Trunk network

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Today's rail network of the RhB: trunk network red, Bernina line blue

With Stammnetz the designated Rhaetian Railway (RhB) in the Swiss canton of Grisons the part of its rail network , which with 11,000 volts single phase 16.7 Hertz is operated.

history

The largest part of the main network was created between 1889 and 1913. The Engadine line has been operated electrically since it opened in 1913, the rest of the main network was electrified from 1919 to 1922. In 1999 the main network was expanded with the club line .

When the Chur – Arosa Railway and the Bellinzona – Mesocco Railway were integrated into the RhB in 1942, and the Bernina Railway a year later , their route network also received three different direct current systems. The following voltages were or are used:

  • Chur – Arosa Railway: originally 2200 volts, later 2400 volts
  • Bellinzona – Mesocco Railway: 1500 volts
  • Bernina Railway: 1908–1935 750 volts, since then 1000 volts

As early as 1945/46, the RhB checked the conversion of the Arosa Railway to 11,000 volts single-phase alternating current, but remained with direct current operation because of the insufficient efficiency of the traction current network in the Chur area at the time. In 1997, the route to Arosa was converted to AC operation and thus joined the main network. At the end of 2003, the RhB ceased operations on the Bellinzona – Mesocco line, which was isolated from the main network. Thus, the Bernina line is the last RhB line that does not belong to the main network.

Transition to direct current lines

Front face of an ABe 8/12 with heating cables for the main network (300 V) and the Bernina line (1000 V)

The various electricity systems make it difficult or impossible for the Rhaetian Railway to freely use its locomotives and coaches . The DC links also differ from the main network in other technical standards. On the Bernina line, the car length is limited to 16.5 meters due to the smaller curve radii and the smaller clearance profile . The maximum car length of the RhB of 18.5 meters is just allowed on the Arosalinie.

Because the Bellinzona – Mesocco line used a different braking system with compressed air instead of vacuum brakes , moving rolling stock was only possible after conversion. In 1942 the RhB had to move several passenger and freight cars from the main network to the Misoxer route.

The strong seasonal traffic peaks - in summer on the Bernina, in winter to Arosa - the RhB copes with with mainline passenger cars. The heating and now the air conditioning of the transferable cars must be designed for different heating line voltages. On the main network, the heating cable is fed with 300 volts alternating current, on the direct current lines with the overhead line voltage. The wagons that could be used in Arosa had to be equipped with roof rods until the voltage was changed , as the heating was supplied via a roof line.

With the Allegra multiple units ABe 8/12 , the RhB has for the first time had electric traction vehicles available since 2010 that can run on the entire network.

See also

literature