I will provide an overview of the BLS line by line and in that way show something of the variety of its operations.
The line from Bern to Thun is not part of the BLS infrastructure, but belongs to the SBB.
Nevertheless, over this line the important trans-Alpine railway across the Lötschberg is accessed.
One of the classic locomotives of the BLS is the class Re 4/4, later designated class 425.
It entered service from 1964 onwards.
One of the locos hauls a freight train through heavy snow near Thun-Lerchenfeld.
[Nov 2015].
The class 515 double-deck railcars, also described by the acronym MUTZ, in contrast, only recently have become
part of the BLS fleet.
From 2013 onwards 28 of these railcars entered service.
Here one of the railcars operates a S-Bahn train from Fribourg to Thun via Bern.
[Nov 2015].
The RegioExpress trains from Bern to Brig via the mountain, rather than the base tunnel, line across the Lötschberg
are operated by class 535 railcars.
The BLS specifically ordered these railcars for this traffic and therefore called them Lötschberger.
The railcars were developed out of the NINA railcars, which the BLS had by then used for several years.
[Nov 2015].
Lerchenfeld is a suburb of Thun.
Here this small road runs directly alongside the tracks of the railway line.
It is mainly used by pedestrians and cyclists.
A class 535 railcar travels southwards.
[Nov 2015].
During the day three InterCity trains, the RegioExpress Lötschberger and two S-Bahn trains
ran every hour in each direction on the line Thun-Bern.
In addition, there were several freight trains.
Between Thun and Lerchenfeld the line through the Gürbetal runs parallel to the main line.
That meant that per hour about 20 trains passed Lerchenfeld.
Near Lerchenfeld a MUTZ railcar operates an S-Bahn train on line S1.
In the foreground the junction of the Gürbetal line can be seen.
[Apr 2014].
During the day trains leave Thun northwards at the following minutes past the hour:
.04 IC to Basel via Bern
.07 S44 to Wiler and Sümiswald-Grünen via Gürbetal and Burgdorf
.13 S1 to Fribourg via Münsingen and Bern
.32 IC to Basel via Bern
.36 IC to Romanshorn via Bern and Zürich
.37 S4 to Langnau via Gürbetal and Burgdorf
.43 S1 to Fribourg via Münsingen and Bern
.59 RE to Bern (Lötschberger)
A clas 515 railcar near Lerchenfeld. [Nov 2015].
During the day trains arrived at Thun from the north at the following minutes past the hour:
.16 S1 from Fribourg via Bern and Münsingen
.21 S4 from Langnau via Burgdorf and the Gürbetal
.21 IC from Basel to Interlaken
.24 IC from Romanshorn via Zürich to Brig
.46 S1 from Fribourg via Bern and Münsingen
.51 S44 from Wiler and Sümiswald-Grünen via Burgdorf and the Gürbetal
.52 IC from Basel to Interlaken or Brig
.59 RE from Bern to Zweisimmen and Brig (Lötschberger)
A MUTZ-railcar at Lerchenfeld. [Nov 2015].
This train hauled by a class 465 locomotive is probably on its way to the workshops in Spiez or Bönigen.
Trains from throughout the BLS network use the line to Thun to transfer to the workshops for maintenance.
[Nov 2015].
BLS Cargo provides the motive power for Ralpin, the operator of the Rolling Highway, which
transfers road trucks from Germany to Italy.
A class 485 loco with a Rolling Highway train near Lerchenfeld.
[Sep 2015].
In Thun the SBB line ends and the BLS line begins.
Thun is also the southern terminus of the s-Bahn Bern.
Because the BLS operates the S-Bahn Bern, more BLS trains actually operate north of Thun on SBB tracks than south on BLS tracks.
Class 515 railcars sit in the yard of Thun during the weekend.
I took the photo from the castle of Thun. In the background is Lake Thun.
[Nov 2015].
A MUTZ railcar (class 515) is about to depart as S1 from Thun.
[Dec 2015].
Before the MUTz railcars were introduced from 2013 onwards,
the S1 S-Bahn line was mainly operated by class 525 railcars.
One of these railcars arrives as S1 in Thun.
[Jul 2007].
A MUTZ railcar travels through the countryside near Uttigen, north of Thun.
