – Biberist EB line section dismantled under the EB in 1884, as well as the Lütschinenbrücke – Bönigen section, dismantled under the BLS in 1969. However, sections of the route without passenger traffic are also taken into account, including the Interlaken Ost – Lütschinenbrücke (Bönigen workshop), which serves as the access to the main BLS workshop; likewise the sections Sumiswald-Grünen-Wasen (since mid-1994 without PV) and Affoltern-Weier-Huttwil (since late 2004 without PV).

With the commissioning of the Lötschberg base tunnel (LBT) and the two access routes in the north from Frutigen and Wengi-Ey, the route network grew by a further 41 km to around 443.4 km in mid-2007. " BLS AlpTransit AG" (BLS AT), which previously acted as LBT builder, was converted into " BLS Netz AG " (BLSN) in 2009 , which from now on forms the railway infrastructure company of the BLS Group; accordingly, the entire route network was formally transferred to the BLSN.

BLS AG route network (blue = former BLS routes, red = former RM routes), as of 2006
section length opening construction G2 G3
Scherzligen – Spiez – Därligen 27.90 km 1893-06-01 TSB BLS BLS
Därligen – Interlaken West 1872-08-12 BB
Interlaken West – Interlaken East 1874-07-01
Interlaken Ost – Bönigen workshop (–Bönigen) 1.15 km 1874-07-01
Spiez – Wengi-Ey – Frutigen 13.54 km 1901-06-24 SFB
Frutigen – Brig 60.28 km 1913-07-15 BLS
Moutier-Lengnau 12.98 km 1915-10-01 BLS (MLB)
Spiez – Spiezmoos – Erlenbach 34.90 km 1897-08-16 SEB SEZ
Erlenbach – Zweisimmen 1902-10-31 ECB
Bern – Holligen 2.42 km 1901-06-01 BN BN
Holligen – Neuchâtel 40.39 km
Holligen – Bern Weissenbühl 31.93 km 1901-11-09 GTB GBS
Bern Weissenbühl – Burgistein-Wattenwil 1901-08-14
Burgistein-Wattenwil-Thun 1902-11-01
Bern Fischermätteli – Schwarzenburg 17.35 km 1907-06-01 BSB
Frutigen – Frutigen north portal 01.27 km 2007-06-16 BLS AlpTransit
Wengi-Ey – Frutigen north portal 04.54 km
Frutigen north portal – St. German 35.20 km
Solothurn – Biberist EB 04.69 km 1876-12-04 SCB ( EB ) EBT RM
(Derendingen–) Biberist EB – Burgdorf 16.05 km 1875-05-26 EB
Burgdorf – Hasle-Rüegsau – Obermatt 18.90 km 1881-05-12
Hasle-Rüegsau – Konolfingen – Thun 33.82 km 1899-07-21 BTB
Langenthal – Huttwil 14.09 km 1889-11-01 LHB VHB
Huttwil – Wolhusen 25.23 km 1895-05-09 HWB
Ramsei – Sumiswald-Grünen – Huttwil 19.46 km 1908-06-01 RSHB
Sumiswald-Grünen-Wasen in the Emmental 05.22 km 1908-06-01 RSHB
Solothurn West – Moutier 22.09 km 1908-08-03 SMB SMB

Inventory changes

The Sumiswald-Grünen-Wasen line was formally closed at the end of 2004 and henceforth only operated as a siding. In 2009 the route was closed to all traffic due to the poor condition, only the operation of the industrial connection of the "RUWA Drahtschweisswerk AG" in Burghof was ensured. With the timetable change in December 2009, passenger traffic was suspended on the Sumiswald-Grünen-Affoltern-Weier section; Here too, due to the poor condition, the entire section Sumiswald-Grünen-Affoltern-Weier-Huttwil was closed.

