| Arbalète | |
| Type: | Trans Europ Express (TEE) (1957–1979) InterCity (IC) (1979–1987) EuroCity (EC) (1987–1997) |
| Status: | Replaced by a TGV |
| Locale: | France Switzerland |
| Formeroperator: | SNCF SBB-CFF-FFS |
| Start: | Paris-Est |
| End: | Zürich HB |
| Frequency: | Daily |
| El: | 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz (Basel SBB–Zürich HB) |
| Map State: | show |
The Arbalète (alternatively written L'Arbalète)[1] was an express train that linked Paris-Est in Paris, France, with Zürich HB in Zurich, Switzerland. Introduced in 1957, it was operated by the SNCF and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS).
The train was named after the crossbow used by William Tell to hit the apple on his son's head.
Originally, and for 22 years, the Arbalète was a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE). On 27 May 1979, it became a two-class InterCity (IC) train,[2] and on 31 May 1987, it was included in the then-new EuroCity (EC) network.[3] It was discontinued in September 1997, replaced by a TGV service that was routed via Pontarlier and Bern instead of Mulhouse and Basel.