[Dec 2015].
The RegioExpress Lötschberger normally is operated by three multiple units between Bern and Spiez.
In Spiez the train is broken up.
The front two units continue to Brig via Kandersteg.
The rear unit reverses and travels as Regio train to Zweisimmen.
Here the RegioExpress is near Uttigen.
[Dec 2015].
Two BLS Cargo class 485 locos haul a container train southwards near Uttigen.
[Dec 2015].
Class Re 4/4 425 locos are hardly used for passenger trains any more.
But they are still active on freight trains.
These two engines illustrate the different pantographs used on the class.
[Jan 2016].
In Gümligen near Bern the tram line from Bern to Worb crosses
the railway line Bern - Thun.
It is possible to connect between the two modes at Gümligen station.
But this Lötschberger RegioExpress hurries through Gümligen station.
In contrast, the tram slows down and prepares to stop.
[Sep 2015].
From Thun southwards the BLS is responsible for the transit rail corridor across the Lötschberg mountains.
The first part of the line runs above Lake Thun from Thun to Spiez.
A train headed by a class Re 465 near Einigen is probably on its way to the workshops in Spiez or Bönigen.
[Feb 2014].
A Lötschberger-RegioExpress train is on its way to Bern above the shore of Lake Thun.
Two of the multiple units came from Brig via Kandersteg, the other from Zweisimmen.
They were coupled into one train in Spiez.
[Feb 2014].
And that's the view from close up.
An special overflow train with Type III standard carriages travels through the countryside above Lake Thun.
[Oct 2015].
A Lötschberger RegioExpress train near Einigen.
These class 535 trains entered service from 2008 onwards.
[Oct 2015].
As lengthening shadows herald the evening,
another Lötschberger train passes by.
[Oct 2015].
Rolling Highway trains cross the Lötschberg axis several times a day.
On the low-floor wagons road trucks up to 4m high are moved through Switzerland.
One of the trains travels past Lake Thun.
[Feb 2014].
A view of the same train with greater zoom.
The Rolling Highway trains are hauled by class 485 locomotives.
[Feb 2014].
Another view from Oberhofen across Lake Thun to the opposite shore, where
a Rolling Highway train is on its way to Italy.
[May 2014].
The landscape near Lake Thun on a snowy winter day.
Two class 485 engines haul a Rolling Highway train northwards to Germany.
[Mar 2016].
In the couchette carriage right behind the engine, truck drivers are able to rest and sleep
while the Rolling Highway speeds through Switzerland.
This train is seen near Einigen.
[Oct 2015].
A class 425 loco hauls a train with intermodal units near Einigen.
[Oct 2015].
The Lötschberger-RegioExpress arrives in Spiez from Bern.
Here the train will be split. The front part continues to Brig or Domodossola,
while the other part goes to Zweisimmen as Regio.
[Jan 2018].
Two class 425 locomotives haul a freight train through Spiez station.
A class 515 double-deck railcar stands on the neigbouring track.
[Jul 2015].
In Spiez I also saw this class AM 843 diesel locomotive.
These locomotives are mostly used by the BLS for infrastructure maintenance. .
[Jul 2015].
In Spiez the Lötschberg line turns south away from Lake Thun, following the Kander Valley to the Lötschberg pass.
An international freight train with two class Re 425 locos and one Re 465 loco waits in Spiez to continue its journey
to Italy.
[Feb 2015].
Near Mülenen two class 485 locomotives lead a Rolling Highway train south through the Kandertal.
The photo was taken from the mountain Niesen.
[May 2014].
A Lötschberger RegioExpress arrives in Reichenbach.
At this station one can take a post bus to the Kiental.
[Feb 2016].
On some days additional trains were run to cope with the many visitors to popular mountain areas.
This train operated from Frutigen to Thun and used carriages with the old BLS livery.
The train was pushed by a class Re 420 locomotive.
[Jul 2015].
A Lötschberger RegioExpress arrives in Frutigen.
Here the line through the Lötschberg base tunnel and the old line through the upper tunnel meet.
[Feb 2015].
Only few freight trains still travel across the old Lötschberg line over the mountains.
A class Re 465 locomotive hauls a container train across the Kander Viaduct near Frutigen.
