![Glattalbahn Trassee beim Schweizer Fernsehen](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Glattalbahn_Trassee_beim_Schweizer_Fernsehen.jpg)
The Glattalbahn, originally known as the Stadtbahn Glattal, was a project that was ultimately successful in introducing a modern rapid-transit system to the
Glattal
The Glatt Valley (German: ''Glattal'' or ''Glatttal'') is a region and a river valley in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.
Geography
The Glatt is a tributary to the Rhine in the Zürcher Unterland area of the canton of Zurich. It is long ...
area of
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
, to the north of the city of
Zürich
Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...
. Stadtbahn Glattal was developed as a
metre gauge
Metre-gauge railways are narrow-gauge railways with track gauge of or 1 metre.
The metre gauge is used in around of tracks around the world. It was used by European colonial powers, such as the French, British and German Empires. In Europe, la ...
tram
A tram (called a streetcar or trolley in North America) is a rail vehicle that travels on tramway tracks on public urban streets; some include segments on segregated right-of-way. The tramlines or networks operated as public transport are ...
system with through-running to neighbouring Zürich. It was built and is owned by the
Verkehrsbetriebe Glattal VBG Verkehrsbetriebe Glattal AG operates local public transport in the Glattal and Furttal regions and in the Effretikon/Volketswil area in the north-east of Zürich on behalf of the Zürcher Verkehrsverbund. As a purely market-responsible company, ...
(VBG), but is operated under contract to them by the
Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich
Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ) is a public transport operator in the Swiss city of Zürich, and is wholly owned by the city. Previously known as the Städtische Strassenbahn Zürich (StStZ), the organisation was founded in 1896 and adopted its cu ...
(VBZ).
Stadtbahn Glattal is the official denomination of this system. This name is used in all official and legal processes. Elsewhere, the alternative term, Glattalbahn, is frequently substituted. The latter term correctly refers to the
railway line from Wallisellen to Uster. It is, however, widely used for the Stadtbahn Glattal system and is prominent on the official website and advertising material.
Stadtbahn Glattal is sometimes described in German as a ''Mittelverteiler'', i.e., intermediate distributor (intermediate between
S-Bahn
The S-Bahn is the name of hybrid urban- suburban rail systems serving a metropolitan region in German-speaking countries. Some of the larger S-Bahn systems provide service similar to rapid transit systems, while smaller ones often resemble co ...
and
bus
A bus (contracted from omnibus, with variants multibus, motorbus, autobus, etc.) is a road vehicle that carries significantly more passengers than an average car or van. It is most commonly used in public transport, but is also in use for cha ...
).
History
Pre-existing situation
A private tramway company, the
Strassenbahn Zürich-Oerlikon-Seebach (ZOS), opened a line from Zürich Seebach to
Glattbrugg
Opfikon (; in the local Swiss German dialect: )Andres Kristol/Gabrielle Schmid, ''Opfikon ZH (Bülach)'' in: ''Dictionnaire toponymique des communes suisses – Lexikon der schweizerischen Gemeindenamen – Dizionario toponomastico dei comuni sviz ...
in 1908. At the time, this area was sparsely inhabited and the line was not a commercial success. The link was replaced by a bus service in 1931.
In the period following
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, the
Glattal
The Glatt Valley (German: ''Glattal'' or ''Glatttal'') is a region and a river valley in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.
Geography
The Glatt is a tributary to the Rhine in the Zürcher Unterland area of the canton of Zurich. It is long ...
area experienced a rapid boom as population and industry spilled over from nearby
Zürich
Zürich () is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. As of January 2020, the municipality has 43 ...
. The development was accelerated by the inauguration of
Zurich Airport
Zürich Airport (), french: Aéroport de Zurich, it, Aeroporto di Zurigo, rm, Eroport da Turitg is the largest international airport of Switzerland and the airline hub, principal hub of Swiss International Air Lines. It serves Zürich, Switze ...
near
Kloten
Kloten is a municipality in the district of Bülach in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, and belongs to the Glatt Valley (german: Glatttal).
History
Kloten is first mentioned in 1155 as ''Chlotun''.
Geography
Kloten is located in the Gl ...
in 1953. The economic growth of the Glattal region is continuing to this day. One of the consequences of the rapid transformation is rising
traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition in transport that is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. Traffic congestion on urban road networks has increased substantially since the 1950s. When traffic de ...
.
[
The area was, and still is, served by the ]Zürich S-Bahn
The Zürich S-Bahn (german: S-Bahn Zürich) system is a network of rail lines that has been incrementally expanded to cover the ZVV area, which comprises the entire canton of Zürich and portions of neighbouring cantons (Aargau, Glarus, ...
, which provides frequent and fast connections between its stations. There are also fast train connections from Zurich Airport
Zürich Airport (), french: Aéroport de Zurich, it, Aeroporto di Zurigo, rm, Eroport da Turitg is the largest international airport of Switzerland and the airline hub, principal hub of Swiss International Air Lines. It serves Zürich, Switze ...
to central Zürich, some calling in Oerlikon. However the stations of the S-Bahn are widely spaced and, prior to the development of the Stadtbahn Glattal, onward distribution from the railway stations depended on bus services.[
]
Investigation
By the 1990s, it was recognised that the bus services in the Glattal region were suffering from both road congestion and vehicle overloading. It was decided to investigate the construction of a rapid transit
Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be c ...
system.[
Following the evaluation of alternatives, including a ]monorail
A monorail (from "mono", meaning "one", and "rail") is a railway in which the track consists of a single rail or a beam.
Colloquially, the term "monorail" is often used to describe any form of elevated rail or people mover. More accurately, ...
system, a metre gauge tram was selected on account of its compatibility with that of neighbouring Zürich and the ability to provide through services.[
]
Development
The regional bus operating authority for the Glattal
The Glatt Valley (German: ''Glattal'' or ''Glatttal'') is a region and a river valley in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.