At the end of 2013, the newly founded “ Emmentalbahn GmbH ” (ETB) was able to obtain the transfer of the concession for the Sumiswald-Grünen – Wasen and Sumiswald-Grünen – Affoltern-Weier – Huttwil lines, and in 2014 took over a large part of the infrastructure from the BLSN. As a result, the route network shrank to 424.75 km for the first time since BLS AG was founded; the former RM network, viewed in isolation, was reduced to 140.90 km.

section length modification BLS ETB
Total network ex RSHB 24.68 km 06.02 km 18.66 km
Ramsei – Sumiswald Greens 04.63 km 2014 04.89 km 00.00 km
Sumiswald-Grünen – Huttwil 14.83 km 2014 00.99 km 13.58 km
Sumiswald-Grünen-Wasen in the Emmental 05.22 km 2014 00.14 km 05.08 km

Line network

NINA regional train of the BLS in Kerzers (regional line Kerzers – Papiliorama – Aarberg – Lyss – Büren an der Aare).
EW-III set on the way from Lucerne to Bern, at Malters
Four-part KISS as BLS RABe 515 009 MUTZ in Thun

BLS operates regional traffic in the Bern and Lucerne area ( S-Bahn Bern , parts of the S-Bahn Luzern, and RegioExpress trains).

Bern S-Bahn
  • S1 Friborg / Freiburg –Bern – Münsingen– Thun
  • S2 Laupen –Bern – Konolfingen – Langnau i. E.
  • S3 Biel / Bienne –Lyss – Bern – Belp
  • S31 (Biel / Bienne – Lyss–) Münchenbuchsee – Bern – Belp (extension to Biel with stops only in Schüpfen and Lyss during rush hour)
  • S4 Thun – Belp – Bern – Burgdorf – Ramsei– Langnau i. E.
  • S44 Thun-Belp-Bern-Burgdorf- Solothurn / Sumiswald- Grün
  • S5 Bern – Kerzers – Neuchâtel / Murten (- Payerne )
  • S51 Bern – Stöckacker – Bümpliz North – Bern Brünnen Westside
  • S52 Bern – Stöckacker – Bümpliz Nord – Rosshäussern – Gümmenen – Kerzers (–Ins during peak hours, rest of the time –Lyss)
  • S6 Bern– Schwarzenburg
Lucerne S-Bahn
  • S6 Lucerne – Wolhusen – Langnau i. E./Huttwil–Langenthal (until 2010 in cooperation with SBB, partly as S7)
  • S7 Wolhusen – Huttwil – Langenthal
  • S77 Lucerne – Willisau
RegioExpress
  • RegioExpress Bern – Langnau i. E. – Lucerne
  • RegioExpress Bern - La Chaux-de-Fonds
  • RegioExpress Bern – Münsingen – Spiez– Zweisimmen / - Brig – every two hours to Domodossola (under the name Lötschberger )
  • RegioExpress Interlaken Ost – Spiez – Zweisimmen
InterRegio
  • InterRegio Bern – Lyss – Biel / Bienne (IR 65)
Regional trains
  • Regio (Bern–) Spiez – Zweisimmen
  • Regio Spiez – Frutigen (individual consolidations to RE)
  • Regio Thun – Konolfingen – Hasle Rüegsau (–Burgdorf)
  • Regio Thun – Konolfingen – Burgdorf – Solothurn
  • Regio Solothurn – Moutier (until 2010, now SBB)
  • Kerzers – Lyss region (mostly connected with the S52)
  • Lyss region - Büren on the Aare
  • Interlaken Ost – Spiez region