[Feb 2015].
The hourly Lötschberger RegioExpress trains are the only regular passenger trains that travel over the old Lötschberg line.
But now and then some additional passenger trains are run, such as this train hauled by a class Re 465 loco to
bring skiers home from the mountains.
[Feb 2015].
This is a close-up of the engine as it crosses the old Kander Viaduct.
Behind it is a modern concrete viaduct, which was built during the double tracking of the old Lötschberg line.
[Feb 2015].
Before the opening of the Lötschberg base tunnel many freight trains used the old Lötschberg line.
Two class 485 locos haul a freight train through Blausee-Mitholz station.
[Jul 2007].
A class Re 4/4 (425) loco without train passes through Blausee-Mitholz station.
[Jul 2007].
8_Kandersteg.jpg)
A class Ae 6/8 locomotive hauls a special train into Kandersteg at the beginning of the Belle Epoque Week.
This class entered service from 1926 onwards (loco number 208 in 1943) and remained in regular service until 1995.
[Jan 2015].
8_Kandersteg.jpg)
The heritage train stands in the snowy station.
The carriages had received the original dark green livery of the BLS.
[Jan 2015].
Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon: the abbreviation spelled out.
The BLS never owned the infrastructure from Bern to Thun or through the Simplon tunnel.
It only owned the central part of the transit axis.
From December 2016 BLS trains will again operate from Bern over the old Lötschberg mountain line and then
through the Simplon tunnel to Domodossola.
[Jan 2015].
8_Kandersteg.jpg)
The heritage train with class Ae 6/8 in Kandersteg.
In the background is the mountain range through which the Lötschberg tunnel was bored.
The prominent peak is the Gällihorn.
[Jan 2015].
A Lötschberger RegioExpress train arrives in Kandersteg.
Even in the rain the Gällihorn is clearly visible.
[Aug 2015].
In winter it is late in the afternoon and already getting dark as this Lötschberger-RegioExpress stops in Kandersteg.
[Jan 2018].
An electric shunting engine stands beside a class Re 425 in Kandersteg.
[Jul 2007].
Between Kandersteg and Goppenstein the BLS operates vehicle shuttles, because there is no road through the mountains here.
These vehicle shuttles are hauled by class Re 425 locos.
A bus drives off one of the shuttle trains.
[Aug 2015].
In this way the old class Re 4/4 (425) locos can still be experienced in regular service.
And they really are quite handsome locos.
[Aug 2015].
At the other end of the shuttle trains are these driving trailers, which also carry bicycles and motorcycles.
The shuttles run every 30 minutes, and every 15 minutes at peak times.
[Aug 2015].
The shuttles operate through the tunnel between Kandersteg and Goppenstein.
But several trains also continue all the way through the Simplon tunnel to Italy.
A regular train leaves Kandersteg.
[Jul 2007].
A vehicle shuttle train arrives in Kandersteg.
[Jul 2007].
Near the entrance to the Lötschberg tunnel this class Re 425 loco pushes a vehicle shuttle train.
[Aug 2015].
Clouds swirl through Goppenstein as this class 425 locomotive gets ready to haul its train
through the Lötschberg tunnel.
Vehicle shuttles are today the main traffic through the old Lötschberg tunnel.
[Aug 2015].
A Lötschberger RegioExpress has arrived in Goppenstein, so that the shuttle train can now enter the tunnel.
[Aug 2015].
Goppenstein station is directly adjacent to the southern entrance of the old Lötschberg tunnel.
A class 535 railcar arrives in Goppenstein.
[Aug 2015].
The train from the opposite direction - from the south - arrives in Goppenstein.
[Aug 2015].
On the southern approach line to the old Lötschberg tunnel a Lötschberger RegioExpress is seen near Kummendorf.
[Aug 2014].
A Lötschberger RegioExpress crosses the Bietschtal bridge,
which crosses a deep ravine on the Lötschberg line.
[Aug 2014].
A Lötschberger-RegioExpress descends the southern Lötschberg line near Lalden.
This is the view from the Rhone Valley. The line clings to the mountainsides above the valley.
[Jan 2018].
This Lötschberger-RegioExpress consists of only a single railcar as it arrives in Brig.
