Bever – Scuol – Tarasp railway line

Bever-Scuol-Tarasp
Timetable field :	910 and 960
Route length:	49.41 km
Gauge :	1000 mm ( meter gauge )
Power system :	11 kV 16.7 Hz  ~
Maximum slope :	25  ‰
Legend Albula Railway from St. Moritz 95.60 Bever 1710 m Albula Railway to Thusis 99.99 La Punt-Chamues-ch 1696 m 101.48 Madulain 1697 m 103.80 Zuoz 1692 m 106.00 S-chanf 1669 m 107.41 S-chanf marathon 1668 m Val Susauna viaduct 110.28 Cinuos-chel - Brail 1628 m Inn Viaduct Val Mela viaduct Brail tunnel I (895 m) Val Verda viaduct Brail tunnel II (308 m) Val S-chüra viaduct 115.18 Carolina 1568 m Tantermozza Viaduct Raschisch Tunnel (185 m) Röven tunnel (94 m) 120.36 Zernez 1470 m Inn Praschitsch tunnel (66 m) Sparsa tunnel (172 m) Crastatscha tunnel (315 m) Val Susasca viaduct 126.83 Susch 1434 m Valauta tunnel (128 m) 127.80 Junction Sasslatsch II to the Vereina tunnel in Klosters 1432 m Sasslatsch Tunnel I (232 m) Val Sagliains viaduct Club course from Klosters 128.67 Sagliains 1431 m 130.10 Lavin 1431 m Gonda tunnel (396 m) Tuoi Viaduct 133.28 Guarda 1431 m Giarsun tunnel (172 m) Magnacun tunnel (1,909 m) Val Prauost Viaduct 137.38 Ardez 1431 m Craista tunnel (514 m) Tarstunnel (103 m) Val Tasna viaduct Tasna tunnel (2,350 m) Val Püzza viaduct Baraigla tunnel (52 m) 142.67 Ftan Baraigla 1335 m Fora da Dabladé viaduct Lumes Viaduct Val Corgnanca viaduct Nairs Viaduct 145.01 Scuol-Tarasp 1286 m

The Bever – Scuol – Tarasp railway line , also known as the Engadine Railway , Engadine Line , Lower Engadine Railway or Lower Engadine Line, is a meter-gauge Swiss narrow-gauge railway . It is operated by the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) and connects the Lower Engadine with the Albula Railway . The Pontresiner line is also often included in the route covered here. Both routes are closely linked operationally. The Bever – Scuol – Tarasp line is part of the main RhB network , so the kilometering has its zero point in Landquart .

history

After the construction of the Albula Railway , the canton of Graubünden and, among other things, the federal military authorities were very interested in a railway line through the Engadine . Originally, this route was only intended as a complementary line, but the high level of popularity made it a high priority. Finally, on July 27, 1903 , the Rhaetian Railway commissioned Prof. Friedrich Hennings, who had also built the Albula Railway, to work out a project that envisaged a completely feasible and affordable route through the Engadine. After working out this project, the Loste office in Paris took over the detailed planning together with chief engineer Peter Saluz, which was based on the plans of Prof. Hennings. In 1907 a project was finally presented which envisaged a 49.5 kilometer route with a total of 17 tunnels and 55 larger bridges. The engineering structures on the route now required specialists with experience. Hans Studer, who had already built the Wiesener Viaduct , was hired as construction manager for the Bever – Zernez section. The experienced construction technician Jakob G. Zollinger took over responsibility for the Zernez – Scuol section.

The construction works

In the spring of 1909, construction work began on the entire route. They were originally supposed to be finished in the summer of 1912, but the engineers and workers encountered unexpected problems when building the tunnel between Guarda and Scuol. While in the spring of 1912 between Bever and Guarda they were already busy with the construction of the route and the superstructure, the miners between Guarda and Scuol struggled with unusual rock pressure, loose rock layers and water ingress during tunnel construction. Finally, in June / July 1912, the longest drive tunnels Magnacun (1909 m) and Tasna (2350 m) were able to be penetrated. The construction workers then managed to complete the masonry and complete excavation by April 1913. On 28/29 June 1913 the route was ceremoniously opened.