Rolling stock

Electric locomotives
Series (classic) Series (UIC / TSI) origin Manufacturer Construction year number of pieces v max
(km / h) 		Discarded Remarks
series Numbers series Numbers total today
Re 4/4 161-195 Re 425 161-195 BLS size SLM / BBC 1964-1983 35 25th 140 2015–
Re 4/4 II various Re 420 501-512 SBB SLM / BBC 1964-1967 12 4th 140 2010–
Re 456 142-143 VHB SLM / ABB 1993 2 - 130 2016 KTU locomotive
Re 465 001-008 BLS SLM / ABB 1994-1995 8th 8th 230 Locomotive 2000
Re 465 009-018 SBB SLM / Adtranz 1996-1997 10 10 230 Locomotive 2000
Re 475 401-415 BLS Siemens 2016-2017 15th 15th 160 Vectron MS
Re 475 416-440 BLS Siemens from 2020 25th 0 160 Vectron MS, from 475 426 ETCS only
Re 485 001-020 BLS BT 2002-2004 20th 20th 140 Traxx F140 AC1
Re 486 501-510 BLS BT 2008-2009 10 10 140 Traxx F140 MS2E
Electric multiple units / trains
Series (classic) Series (UIC / TSI) origin Manufacturer Construction year number of pieces v max
(km / h) 		Discarded Remarks
series Numbers series Numbers total today
RABe 515 001-036 BLS Stadler 2012; 2017 36 36 160 Mutz (4 pcs.)
RABe 525 001-036 BLS Vevey / BT / Alstom 1998-2005 36 35 140 Nina (3 parts); 015-027 (4 pcs.)
RABe 525 037-038 TRN BT / Alstom 2002 2 1 140 Nina (4 pcs.)
RABe 526 260-265 RM Stadler 2003 6th - 2013 GTW (3 parts); from 2009 4-part
RABe 526 280-286 RM Stadler 2004 7th - 2013 GTW (4 pieces)
RABe 535 101-125 BLS BT 2008–2012 25th 25th 160 Lötschberger (4 pcs.)
RBDe 4/4 721-742 RBDe 565 721-742 BLS size SIG / SWS / BBC 1982-1991 22nd 21st 125 Private railway NPZ
RBDe 4/4 221-226; 261; 281 RBDe 566 220-227 EBT size SWS / SAAS 1973-1974 8th (1) 125 2013–
RBDe 4/4 II 227-233; 262-265; 282-283 RBDe 566 230-242 EBT size 1984-1985 13 13 125 Private railway NPZ
Control car
Series (classic) Series (UIC / TSI) origin Manufacturer Construction year number of pieces v max
(km / h) 		Discarded Remarks
series Numbers series Numbers total today
ABt 38-33 321-326; 361; 381 ABt 80-35 920-927 EBT size 1973-1974 8th (1) 2013–
ABt 39-33 954-956, 971-975, 979, 982-989, 992-996 ABt 80-35 961-982 BLS size 1982-1992 22nd 22nd
ABt 39-33 927-934, 962-965, 982-983 ABt 80-35 930-943 EBT size 1984-1992 14th 14th
Bt 29-34 901-902 Bt 80-35 901-902 THB (2006) 1965 2 0 2016 ex MThB Bt 29-33 201-202; sold to SBB
Passenger cars
Series (classic) Series (UIC / TSI) origin Manufacturer Construction year number of pieces v max
(km / h) 		Discarded Remarks
series Numbers series Numbers total today
B 20-33 700, 770-773, 780-786, 790-792 B 20-35 531-545 BLS size 1981-1985 15th 9
B 20-34 511-518, 560-563, 585-586 B 20-35 511-524 EBT size 1984-1992 14th 14th
B 22-35 600-630 2003-2007 31 31 B jumbo
Diesel locomotives
Series (classic) Series (UIC / TSI) origin Manufacturer Construction year number of pieces v max
(km / h) 		Discarded Remarks
series Numbers series Numbers total today
On 843 501-503 Vossloh 2006 4th 4th G 1700-2 BB
504 2011
Em 845 001 DB (2002) LEW 1982/2002 1 0 2003 V 60.10 , ex 105 164
On 845 002 Vossloh 2003 1 0 2014 G 1000 BB ; rented from ATC
Shunting locomotives and tractors
Series (classic) Series (UIC / TSI) origin Manufacturer Construction year number of pieces v max
(km / h) 		Discarded Remarks
series Numbers series Numbers total today
Eea 3/3 402 Eea 935 402 GBS SLM / ABB 1991 1 1
Ee 3/3 132-134; 151 Ee 936 132-135 EBT size SLM / ABB 1991 4th 3
Tm 2/2 71-72 Tm 236 371-372 RM RACO 1980, 1983 2 0 2011 to MFAG sold
Tm 2/2 79-80 Tm 235 079-080 BLS RACO 1993 2 1
81 081 BLS 1992 1 1
83-87 083-087 BLS size 1980-1983 5 1
88-89 088-089 BLS 1983, 1991 2 0
Tm 2/2 91-94 Tm 235 091-094 BLS Stadler 1980-1981 4th 4th
Tm 2/2 95-96 Tm 235 095-096 GBS Stadler 1984 2 2
97-98 097-098 BN 2 1
Tm 235 099 STAG 1996 1 0 2006
100 1 1
Tm 236 380-384 RM Winpro 2004 5 5

Merger portfolio

When the company merged to form “BLS AG” in 2006, the majority of the rolling stock from “BLS Lötschbergbahn AG” and “Regionalverkehr Mittelland AG” was taken over - due to the longevity of the rolling stock, some of the respective predecessor companies under the BLS Group and EBT were taken over -Group procured vehicles. Five locomotives ( Re 436 111–115 ) procured by the EBT Group , which were assigned to the independent RM freight subsidiary Crossrail AG on January 1, 2006 , were prominently not brought in.