[Jan 2018].
On occasions the BLS uses the museum train Blaue Pfeil or Blue Arrow instead of more modern rolling stock
for regular services.
In that way additional passengers are attracted to some less frequented Regio trains.
The Blue Arrow has arrived in Spiez as a Regio service from Interlaken.
[Aug 2015].
The railway line Spiez-Interlaken Ost leaves the main Lötschberg line in Spiez.
From Spiez the line descends rapidly down to Lake Thun.
The first station on the line after Spiez is Faulensee, where I too a photo of the Blaue Pfeil
arriving at the platform.
[Aug 2015].
Faulensee station is located on the hillside above the village, which nestles around a bay of Lake Thun.
Therefore, the railway station is not conveniently situated for most inhabitants.
A class RBDe 4/4 565 railcar arrives in Faulensee.
[Jul 2007].
This is a photo of the station from the hillside above it.
In the background is Lake Thun, on the shores of which the village of Faulensee lies.
[Jul 2007].
Winter in Faulensee.
Because there is no enclosed waiting room in Faulensee, we were happy to get from the cold into the warmth of the train.
It consists of a class 565 railcar, a driving trailer and an articulated intermediate carriage.
[Dec 2014].
At times class 535 railcars were also used as Regio between Interlaken and Spiez.
Such a train arrives in Faulensee on its way from Interlaken.
[Jul 2014].
In Leissigen the railway line runs close to the shore of Lake Thun.
A class Re 4/4 425 arrives in Leissigen.
These locomotives entered service from 1964 onwards.
[Jul 2005].
For some time the trains between Zweisimmen and Interlaken were marketed as the Golden Pass Express,
together with trains of the Brünig Railway and the Mountreux-Oberland-Bahn.
One of these trains stops in Leissigen while a class Re 425 loco pushes its train consisting of carriages in
then standard BLS livery in the direction of Interlaken.
[Jul 2005].
For use with Type III standard carriages, which the BLS bought from the SBB, six
class 420 locos were transferred from the SBB to the BLS in late 2004.
A further six followed in late 2005.
A class 420 locomotive in the new BLS colours arrives in Leissigen, but not with Type III standard carriages.
No, it hauls carriages in classic BLS colours.
Class 420 locos entered service for the SBB from 1964 onwards.
[Jul 2005].
Leissigen station is close to the old church of Leissigen.
A train with a class RBDe 4/4 565 railcar arrives in Faulensee.
These railcars with driving trailers entered service from 1982 onwards.
They were also called private railway NPZ (Neuer Pendel-Zug - New Commuter Train),
as several of this type were ordered by private railway companies.
While they were similar to the NPZ ordered by the SBB, they showed some clear differences.
[Aug 2015].
A class 565 railcar (NPZ) arrives from the opposite direction in Leissigen.
[Jul 2015].
Because the BLS had a rolling stock shortage when it took over the S-Bahn Bern in 2004,
class 465 locomotives were also used for Regio trains.
This class entered service from 1994 onwards to be used for both passenger and freight trains.
They are further development of the SBB class 460.
For the short Regio this Re 465 was probably overkill.
[Jul 2005].
A BLS Cargo class 485 locomotive stands in Leissigen with a permanent way maintenance train.
These engines were delivered from 2003 onwards and are similar to DB class 185 and SBB class 482.
[Jul 2005].
This MUTZ class 515 double-deck train arrives in Leissigen on a rainy summer day.
[Aug 2015].
In Därligen the railway line runs right alongside Lake Thun.
A train with a class 565 railcar passses the village in the morning sun.
[Aug 2015].
A similar view of Därligen, also from a ship on Lake Thun.
Därligen station is to the east of the village centre, even though the railway line passes close by.
[May 2014].
Near Därligen one can also often see the ships of Lake Thun from the train.
The steam ship Blümlisalp as seen through the window of the railcar Blaue Pfeil.
From behind the tree the motor ship Bubenberg emerges.
[Aug 2015].
A class 515 double-deck railcar is seen east of Därligen on its way to Interlaken.
[May 2014].
Several years earlier, one of the Regio trains between Spiez and Interlaken was hauled
by a class Re 460 locomotive.
It consisted of a variety of carriages.