Construction accident in 1911

On August 29, 1911, a 30-meter-high wooden scaffolding collapsed on the Val Mela viaduct between Cinuos-chel and Brail and tore twelve Italian construction workers to their deaths. In memory of this accident, the cause of which has never been found out, there is a memorial plaque at the portal entrance of the Brail 1 tunnel, which was last restored in 2003.

The electrification

The electrical trial operation on the Spiez – Frutigen line, which BLS had acquired for this purpose, also aroused interest in the new traction technology using single-phase alternating current at the Rhaetian Railway . The Rhaetian Railway decided to use the Bever – Scuol line, which was still under construction, as a test line for single-phase alternating current. The Rhaetian Railway commissioned the Brusio power stations with the energy supply. The Brusio power plants now had to ensure the supply of energy from the Poschiavo via the Bernina Pass to Bever, to the substation built specifically for the conversion to the required voltage of 11 kV / 16 2/3 Hz. The Rhaetian Railway was able to operate the Lower Engadine line electrically when it opened.

Accidents

Rescue work after the accident near Zernez on March 19, 1937.

On March 22, 1927, a train drove between Guarda and Ardez in front of the Magnacun tunnel on a fallen boulder. The Ge 2/4 206 was pressed against the wall edge of the tunnel portal. The engine driver died, two passengers were seriously injured and seven were slightly injured.

On March 19, 1937, the last evening train between Zernez and Susch hit a snow slide. The locomotive Ge 4/6 391 derailed and crashed across the road into the Inn , but the wagons remained on the track. The train driver died, a train foreman was seriously injured, and the passengers got away with terror. The locomotive could only be recovered after more than two months.

A strange accident occurred on April 30, 2012, when a Scuol-Tarasp- Klosters train collided with the M13 bear at the Ftan Baraigla station late in the evening . No major injuries were found on the animal.

Route

Bever station in February 2014

Zuoz train station

The so-called Lower Engadine Line starts at the Bever branching station , where the Albula Railway branches off from Samedan / St. Moritz in the direction of Filisur / Thusis / Chur . The route now runs on the still wide left side of the valley of the Upper Engadin with a 20 ‰ slope via the stations La Punt - Chamues-ch , Madulain , Zuoz and S-chanf to Cinuos-chel - Brail . Between S-chanf and Cinuos-chel-Brail is the S-chanf Marathon stop at kilometer 107.4, which is only served by selected trains during sporting events in winter and summer. After the Cinuos-chel-Brail train station, the route crosses the Inn over the famous 113 m long Inn viaduct. So she changes to the right side of the valley, where the route leads over several engineering structures and tunnels and the passing point Carolina to Zernez . Before Zernez, the route overcomes the natural difference in altitude between the Upper and Lower Engadine via a large loop . After Zernez, the route changes over a large steel bridge to the left side of the valley, where it then leads at a steady incline of 20 ‰ through several small tunnels to Susch. Shortly after the Susch train station , a connecting tunnel (Sasslatsch II, 277 m long) branches off into the Vereina tunnel . The Lower Engadine route continues along the left slope of the valley and comes to the Sagliains train station and the Vereina north portal. The station is on the one hand a car loading station for the car trains through the Vereina tunnel, on the other hand a pure transfer station for passenger trains. An exit for travelers to the public street space was not set up.

After the Sagliains station , the route continues via the Lavin , Guarda , Ardez and Ftan stations , as well as through several smaller tunnels, the long Tasna and Magnacun tunnels and over several viaducts to the Scuol-Tarasp station .

Train stations

Bever

Bever station is the separating station between the Albula Railway ( Chur - St. Moritz ) and the so-called Engadine line. The Bever train station is the starting point for the Engadine line. Just like the village of Bever, it is located at 1708 m above sea level, its location is southwest of the village. The station is only served by passenger trains that run on the Engadine line. The so-called Albula express trains (Regional Express Chur – St. Moritz) do not stop in Bever.