The BLS changed its own locomotive types Re 4/4 (161–195), Re 465 (001–018) and Re 485 (001–020); The «Privatbahn-NPZ» consisting of multiple units RBDe 4/4 (721–742), associated control coaches and various intermediate coaches (including B Jumbo ) and the regional «Nina» RABe 525 multiple units (001–036) were brought in purely for passenger transport ). In addition, the standardized wagons III (EW III) and twelve former Re 4/4 II (Re 420 501-512) that were taken over from the SBB in 2004/2005 to create RegioExpress compositions .

Practically only vehicles for passenger transport changed from RM, including two generations of commuter trains with the railcar types RBDe 4/4 (220-227) and RBDe 4/4 II (230-242), associated control cars and various intermediate cars, as well as thirteen Stadler GTWs RABe 526 - the only new acquisition from the RM era. The two "KTU locomotives" of the type Re 456 that were procured by VHB also switched to BLS, but remained permanently leased to the Swiss South Eastern Railway (SOB) as exotic ones.

Inventory changes

Within the new company, the line network, which was operated with comparatively old rolling stock, grew. The Lötschberg base tunnel, which started long-distance traffic through the SBB, also created a gap in the mountain route, which was used by BLS as regional traffic. In order to cover this offer, new regional multiple units have been ordered. Instead of the "Nina", which was procured in four series from 1998 and which were now technically obsolete, a new, but compatible vehicle was requested by means of a tender.

The previous supplier, Bombardier Transportation, prevailed with a redesigned version of the "Nina", which was named "Lötschberger" with regard to operation on the Lötschberg mountain route. Ordered in 2006 and classified as the RABe 535 series from 2008, thirteen vehicles were ordered, followed in 2008 by a repeat order of eight vehicles, and another four vehicles in 2011 (including one to replace the «Nina» 031, which burned out at the end of 2010), which were delivered by the end of 2012 were.

At the end of 2007 an agreement was reached with the Transports Régionaux Neuchâtelois (TRN) to take over their two structurally identical «Nina» from 2002/2003. In 2007, TRN accepted a new Stadler Flirt (331) and ordered two more at the end of the year. At the beginning of 2008, their «Nina» switched 322 to BLS as 038; After acceptance of the Flirt 332–333, "Nina" 321 joined BLS at the beginning of August 2009 as 037.

Lack of space on individual lines of the Bern S-Bahn , including in particular the S1 (Thun – Bern – Friborg), led to tenders for double-decker trains for regional traffic; In March 2010, 28 four-part Stadler Dosto units were ordered, which the BLS calls “Mutz” (Bern German bear ) and which were used from the end of 2012. At the end of 2015, three more “Mutz” were ordered, which were delivered in 2017.

The new acquisitions enabled BLS to clean up the vehicle fleet: “Nina” 038 was sold to RegionAlps in 2012 , with their three “Nina” now being given the TSI-compliant serial numbers 039-041. The "Nina" displaced by "Mutz", in turn, displaced the unwanted "GTW" of the RM; These could be sold in 2013 to the SBB, which they used from the end of 2013 for wing trains from Biel . "Privatbahn-NPZ", also displaced by "Mutz", finally displaced the forty-year-old RBDe 4/4 commuter trains from the EBT group into the iron reserve ; 2013 set went to the Jura Railways (CJ), (used initially as a reserve set of CJ) one of the "BLS Foundation" and two sets to cancel.

In June 2011 the SOB let the rent of the two “KTU locomotives” of the former VHB expire after nine years. In the absence of their own needs, BLS continued to operate them as rental locomotives, with one being rented to Swiss Rail Traffic (SRT) for a longer period of time. At the end of 2016, the exotic ones were sold to “Müller Gleisbau AG” or to the Sihltal-Zürich-Uetliberg-Bahn (SZU).

Historical rolling stock

Type Number
(originally) 		comment
Former vehicles
Ae 6/8 (8th) historical locomotive
Ae 8/8 (5)
Ae 4/4 (8th)
Ce 4/6 (17)

For the different colors of the BLS rolling stock, see BLS colors .