Right behind the locomotive is an intermediate carriage for class 565 railcar consists in new livery.
At the rear are carriages in classic BLS livery.
[Jul 2005].
A class 515 railcar train has arrived in Interlaken Ost during a snow storm.
Interlaken has two railway stations: Interlaken West is located adjacent to the canal from Lake Thun;
Interlaken Ost (East) is near the canal from Lake Brienz.
This train will return to Spiez within half an hour.
[Dec 2014].
Interlaken is a tourist town. The many hotels are evidence of this.
The Blaue Pfeil in Interlaken Ost with the Hotel du Lac in the background.
[Aug 2015].
The driving cab of the Blaue Pfeil.
There are no digital instruments here.
On the opposite railway line stands the ICE of German state railway Deutsche Bahn.
[Aug 2015].
Class Re 4/4 425 are hardly ever used since the Lötschberger railcars have been used in regular service (2009).
They are apparently also not compatible with Type III standard carriages.
And yet, I saw a Re 425 with Type III standard carriages in Spiez.
Whether the engine just transferred the carriages or was actually used in passenger service, I do not know.
[Dec 2015].
The Lötschberger trains travel between Bern and Spiez as RegioExpress.
In Spiez they are split up. The two front units continue to Brig via Kandersteg as RegioExpress.
The rear unit travels to Zweisimmen as Regio and stops at every settlement in the Simmental.
A class 535 railcar crosses a bridge over the road near Wimmis.
[May 2015].
Wimmies lies at the entrance to the Simmental.
I took this photo from the castle hill.
A class 535 railcar arrives in Wimmis.
[May 2015].
A Regio train arrives in Wimmis from Zweisimmen.
Im the background the steep mountainsides are visible, which hem in the gorge through which the river Simme passes.
[May 2015].
The Regio train from Zweisimmen to Bern arrives in Oey-Diemtigen.
[Jan 2018].
Freight wagons in a frosty night at Erlenbach.
[Dec 2015].
A Regio train from zweisimmen arrives in Weissenburg.
At the station there is also a well for mineral water.
[May 2015].
On a snowy day a Lötschberger Regio train from Bern was running late.
As the train would have to return to Bern within only a few minutes after arriving at Zweisimmen,
the train on this day only operated to Boltigen.
Passengers from Zweisimmen were brought to Boltigen by a connecting train operated by a class 565 railcar.
This train also brought passengers to Zweisimmen from Boltigen.
[Dec 2014].
A Regio train to Spiez is ready for departure from Zweisimmen.
[Dec 2015].
In 2002 I still met a train of the Spiez-Erlenbach-Zweisimmen-Bahn (SEZ) in the blue colours of the BLS
in Zweisimmen.
[May 2002].
The BLS does have its own line between Thun and Bern,
but it is just a branch line through the Gürbetal via Belp and Wabern.
This line is today operated as part of the S-Bahn Bern.
A class 565 train combination is due to depart Thun as S4.
[Jan 2016].
Trains operate every half an hour through the Gürbetal.
The S4 continued from Bern to Langnau via Burgdorf.
The S44 continued from Bern to Burgdorf and there the train split, one train continuing to Wiler or Solothurn,
the other to Sumiswald-Grünen.
A class 525 railcar as S44 in Thun.
[Dec 2015].
Between Thun and Thun-Lerchenfeld the line runs parallel with the main line Thun-Bern.
Two class 525 railcars on an S44 train near Lerchenfeld.
[May 2014].
Class 525 railcars entered service from 1998 onwards.
They were named NINA (Niederflur-Naverkehrszug - low floor local train).
From 2007 several units were lengthened to four-part units.
All trains on S-Bahn line S44 are operated with four-part units, west of Burgdorf normally as twin units.
[Nov 2015].
Trains on S-Bahn line S4 normally were operated with class 565 railcars.
These units normally consisted of a driving trailer, a standard intermediate car, an articulated low-floor car (Jumbo), and
a motor unit.
The 1st class compartment is in the driving trailer.
The train passes Lerchenfeld.
In the background are the mountains Mönch and Jungfrau.
[Apr 2014].
That's the interior of the old intermediate carriages.
Inside they are still in the old BLS design.
Some of the windows can be opened wide, while others can only be opened a little.