Zernez

Zernez train station

The Zernez train station is located on the north-western edge of the village of the same name at 1471 m. The Zernez train station is very important in terms of traffic. All trains that serve part or all of the Engadine line stop in Zernez, and there is also a connection to the post bus in Zernez via the Ofen Pass into the Münstertal to Müstair , Santa Maria and Mals in Italy, where there is a connection to the Vinschgau Railway to Merano and Bozen . In the summer there are also post buses to Davos Platz . Freight traffic also plays a major role in Zernez. Freight trains with swap bodies travel regularly to Zernez, which are then transported by truck to the Münstertal. In addition, many goods from the central Engadine are loaded in Zernez.

In 2010 and 2011 the Zernez train station was completely rebuilt. Among other things, the railway technical systems were renewed, the platforms were raised and thus made accessible for the disabled , a new covered central platform was built, the station building was rebuilt, the platform on the platform side was covered and the crossing tracks on the Susch side were extended. The middle platform is connected to the station building and the platform on platform 1 by an underpass. In addition, a new one was post bus -Access built that allow improved connections from the train to the bus stops. In the same way, a new 40-ton swap body crane and a new general cargo loading center were built to improve the handling of goods traffic .

Sagliains

Sagliains train station is at 128.7 km at 1432 m at the exit of the eponymous valley, Val Sagliains, between the villages and train stations of Susch and Lavin in the Lower Engadine. It was originally created on the excavated material of the Vereina tunnel . The Sagliains station went into operation with the Vereina tunnel in November 1999. Its main task is the Vereina car transport . The car loading station is equipped with two loading tracks on a loading ramp stretched on the valley slope, a direct connection to the main road through a car tunnel and a covered gallery, which among other things serves the waiting road vehicles and the cash registers. There is also a service building with a kiosk for self-service. In addition to loading cars, the Sagliains station also serves as a transfer station between the regional trains Scuol-Tarasp-Pontresina and the regional express trains Scuol-Tarasp-Landquart-Chur-Disentis. A central platform without external access serves as a transfer platform. This means that it is normally not possible to use this station to get on and off without changing to another train.

Scuol-Tarasp

Train ready to depart from Scuol-Tarasp station

The Scuol-Tarasp train station is located at the western exit of Scuol at an altitude of 1287 m in the Lower Engadine . The station owes its name to the neighboring town of Scuol and the small town of Tarasp , located southwest on the right side of the valley . The station was completely rebuilt and renovated from 2009. Since then, there is a post bus parking lot on the right of the station building, from where all post bus routes in the Lower Engadine start. In addition, a central platform was created where track 1 ends as a butt track and track 2 exists as a lead-through track. This enables direct level access to the trains and the platform. The cargo handling facilities were also renewed and rebuilt. Scuol-Tarasp is the end point or starting point for the regional train line Scuol-Tarasp-Zernez-Samedan- Pontresina and for the regional express Scuol-Tarasp-Landquart-Chur-Disentis. The regular Postbus routes to Ftan , Tarasp , Samnaun , Martina , Sent , S-charl and Val Sinestra start right at the train station . In addition, the Scuol local bus stops at the train station. The cable car to Motta Naluns begins next to the train station. Up to five freight trains run regularly on weekdays, including those coming from Landquart to Scuol-Tarasp. Mainly oil, mail, cement and garbage are handled at Scuol-Tarasp station.

Operation in 2013

passenger traffic

Anniversary locomotive Ge 4/4 II

Shuttle train with BDt 1723 and Ge 4/4 II in La Punt-Chamues-ch

The regional trains Pontresina – Samedan – Bever – Zernez – Scuol-Tarasp run every hour on the Engadine line. These trains almost always consist of a Ge 4/4 II , an EW I 1st class, two EW I 2nd class, a shuttle train car WS Velowagen (only in summer) and a BDt control car Neva Retica. On the Sagliains-Scuol-Tarasp section, the regional express trains Disentis-Landquart-Scuol-Tarasp also run every hour. They usually consist of a Ge 4/4 II, an EW II or EW IV 1st class and several 2nd class passenger cars. On the section between Vereina (Sasslatsch tunnel) and Bever, the so-called Engadin Star also runs more often during the day, mostly in the morning and evening. It is primarily used as a fast, touristically important connection from the Graubündner Unterland to the Engadine, but also for rush hour traffic (morning and evening) in and from the Graubündner Unterland (e.g. Chur and Landquart).

