The SBB have drastically modernised lines, stations and trains in recent years, so that the classic trains no longer travel through the Alpine landscapes they have been a part of for so long.
But the classic trains are still admired by much of the population.
A model of the class Ae6/6 travels through Swiss Miniature.
[Nov 2014].
6_Romanshorn.jpg)
The class Ae6/6 (later Ae610) locos were introduced from 1952.
They hauled passenger and freight trains, particularly over the Gotthard route.
Later they were just used for freight services, such as this loco in Romanshorn.
[Jul 2005].
6_Luetziflueh-Goldbach.jpg)
A class Ae6/6 locomotive hauls a historic special train through Lützeflüh-Goldbach in the Emmental.
Several special trains operated during the 150th anniversary of the Emmental Railway.
[May 2025].
The class Re 4/4II was put into service from 1964.
The locomotives are used for all services from InterCity to local freight train.
One of the class Re 4/4II locos arrives in Thun with a passenger train.
[Jul 2007].
To haul heavy freight trains a Re 4/4II is often paired with a class Re 6/6.
A transit freight train passes through Thun station.
[Jul 2007].
Before the Lötschberg base tunnel was completed in late 2007,
all trains on this route traveled across the Lötschberg mountain line and through the old tunnel.
This train heads through the station Blausee-Mitholz.
In the new classification system the Re 4/4II received the number 420 and the
Re 6/6 was designated 620.
[Jul 2007].
From 1993 to 2009 international long-distance trains between Switzerland and Italy
were operated by Cisalpino AG, a subsidiary of the SBB and the Italian State Railway FS.
A class Re 4/4II (420) engines hauls a Cisalpino train over the Lötschberg route.
[Jul 2007].
The Re 4/4II (420) was also used for track maintenance traffic.
Two engines haul a track maintenance train near Samstagern on the line of the private railway comapny Süd-Ost-Bahn (SOB).
[Aug 2015].
The two locos have left the train in the station of Samstagern and return beyond the station area to wait for further
maneouvres.
[Aug 2015].
A class Re 4/4II (420) hauls a freight train through Geneva-Secheron.
[Jul 2015].
On most passenger trains the Re 4/4II (420) was replaced by new locomotives and railcars.
But these locos long continued to haul the InterRegio trains from Locarno across the upper Gotthard line to Basel or Zürich.
This engine heads one such InterRegio through the station Giubiasco in the Tessin region.
[Jul 2015].
For several years an InterRegio train traveled from Bern to Spiez in the evenings
to provide extra capacity, so that the EuroCity to Milan was not filled with commuters.
This train was long hauled by a class Re 4/4II (420) loco and had still old carriages.
This is the view from the train near Ostermundigen.
[Apr 2014].
That is the interior of the old carriages. At least the windows could still be opened.
[Apr 2014].
At the other end of the train was this old trailer with cab, here in the colours introduced in the 1980s.
The InterRegio train from Bern to Spiez travels past Lerchenfeld, a suburb of Thun.
[Apr 2014].
This class Re 4/4II (420) loco arrives with a relief train from Romanshorn in Zürich Main Station.
Passengers were able to transfer here to the regular InterCity to Brig.
[Jul 2015].
For the Zürich S-Bahn thirty Class Re 4/4II locomotives were modernised from 2011 to 2016.
They received new LED front lights, a new livery and new technology to lead the S-Bahn trains.
This upgrade was called LION - Lifting, Integration, Optimisation, Redesign (Neugestaltung).
These locos now haul double-deck carriages, which were once part of the Class 450 S-Bahn trains.
Six to ten carriages are sandwhiched between two of these Class 420 locomotives.
These trains only operate during peak times.
Here, two trains are stored during the weekend in Rapperswil.
[May 2025].
By now the Re 4/4II locomotives show the Class 420 designation.
Apart from the LION locomotives hardly any are used for passenger trains.
One of the class stands with a maintenance train in Bern Station.
[May 2025].
In Veytaux on the shores of Lake Geneva a Class 420 locomotive hauls a freight train, which includes several track maintenance vehicles.
[Jun 2025].
A Class 420 locomotive hauls a postal train through the station of Spiez.
A MIKA multiple unit of the BLS stands at another platform.