[Jan 2016].
These days the first stop after Thun is Uetendorf-Allmend.
Here the line is just single track.
This was our closest railway station and I often boarded the train here to go to work or university.
[Feb 2016].
The snow has been cleared from the platform on this sunny winter day,
as a train with a class 565 railcar arrives in Uetendorf-Allmend ankommt.
[Feb 2015].
A class 565 railcar at night in Uetendorf-Allmend.
[Jan 2016].
A class 565 railcar arrives late at night in Uetendorf-Allmend.
[Dec 2015].
At the same platform but on another winter night a class 525 railcar has arrived in Uetendorf-Allmend.
The high floor sections at the end of the NINA railcars are well visible in this view.
[Jan 2016].
That's the interior of the NINZ (class 525) railcars.
In the 2nd class these railcars have a 3+2 seating arrangement.
[Feb 2016].
From late 2015 onwards the NINA railcars were modernised again.
The 1st class compartment was moved to the middle of the train.
But the old seats were re-used for the 2nd class areas.
Mechanical and electrical components were renewed.
The trains received a new livery and new LED headlights.
I encountered one of the trains in Uetendorf.
[Apr 2016].
Uetendorf has a nice church near to the railway line.
In the background is the Stockhorn range.
[Feb 2016].
This S-Bahn train travels through the landscape near Uetendorf.
In the background are the famous mountains of the Bernese Oberland: Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
[Feb 2016].
A NINA railcar with LED headlights is at the front of this train.
The second unit is in the advertising livery for the Gurtenbahn.
[Feb 2016].
A NPZ (class 565) on its way between Uetendorf and Seftigen.
[Feb 2016].
A class 525 railcar runs under the road bridge near Seftigen.
This is the highest elevation of the line.
Here it passes from the Gürbetal to the Aaretal.
[Feb 2016].
A NINA railcar arrives in Seftigen.
This station was converted from a country station with sidings to a S-Bahn stop with only one track.
The station still has a travel centre.
[Feb 2016].
The next station after Seftigen is Burgistein Station.
From there the line continues along the river Gürbe to Thurnen.
On a winter afternoon a train from Thun has arrived in Thurnen.
Passengers leave and enter the train.
[Feb 2015].
A little later the train to Thun arrives in Thurnen.
The trains normally cross between Kaufdorf and Toffen, where the line is double track.
These days Thurnen station is occupied by a pizzeria. There is also a heated waiting room.
[Feb 2015].
A class 565 railcar in Thurnen has green light to continue to Thun.
The driver has a good view on the Stockhorn mountain.
[Feb 2015].
A class 565 railcar near Mühlethurnen in the Gürbetal.
Thurnen station is in Mühlethurnen (mill Thurnen).
The other, separate part of Thurnen is called Kirchenthurnen (church Thurnen).
[Feb 2015].
From the fields between Mühlethurnen and Kirchenthurnen there's a nice view over trains and mountains.
The S44 departing Thun at 16.07 usually consisted of three units to cope with the passenger demand from Bern onwards.
[Feb 2015].
The opposite train consisted of the regular two multiple units.
The famous Bernese mountains Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau stand in the background.
[Feb 2015].
An S-Bahn train with class 525 railcars travels between Kaufdorf and Thurnen.
In the background the high rise apartments in Belp can be seen.
There the countryside changes into a more urban area.
[Feb 2015].
Between Kaufdorf and Toffen the line through the Gürbetal is double track.
Trains cross on this section.
A class 525 railcar departs from Kaufdorf.
[Oct 2014].
A NINA railcar arrives in Kaufdorf.
I still am really keen on the rectangular headlights.
[Oct 2014].
A class 525 railcar in Belp by night.
[Jan 2018].
S4 and S44 trains do not stope between Belp and Bern.
Instead, these stops are served by S3 and S31 trains.
This modernized NiNa railcar operating as S44 has arrived in Belp.
On the adjacent platorm the MUTZ railcar is waiting to depart two minutes later.
Passengers to intermediate stations between Belp and Bern can change trains here in Belp.
[Jan 2018].
A S44 train passes through Wabern without stopping.
Trains stopping in Wabern provide connection to the Gurtenbahn.