Geography
The Glatt is a tributary to the Rhine in the Zürcher Unterland area of the canton of Zurich. It is long ...
area, the VBG, was charged with managing the implementation of the project, and it in turn subcontracted the operation of the rail services to the VBZ.[
The system was developed in three phases:
* Phase 1 saw Zürich city trams extended from Messe to Auzelg. Construction began in 2004 and this line was inaugurated in late 2006. It is operated as an extension of city route 11.
* Phase 2 branched off from phase 1 and ran to Zurich Flughafen, Bahnhof via ]Opfikon
Opfikon (; in the local Swiss German dialect: )Andres Kristol/Gabrielle Schmid, ''Opfikon ZH (Bülach)'' in: ''Dictionnaire toponymique des communes suisses – Lexikon der schweizerischen Gemeindenamen – Dizionario toponomastico dei comuni sviz ...
and Glattbrugg
Opfikon (; in the local Swiss German dialect: )Andres Kristol/Gabrielle Schmid, ''Opfikon ZH (Bülach)'' in: ''Dictionnaire toponymique des communes suisses – Lexikon der schweizerischen Gemeindenamen – Dizionario toponomastico dei comuni sviz ...
. Construction began in 2006 and the line was opened in December 2008. The route is operated as an extension of city route 10.
* Phase 3 saw the phase 1 line extended from Auzelg via Wallisellen
Wallisellen is a municipality in the district of Bülach in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, and belongs to the Glatt Valley (German: ''Glattal'').
History
The first settlement at Wallisellen dates from 58 BC. The municipality Wallisellen h ...
to Bahnhof Stettbach in Dübendorf
Dübendorf is a municipality in the district of Uster in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.
It is a suburb of Zürich in Switzerland with a population of about 30,000 (2021). It is the fourth largest city in the canton, after Zürich, Winter ...
. Construction began in 2008 for a 2010 opening. Trams now run from Zurich Airport to Bahnhof Stettbach as the new route 12.
The Federal Council approved an extension on April 6, 2022.
Operation
The Stadtbahn Glattal is operated by Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich
Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ) is a public transport operator in the Swiss city of Zürich, and is wholly owned by the city. Previously known as the Städtische Strassenbahn Zürich (StStZ), the organisation was founded in 1896 and adopted its cu ...
(VBZ) as an extension to its Zürich tram network
, neighboring_municipalities = Adliswil, Dübendorf, Fällanden, Kilchberg, Maur, Oberengstringen, Opfikon, Regensdorf, Rümlang, Schlieren, Stallikon, Uitikon, Urdorf, Wallisellen, Zollikon
, twintowns = Kunming, San Francisco
Züric ...
. The following routes are operated:
Routes 10 and 12 are operated by the VBZ on behalf of the VBG, normally using low floor Cobra tramcars in the VBG's own predominantly white colour scheme. Route 11 is operated by the VBZ on its own behalf, normally using vehicles in its own livery with journeys alternating between low floor and older high floor vehicles.[
]
Future plans
There are several future plans for extension of the system. As a first stage, the route from the airport to the centre and industrial and commercial area of Kloten is to be extended from 2025 onwards, with the terminus in Bassersdorf Grindel. The project includes a bridge over the airport motorway, a main cycle link and the upgrading of the old stream in the centre of Kloten.
The further extension plans are as yet uncommitted, although in some cases the proposed alignment has been protected. They include:
* The ''Ringbahn Hardwald'' extends the system from the end of the current phase 2 line at Zurich Flughafen, Bahnhof, via Kloten
Kloten is a municipality in the district of Bülach in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, and belongs to the Glatt Valley (german: Glatttal).
History
Kloten is first mentioned in 1155 as ''Chlotun''.
Geography
Kloten is located in the Gl ...
, Bassersdorf
Bassersdorf (High Alemannic: ''Baserschtoorff'') is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Zürich, located in the district of Bülach, and belongs to the Glatt Valley (German: ''Glattal'').
History
The name, mentioned in 1155 as ''Bazzelstorf' ...
, Dietlikon
Dietlikon is a municipality in the district of Bülach in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, and belongs to the Glatt Valley (German: ''Glattal'').
History
Dietlikon is first mentioned in 1124 as ''Dietlinchoven''.
Geography
Dietlikon has an ...
and Dübendorf
Dübendorf is a municipality in the district of Uster in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.
It is a suburb of Zürich in Switzerland with a population of about 30,000 (2021). It is the fourth largest city in the canton, after Zürich, Winter ...
, to a common terminus with the already built phase 3 line at Stettbach railway station
Stettbach is a railway station on the north-eastern boundary of the Swiss city of Zürich. Although the station is located just within the city boundary, in the city's Schwamendingen district, it takes its name from the nearby village of Stettb ...
.
* An extension from Dübendorf to Uster
Uster (High Alemannic: ''Uschter'') is a town and the capital of the Uster District in the Swiss canton of Zürich.
It is the third largest town in the canton of Zürich, with almost 35,000 inhabitants, and is one of the twenty largest towns ...
.
* An extension to Bülach
, neighboring_municipalities= Bachenbülach, Eglisau, Embrach, Glattfelden, Hochfelden, Höri, Rorbas, Winkel
, twintowns = Santeramo in Colle (Italy)
Bülach () is an historic town and a municipality in Switzerland in the canton ...
.
References
External links
*
{{Portal bar, Transport, Switzerland
Tram transport in Switzerland
Public transport in Switzerland
Transport in Zürich
VBG
Metre gauge railways in Switzerland
Swiss companies established in 2004
Transport companies established in 2004