Solothurn–Worblaufen railway explained

Solothurn–Worblaufen railway
Native Name Lang:de
Linenumber:308
Linelength Km:29.71
Tracks:1–2
Electrification:1250 V DC overhead catenary
Maxincline:3.0%

The Solothurn–Worblaufen railway is a 29.71 kilometre-long, metre-gauge and electrified railway in the cantons of Bern and Solothurn in Switzerland. The Solothurn–Zollikofen section was opened in 1916 by the Elektrische Schmalspurbahn Solothurn–Bern (Solothurn–Bern Electric Narrow-gauge Railway, ESB), which was merged with the Bern–Zollikofen Railway to form the Solothurn-Zollikofen-Bern Bahn (Solothurn-Zollikofen-Bern Railway, SZB) in 1922. The Zollikofen–Worblaufen line was opened in 1924, allowing trains to run directly between Bern and Solothurn (until then passengers had to change in Zollikofen). The two companies were merged into the Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn (RBS) in 1984. Passenger traffic is now integrated into the Bern S-Bahn, while operation of the remaining freight traffic was transferred to SBB Cargo on December 2012. The line is served by line S8 and RE5 (RegioExpress) services. Worblaufen is the centre of operations and also has a depot and the RBS workshop. All trains run from Worblaufen ro Bern on the Zollikofen–Bern railway . The line is constantly being improved. Except for a short section, there are multiple tracks between Worblaufen and Jegenstorf and between Grafenried and Fraubrunnen.

Operating points

Operating pointTrack infrastructureOpeningRemarks
Worblaufen"Wedge" station

six tracks, two island platforms, two outside platforms

1912 *1973Many sidings, several depot facilities, three tracks to Oberzollikofen
OberzollikofenIsland platform and a third track1974Transfer track between standard and metre gauge (three tracks)
ZollikofenTwo outside platforms1916 *2005Common railway station with the SBB (lines S3 to Lyss – Biel/ Bienne, S4 to Burgdorf – Affoltern-Weier),
ProdegaService stationRunning towards Jegenstorf, after the one-track section at the underpass under SBB line to Biel.
MoosseedorfIsland platform1916 *1990Partly underground
Schönbühl-ShoppylandIsland platform and a siding1975 *1999
Schönbühl RBSTwo outer platforms1916 *1989New structure on other side of the level crossing
UrtenenTwo outside platforms
JegenstorfAn outside platform and an island platform, three tracks1916 *1998Track one is just a dead-end track
GrafenriedTwo outside platforms1916 *1956 *2008
FraubrunnenMain station platform, island platform1916 *2008Island platform, unused in normal operations
Büren zum HofTwo tracks, main platform1916Request stop, infrastructure warehouse
SchalunenHalt 1916Request stop
HofService station2002End of the double track from Bätterkinden
BätterkindenMain station platform, island platform1916Sidings
Küttikofen-KräiligenHalt1916Request stop with reduced service until 2008, but now no longer served.
Lohn-LüterkofenIsland platform1916Sidings
AmmannseggHalt1916Request stop with reduced service until 2008, but now no longer served.
Biberist RBSTwo outside platforms1916 *2013Two outside platforms, new platforms with a pedestrian underpass.
BleichenbergHalt1916Request stop with reduced service until 2008, but now no longer served.
SolothurnIsland platform1916 *1968Large rolling stock yard and depot

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