[Aug 2015].
A MUTZ railcar arrives in Bern-Europaplatz.
These trains are used on the S-Bahn lines S3 or S31 between Biel or Münchenbuchsee and Belp.
They stop at all stations between Bern and Belp
The line between Bern and Belp is partly still single track and yet six S-Bahn trains in each direction
operate on this line.
This requires an exact timetable and plenty of coordination if one of the trains is late.
[Aug 2015].
The 21 km branch line to Schwarzenburg leaves the Gürbetal line at Ausserholligen (Europaplatz).
Trains of S-Bahn route S6 run every 30 minutes.
They cross in Mittelhäusern. Here, two class 515 meet in Mittelhäusern.
[Aug 2015].
From 2015 onwards all trains were operated by class 515 (MUTZ) double-deck railcars.
A train travels along the line south of Mittelhäusern.
[Aug 2015].
Near Schwarzwasserbrücke the railway line crosses the gorge of the Schwarzwasser near the confluence with the river Sense.
The railway bridge is 180 long and 65 m above the valley floor.
A MUTZ on the bridge.
[Aug 2015].
Adjacent to the railway bridge is the road bridge.
This picture also shows a clas 515 train on the bridge across the Schwarzwasser.
[Aug 2015].
A MUTZ (Multiple Unit motor train) arrives on a nice autumn afternoon in Lanzenhäusern.
[Oct 2014].
At a time when at least still some NINA railcars operated on the line to Schwarzenburg,
I met this train near Lanzenhäusern.
[Oct 2014].
A three-part NINA railcar crosses an overbridge near Steinhaus between Lanzenhäusern and Schwarzenburg.
[Oct 2014].
The BLS also operates the trains on the SBB line from Bern to Luzern via Konolfingen and Entlebuch.
For RegioExpress trains between Bern and Luzern the BLS used the Type III standard carriages nearly exclusively from
December 2004 to December 2015.
The last rays of the sun illumine the carriages of such a RegioExpress train in Bern main station,
where hardly any sunlight reaches.
[Oct 2014].
A train with a class 565 railcar and two Jumbo intermediate carriages crosses the Lorraine Viaduct in Bern.
This S-Bahn train has arrived from Langnau via Konolfingen and continues to Laupen.
Langnau is the terminal for the Bern S-Bahn and the Luzern S-Bahn, so that there is a connection between the two systems.
[Sep 2015].
After crossing the Lorraine viaduct, the line continues along the Lorraine quarter of Bern towards Wankdorf.
Dieser S-Bahn train has left Bern main station and rounds the curve after the Lorraine viaduct, disappearing slowly from view.
[Jan 2018].
The trains share the main line Bern-Thun up to Gümligen, which has triple tracks up to here.
Just south of Gümligen the line to Konolfingen and Luzern turns eastward.
A class 465 locomotive hauls a RegioExpress through Gümligen.
[Sep 2015].
Class 420 locos also regularly hauled RegioExpress trains between Bern and Luzern.
One of the class arrives with a train in Konolfingen.
[Feb 2015].
One of the RegioExpress trains had advertising livery for the biscuit producer Kambly.
The Kambly-Express was also denoted in the timetable.
The train has arrived in Konolfingen.
[Dec 2015].
That's what the Type III standard carriages look like on the inside.
The SBB put them into service in 1975 for Swiss Express trains.
[Feb 2015].
A class 465 locomotive also received the Kambly livery and was used on the train.
The Kambly Express passes through Bowil.
[Dec 2015].
From December 2015 onwards Lötschberger railcars (class 535) were used for the RegioExpress trains between
Bern and Luzern.
Only the Kambly-Express continued to operate with the old carriages.
A RegioExpress speeds through Bowil past a waiting SBB freight train.
[Dec 2015].
A S-Bahn train (S2) with a class 565 railcar arrives in Bowil.
[Dec 2015].
Through the rural landscape near Bowil this S-Bahn train drives towards Langnau.
[Dec 2015].
Two trains cross in Trubschachen in the Emmental.
On the left is the RegioExpress to Luzern.
On the right arrives the S-Bahn from Luzern to Langnau.
[Feb 2015].
This is the view from the window in the entrance area of a RegioExpress carriage.