Freight transport

Freight traffic also plays an important and significant role on the entire Engadine route. Several freight trains run regularly on weekdays to Scuol-Tarasp and almost every two hours a freight train runs from Landquart to Samedan via Zernez. There are also regular freight train connections to Zernez. Since the Vereina route via Zernez, Vereina and Klosters to Landquart has been faster than the route via the Albula route to Landquart since 1999, many freight trains now travel through the Vereina tunnel to the Engadin.

Connection project to South Tyrol / Italy

The old idea of ​​a Ofenbergbahn , which could connect the Engadine with the Vinschgau in South Tyrol , experienced a new upswing after the revitalization of the Vinschgau Railway in 2005. As part of an EU- funded Interreg project, various possible routes were developed and examined in more detail. The results of the studies were presented at a conference in 2013; the necessary investment sums were put at around one billion euros, depending on the route chosen.

literature

• Rhaetian Railway (Ed.): Rhaetian Railway today - tomorrow - yesterday . Publishing group (Desertina Verlag, Disentis; Verlag M & T-Helvetica, Chur; Terra Grischuna Verlag, Bottmingen) 1988, ISBN 3-907036-08-5 (Festschrift for the 100th anniversary of the railway)
• Hans-Bernhard Schönborn: The Rhaetian Railway, past and present , GeraMond 2009, ISBN 978-3-7654-7162-9
• Eisenbahn Journal, Die RhB, specials parts 1–4, 1995–2000, Hermann Merker Verlag GmbH Fürstenfeldbruck, ISBN 3-89610-038-6 .
• Hans Domenig: From Tingelzüglein to Hochgebirgsbahn , in: Terra Grischuna, 59th year, issue 1, Terra Grischuna Verlag, Chur 2000, ISSN  1011-5196 .
• Katharina Hess, Paul Emanuel Müller: About the wild Plessur , in: Terra Grischuna, 48th year, issue 1, Terra Grischuna Verlag, Chur 1990, ISSN  1011-5196
• Railway Atlas Switzerland, Schweers + Wall 2012, ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7

Individual evidence

1. ^ Eisenbahnjournal, Die RhB part 3, pages 12-13, ISBN 3-89610-150-1
2. ^ The Rhaetian Railway, past and present, Hans-Bernhard Schönborn, GeraMond 2009, pages 96–99, ISBN 978-3-7654-7162-9
3. ↑ The 100th anniversary of the construction accident, in: Die Südostschweiz on Sunday, August 28, 2011, p. 7
4. ^ Eisenbahn Journal, Die RhB Part 3, pages 14–19, ISBN 3-89610-150-1
5. ↑ ^{a b} Geni Rohner, Freddy Pfister: The Grisons cultural path . Ed .: Historic RhB. Chur 2013, p. 17 .
6. ↑ Train accident in the Engadine. (PDF; 284 kB) In: Liechtensteiner Volksblatt. March 23, 1937, p. 3 , accessed October 20, 2013 . 
7. ^ Office for Hunting and Fishing Graubünden, Sandro Hartmeier: Bear M13 recorded by train of the RhB. Bahnonline, May 1, 2012, accessed on October 17, 2018 . 
8. ↑ Swiss Railway Atlas, Schweers + Wall, 2012, pages 38–39, ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7
9. ↑ Swiss Railway Atlas, Schweers + Wall, 2012, pages 38–39, ISBN 978-3-89494-130-7
10. ↑ www.fahrplanfelder.ch, course book no. 940 (PDF; 309 kB), 960 (PDF; 196 kB)
11. ^ Zernez station renewal , read August 26, 2012
12. ^ Eisenbahn Journal, Die RhB Part 4, March 2000, pages 68–79, ISBN 3-89610-063-7
13. ↑ General timetable Graubünden, Switzerland 2012
14. ↑ www.fahrplanfelder.ch, course book no. 960 (PDF; 196 kB)
15. ^ Rhaetian Railway meets Vinschger Railway. Press service of the Autonomous Province of Bolzano - South Tyrol, June 12, 2013, accessed on May 16, 2014 .