Business areas

Car loading

Car car near Kandersteg

BLS loads cars between Kandersteg and Goppenstein and between Brig and Iselle ( I ) south of the Simplon. A direct connection between Kandersteg and Iselle is also offered between the end of March and mid-October.

shipping

Share for CHF 500 in the United Steamship Company on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz from July 1, 1843

BLS has been shipping on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz since 1913 . At that time it took over the Thunerseebahn, which a year earlier had merged with the "United Steamship Company of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz" founded by Johannes Knechtenhofer and his brothers. Today, shipping in the Bernese Oberland is only of a tourist nature and mainly sails in summer. The Thunersee ships serve as feeders to the Beatus caves and the mountain railway to Beatenberg-Niederhorn, those on Lake Brienz open up the Giessbach Falls and in Brienz have a connection to Brünig-Lucerne, Brienzer Rothorn and the Ballenberg open-air museum . There is no ship canal between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz (i.e. between Interlaken West and East), which is why a two-way journey is only possible with a change in the West and East (ship-train, or vice versa). A combination of both paddle steamers ( Lötschberg on Lake Brienz and Blümlisalp on Lake Thun) is only possible (2011 timetable) starting in Brienz. The BLS currently offers six pairs of courses from mid-May to the end of October on Lake Thun and five to seven pairs on Lake Brienz. This after the timetable has been thinned out since 2003 due to declining frequencies and the lack of financial support from the canton (2008). As a result of the timetable cuts, the already low frequencies fell even further. The previous low (since 1946) was 2011 with just 896,000 passengers on both lakes. The highest frequencies of all time were on Lake Thun in 1971 with 1,392,730 passengers and on Lake Brienz in 1989 with 640,150 guests recorded. The year with the highest frequency since 2000 was 2009 with a total of 1,324,000 passengers on both lakes. The range of services was expanded in 2012 and 2013, but the frequencies did not return to the level of the years before 2011. On Lake Thun, scheduled boats today only serve the right bank, apart from Gwatt, Spiez and Faulensee. The other landing stages on the left bank were abandoned or never realized (Dürrenast). In addition to the scheduled boat trip, various culinary tours are offered, mainly in the evening.

Mooring points at Lake Brienz
Landing points on Lake Thun
Blümlisalp paddle steamer on Lake Thun

Fleet development since 1990

In 1992 the Lake Thun saloon steamer Blümlisalp was put back into operation. This also involved the renaming of the motor ships from Blümlisalp to City of Thun and from Thun to Kyburg . The comfort on the motor ships has been increased (initially especially MS Beatus and MS Bubenberg , whose new first-class salons are strongly based on the new "Weggis class" on Lake Lucerne). A comprehensive fleet renewal program (fleet concept 2000) provided for all motor ships that were more than fifty years old at the time (possibly with the exception of MS Spiez ) to be replaced by the year 2000. In a first stage, a new large motor ship on Lake Thun with a capacity of a thousand people and over four hundred banquet seats ( Bernese Oberland ) was to replace the MS Kyburg (ex Thun ) and the aging Jungfrau . The MS Jungfrau was to be relocated to Lake Brienz with a simultaneous total renovation and a reduction in load capacity to 700 passengers. MS Jungfrau was to replace MS Rothorn on Lake Brienz . The commissioning of MS Berner Oberland then delayed until 1996 and that of MS Virgin was next on Lake Brienz to 1999. Intended for two to three small ships on Lake Thun with two new units with 200 to 300 people Capacity for extra trips in the summer and scheduled trips in To replace winter. Only the MS Schilthorn went into operation in 2002 according to this concept. Nevertheless, several small ships were decommissioned: MS Gunten (1998), MS Oberhofen (1999), MS Niesen (2001, since then workshop ship) as well as MS Harder (Brienzersee, 2000) and finally MS Spiez (2008, provisional). DS Lötschberg received an extensive general overhaul with boiler replacement in winter 2000/2001, which resulted in costs of over four million. In contrast, the Thunersee motor ship Stadt Bern has only been used in reserve since 1998 (like the Jungfrau waiting for transport to Lake Brienz for two years ), since the Blümlisalp special course from 1992 (with steam surcharge) was removed from the timetable in 1998 and the steamer was assigned to a previous motor ship tour. For the city ​​of Bern , the conversion to a two-deck ship was initially planned as an alternative to the Beatus , which often reached capacity limits . However, due to falling frequencies (on both lakes from around 1995), this conversion was never carried out and the ship was decommissioned at the end of 2004. Since then, it has been waiting in the shipyard for the likely demolition. Instead, the motor ships Stadt Thun (2004) and Stockhorn (2008) were completely refurbished . MS Bubenberg should follow next . Due to the ongoing difficult financial situation, these and other urgent investments have to be postponed. As a result of the timetable restrictions (in particular Lake Brienz 2007, Lake Thun 2011), certain ships are rarely used, such as Niederhorn and Interlaken . The MS Oberhofen was sold to Amsterdam after it was taken out of service (1999). In 2013, Kurt and Ursula Matter from Oberhofen bought the MS Oberhofen back and gave it to BLS, which put the ship back into operation in spring 2014.