A class 465 loco brings the train towards Wolhusen with its high rise apartments.
Here the SBB line meets the BLS line to Huttwil.
[Mar 2015].
A BLS NINA train in Luzern main station.
The train will depart as S-Bahn towards Wolhusen.
Here the train divides. One part continues to Langnau, the other to Huttwil.
[Apr 2016].
A BLS advertisement in Luzern.
This is the eastern extreme of the BLS passenger operations.
[Apr 2016].
The railway line between Burgdorf and Thun was the central part of the former
Emmental-Burgdorf-Thun-Bahn (EBT).
In 1997 the line became part of the Regionalverkehr Mittelland (RM), which merged with the BLS Lötschbergbahn
in 2006 to form the BLS AG.
A class 566 railcar in the red RM livery in Thun.
[Jul 2005].
Through the merger, the trains on the former lines of the RM now operated in new colours.
A class 566 railcar crosses the river Aare in Thun.
In the background is the castle of Thun.
[Nov 2015].
A BLS train arrives in Steffisburg.
The NPZ-type trains of the former RM are designated class 566, while the BLS railcars are designated class 565.
Because both classes operate side by side on the BLS network today and can hardly be differentiated,
I usually just describe them as class 565.
[Feb 2015].
Oberdiessbach is no longer in part of the wider Thun urban area.
Here one has reached the countryside.
A train with a class 566 railcar arrives in Oberdiessbach.
[Jul 2015].
On the route from Thun to Burgdorf the class 566 railcars travelled without low-floor intermediate carriages.
The stations of the line did not allow for easy access, anyway.
The RegioExpress from Solothurn to Thun arrives in Konolfingen.
[Feb 2015].
The Regio train to Hasle-Rüegsau has just departed Konolfingen and now ascends the gradient to Grosshöchstetten.
[Mar 2015].
In its last days a class 566 Series I railcar stands in Burgdorf to operate a RegioExpress to Thun.
Even though the railcar has a BLS logo, it is still in the red RM livery.
[Mar 2014].
On the line from Bern to Neuchatel S5 trains split every hour in Kerzers.
The front part of the train continues to Neuchatel, while the rear part changes direction and continues to Murten.
A train with a class 535 railcar to Neuchatel and a class 525 railcar to Murten crosses the Gümmenen Viaduct.
[Aug 2015].
A little later the opposing train hurries past with two class 535 Lötschberger railcars.
On this line the Lötschberger railcars were also used as S-Bahn until December 2015,
while otherwise they were mainly used as RegioExpress and sometimes as Regio.
[Aug 2015].
The Gümmenen Viaduct crosses the Saane Valley in conjunction with an embankment and a bridge.
Inclusive of the short iron bridge, the viaduct has a length of 400 m.
A route S52 train from Bern to Kerzers crosses the viaduct.
[Aug 2015].
The RegioExpress trains between Bern and Neuchatel were operated with Type III standard carriages.
A class 465 locomotive hauls a train from Neuchatel to Bern.
[Aug 2015].
The RegioExpress travelling to Neuchatel was pushed across the Gümmenen Viaduct by a class 420 locomotive.
From December 2015 onwards the BLS RegioExpress trains continued on further to La-Chaux-de-Fonds.
[Aug 2015].
The NINA railcar returns from Kerzers as S52.
Trains of routes S5 and S52 did not serve exactly the same stops between Kerzers and Bern, so that some stations only
had hourly train services.
[Aug 2015].
Another photo of the imposing Gümmenen Viaduct.
Tow class 535 railcars cross the viaduct as an S5 S-Bahn train.
[Aug 2015].
A RegioExpress hauled by a class 420 loco traverses the railway embankment high above the Saane Valley towards the Gümmenen Viaduct.
[Aug 2015].
To connect to the S52 trains from Kerzers to Bern, a Regio train would operate between Murten and Kerzers,
so that passengers could transfer to the S-Bahn.
This class 535 has arrived as S5 in Murten and now is about to head as Regio to Kerzers.
[Aug 2015].
A Lötschberger railcar at the railway crossing near Murten Station as Regio train.
[Aug 2015].
A RegioExpress train from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Bern arrives in Les Hauts-Geneveys.
[Jan 2018].