A significant part of the postal traffic is still transported by rail in Switzerland.
[Jun 2025].
A Class 420 locomotive stands on the Lorraine Railway Viaduct in Bern and waits for a green signal.
Near the end of their service these engines are used in a wide variety of roles.
[Jun 2025].
A class Re 6/6 (620) loco hauls a freight train on the Lötschberg alpine line together with a class Re 4/4II.
In the background is the castle ruin Felsenburg.
[Jul 2007].
The Re 6/6 (620) class entered into service from 1972 onwards and was used for heavy freight and passenger trains.
Today all engines have been allocated to SBB Cargo.
One of the locomotives hauls a freight train near Uttigen.
[Dec 2015].
A Class 620 electric engine stands in Romont with a tank train.
The locomotive is now in the livery of SBB Cargo.
[Jun 2025].
In 1984 SBB purchased these railcars with trailers for service on regional lines.
Dubbed New Shuttle Trains, series production started in 1987 as class 560.
Most of the trains were refurbished between 2009 and 2013 and one or two low-floor carriages were added in the centre.
One of the trains arrives in Turgi.
[Oct 2015].
The class 560 railcars also cross the river Rhine into Germany.
This train arrives in Waldshut.
The Swiss line is electrified, while the German line - on the left - can only be used by diesel trains.
[Nov 2015].
The SBB subsidiary RegionAlps also uses these multiple unit trains.
One of the trains in Brig.
[Dec 2015].
A class 560 train crosses the Combe Maran Viaduct near St. Ursanne as RegioExpress to Biel.
[Apr 2016].
Arriving from Delle, this train arrives at the station of St. Ursanne on its way to Biel.
The station lies high above the medieval town.
[Apr 2016].
Class 560 trains are also used on the railway line Solothurn - Moutier.
The line belongs to the BLS, but the trains are operated by SBB.
One of the trains is in Oberdorf Station near the Weissenstein Tunnel.
The tunnel was closed for maintenance from 2024 to 2026 and the trains only operated between Solothurn and Oberdorf.
[May 2025].
The upgrade of the Weissenstein Tunnel was very expensive and traffic on the line only covered a small proportion of its costs.
Therefore it was decided to close the railway line and offer bus services instead.
But local politicians and rail advocates successfully challenged this decision and were successfull in their efforts to have the tunnel renewed.
This decision shows that in Switzerland not only financial factors are taken into account with regards to railway infrastructure,
but also network effects and the preference for rail services.
After all, a train is more attractive than a bus.
On this phot the construction site at the Weissenstein Tunnel can be seen in the background.
[May 2025].
A Class 560 train travels above Lake Neuchatel near Neuchatel.
These trains were seen quite frequently here still.
The refurbished trains with intermediate low-floor carriages are also called Domino trains.
[May 2025].
The Fribourg S-Bahn is operated by SBB and TPF (Transports Publics Fribourgeois).
S-Bahn lines S40 and S41 connect Lausanne with Fribourg and continue as S30 from Fribourg to Yverdon-les-Bains.
A class 560/Domino train is heading southwards near Lussy.
I took the photo from the historic old town centre of Romont.
The train is about to arrive at the station of Romont.
[Jun 2025].
At the foot of the hill is the station of Romont.
A Class 560 train has arrived in Romont on its way as S41 from Lausanne to Fribourg.
[Jun 2025].
The train in the opposite direction arrives a little later.
From the North a Domino unit arrives in the station of Romont.
[Jun 2025].
Class 560 trains also operate between La Chaux-de-Fonds and Biel.
One of the trains is leaving La Chaux-de-Fonds towards the south-east.
[Jul 2025].
From 1989 onwards new double decker trains were delivered for the Zürich S-Bahn.
The trains consist of class 450 locomotives, which have just one cab, two intermediate carriages and a driving trailer with cab.
One of the trains arrives in Baden.
[Nov 2015].
From 2011 onwards the trains were refurbished and the nice rectangular head lights were replaced by these LED lights.
The driving trailer is seen here in the Zürich underground station used by S-Bahn trains.
[Jul 2015].
The Re 460 class entered service from 1991.
These engines are also known as Lok2000 (Loco2000) because they were acquired as part of the
overall Swiss railway project Bahn2000.