Lake Brienz fleet
  • DS Lötschberg : Capacity 800 people, crew six, built in 1914, completely renovated in 2001
  • MS Brienz: capacity 1000 people, crew of four, built in 1981, the largest ship in terms of tonnage on Lake Brienz
  • MS Jungfrau: capacity 700 people, crew three men, built in 1954 for Lake Thun, relocated to Lake Brienz and completely renovated in 1999
  • MS Interlaken: capacity 550 people, crew three men, built in 1956
  • MS Iseltwald: capacity 300 people, crew two men, built in 1969
Thunersee fleet
  • DS Blümlisalp : capacity 750 people, crew six, built in 1906, closed in 1971, completely renovated and put back into operation in 1992
  • MS Berner Oberland: capacity 1000 people, crew of four built in 1996, largest BLS ship (hull), should herald a new age of shipping in 1996 with its modern architecture
  • MS Stadt Thun: Capacity 1100 people, crew of four, built in 1971, completely refurbished in 2004, BLS's largest ship in terms of tonnage
  • MS Bubenberg: capacity 800 people, crew four men, built in 1962, general renovation expected around 2013
  • MS Stadt Bern: capacity 1000 people, crew four men, built in 1956, shutdown in 2004 due to overcapacity after the reactivation of the «Blümlisalp», a general refurbishment and recommissioning are currently not planned
  • MS Beatus: capacity 600 people, crew three men, built in 1963
  • MS Niederhorn: capacity 500 people, crew three men, built in 1959
  • MS Schilthorn: capacity 300 people, crew two / three men, built in 2002
  • MS Stockhorn: Capacity 250 people, crew two men, built in 1974, completely renovated in 2008
  • MS Spiez : capacity 200 people, crew two men, built in 1901 as a screw steamer, conversion to a motor ship in 1952, provisional shutdown in 2008, general refurbishment and recommissioning with steam engine by 2019 [out of date] , the oldest ship of the BLS
  • MS Oberhofen: built in 1939 and in service as MS Ente as a land boat on Lake Zurich, takeover by BLS in 1940, shutdown in 1999, back in operation since 2014 for short trips and for charter operations

Bus operation

BLS also operates various bus routes in the Emmental via its subsidiary Busland AG.

BLS Mobil

The BLS Mobil mobile app offers Swiss-wide timetable inquiries , mobile ticketing and the check-in and check-out function from lezzgo .

See also

literature

For the literature of the companies before the merger of BLS Lötschberg AG and Regionalverkehr Mittelland to BLS AG (2006):

Web links

Commons : BLS AG  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Company history
  2. ↑ Organization chart of BLS AG
  3. ↑ a b Facts and figures on the BLS AG website, accessed on December 9, 2016
  4. ^ Brig-Iselle car transport on the BLS website
  5. ^ Hans G. Wägli: Swiss rail network and Swiss rail profile CH + . AS Verlag, Zurich 2010, ISBN 978-3-909111-74-9 .
  6. ↑ Entry in the commercial register from November 26, 2017
  7. ↑ Dominik Feusi: For years BLS charged too much. In: bernerzeitung.ch . March 16, 2019, accessed March 16, 2019 .
  8. ↑ Aktiensammler 02/12, p. 9, ISSN  1611-8006
  9. ↑ Website club Save the Spiezerli
  10. ↑ Oberhofen celebrates the small ship with a big party , article on srf.ch from May 3, 2014

Coordinates: 46 ° 57 '0.4 "  N , 7 ° 26' 30.8"  E ; CH1903:  600247  /  199,893