Today, these locos are mainly used for InterCity trains.
One of the class passes Thun-Lerchenfeld.
[Sep 2015].
Re 460 locos haul long-distance trains all across Switzerland.
This InterRegio runs along Lake Geneva near Villeneuve.
[Aug 2014].
A Re 460 loco hauls an InterCity train from Chur along the shore of Lake Zürich near Wädenswil.
[Jul 2015].
Sometimes a Re 460 was used to haul InterRegio trains across the Gotthard mountain line,
though this was mainly the preserve of the Re 420 class.
A Re 460 loco hauls an InterRegio to Locarno near Lake Zug.
[Jul 2015].
The IC2000 double deck carriages were always hauled by Re 460 locomotives.
Only these engines were able to develop the necessary high speeds with these heavy carriages.
An InterCity train from Brig to Romanshorn travels through the countryside near Uttigen.
[Dec 2015].
Many InterCity trains also use the single deck standard carriages series IV.
Near Uttigen a Re 460 pushes an InterCity train on its way from Basel to Interlaken.
[Dec 2015].
Sometimes single deck carriages were added to the double deck trains to increase capacity.
This locomotive is sandwiched between the two carriage types.
[Dec 2015].
Some Re 460 locos carry an advertising livery, like this example on an InterCity train near Uttigen.
[Dec 2015].
This photo was also taken near Uttigen, but from the opposite side (east).
A class Re 460 loco hauls an InterCity through the snow.
[Jan 2016].
One of the more picturesque sections along which the Re 460 was regularly seen, is the line from Thun to Spiez,
which runs above Lake Thun.
A train near Einigen.
[Jul 2005].
This is the classic view of this line with the mountains Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in the background.
[Oct 2015].
This time a Re 460 in green advertising livery hauls the InterCity train.
[Oct 2015].
The shadows are lengthening as another train with a Re 460 passes by.
The high, steep peaks on the left are the Schreckhorn mountains.
[Oct 2015].
This is a special train for football fans.
Because the fans are known to cause some damage, older carriages are normally used.
[Oct 2015].
I often watched the trains across the lake from Oberhofen, which is opposite Einigen on Lake Thun.
This InterCity with double deck carriages is seen near Einigen.
[Apr 2016].
During the night the many windows moving on the distant lakeshore were a fascinating sight.
[Apr 2016].
Another view across the lake on a train hauled by a class Re 460 locomotive.
[Apr 2016].
This train has reached the outskirts of Spiez.
In the background is Lake Thun and on the opposite shore also the village of Oberhofen with its castle.
[Jul 2015].
A class Re 460 in advertising livery departs Spiez with an InterCity train to Basel.
The locomotive design honours SBB staff.
[Jan 2018].
The line from Spiez to Interlaken also is close to Lake Thun in parts.
An InterCity train from Interlaken to Basel passes the village of Faulensee.
I took the picture from a ship.
[Apr 2016].
Right against the lake, this InterCity with double deck carriages skirts the shores of Lake Thun near Därligen.
[Jul 2005].
When InterCity trains to Brig still used the upper Lötschberg line,
this train travelled through the Kander Valley near Mitholz.
[Jul 2007].
During a snow storm this Re 460 hurries past Lerchenfeld, a suburb of Thun.
[Nov 2015].
The Series IV standard carriages are single deck passenger cars for InterCity and InterRegio trains.
They were built in the 1980s and have been modernised since.
The driving trailers were built later, using the front design of the Re 460 class.
One of these driving trailers leads a train near Thun-Lerchenfeld.
[May 2014].
The InterCity trains from Basel to Interlaken Ost or Brig were travelling south with the driving trailer leading,
once they left Bern.
Such a train is seen near Lerchenfeld.
[Sep 2015].
This is the view from Oberhofen of an InterCity at night on the other shore of Lake Thun.
The train is travelling between Thun and Spiez at this moment.
[Feb 2014].
An InterCity train hurries through the small station of Faulensee.
[Aug 2015].
The railway line cuts right through the village of Leissigen on Lake Thun.
The old church lies between the railway line and the lake.
Soon, sound barriers will be erected here, separating the railway from the village.
[Aug 2015].
An InterCity with Seriew IV standard carriages leading exits the Lötschberg base tunnel in Frutigen.
Normally trains in Switzerland travel on the left track, but here in the tunnel this seems to be more flexible,
as part of the tunnel is only single track.
[Feb 2015].
This InterRegio also had a consist of mainly Series IV standard carriages.
But the front carriages, from which I took the photo, were older, so that the windows could be opened.
[Jul 2015].
The IC2000 double-deck carriages also received the same design as the Loco2000, the Re 460 class.
A train hurries past Lerchenfeld, a suburb of Thun, during a snow storm.
[Nov 2015].
The driving trailers of the IC2000 carriages have a family area that includes a playground on the upper deck.
On the lower deck there's space for buggies, bicycles and skis.
The mountains Mönch and Jungfrau provide a backdrop to this InterCity train speeding north from Thun.
[Apr 2014].
An InterCity train with double-deck carriages near Uttigen.
[Jan 2016].
An InterCity train crosses the 1km-long Lorraine viaduct in Bern.
It brings the main lines from Zürich and Thun to the main station.
In front of the viaduct is the shorter Lorraine bridge for road traffic.
[Sep 2015].
From the new millenium, the SBB have mainly ordered railcars and multiple units for passenger services.
These class RABe 520 railcars were supplied to SBB by Stadler Rail from 2002 onwards.
This railcar stops at the station Beinwil am See in the Seetal valley.
[May 2015].
The class 520 railcars were specifically purchased for the line through the Seetal valley, but
are also used on other lines in the region.
Along the Seetal valley the railway line runs mostly adjacent to or on the road and passes right through
towns and villages.
These light railcars are ideally suited for such traffic.
[May 2015].
Between Mosen and Alliswil the Seetal line travels above Lake Hallwil.
This photo of a RABe 520 was taken from a ship on the lake.
[May 2015].
In 2013 SBB took over some articulated railcars from the BLS, which were originally placed into service
by Regionalverkehr Mittelland in 2003.
Today they are mainly used in the Jura Region.
One of these railcars waits in Sonceboz-Sombeval, as it could not travel on to La Chaux-de-Fonds due to
track maintenance.
[Apr 2016].
In a wide curve a railcar from Moutier descends the loop to the village Sonceboz-Sombeval.
[Apr 2016].
The railcar from Moutier also passes the spot in Sonceboz-Sombeval where the earlier picture was taken.
The railcars still have the red liverz of Regionalverkehr Mittelland, but now have the SBB logo.
[Apr 2016].
The SBB also have some multiple units of the FLIRT-design by Stadler Rail.
These class 521 railcars are also authorised for Germany and are used for the S-Bahn around Basel.
This train arrives in Glovelier.
[Apr 2016].
FLIRTs entered SBB service from 2004 onwards.
This class 523 unit travels through the vineyards of Villette on the shores of Lake Geneva.
[Aug 2014].
From 2006 new double deck multiple units were introduced for the Zürich S-Bahn.
These class 514 trains were supplied by Siemens.
One of the multiple units arrives in Baden.
[Nov 2015].
From 2012 another type of double deck multiple unit was introduced for the Zürich S-Bahn.
These trains were supplied by Stadler Rail and are based on the KISS platform.
One of these trains in the underground S-Bahn station of Zürich.
On the adjacent track is a class 514 multiple unit.
[Jul 2015].
The SBB also ordered several of these class 511 multiple units in the RegioExpress version.
One of the trains crosses the Lorraine Viaduct in Bern as a RegioExpress Biel-Bern.
[Jan 2018].
The class 511 RegioExpress version has a different interior design, including seats and toilets,
and also a different livery to the S-Bahn version.
The RegioExpress multiple units have the characteristic SBB olive-brown / white livery,
while the S-Bahn units are painted in a blue / white livery.
The class 511 EMU passes the alternative-scene establishment 
SBB Cargo became a separate subsidiary of SBB in 1999.
The locomotives have their own distinctive livery.
This class 843 diesel loco in SBB Cargo colours travels through Faulensee.
These engines entered service between 2003 and 2009.
[Jul 2007].
The class Eem 923 dual power locos entered service from 2011 onwards.
With their diesel motor they can also be used on tracks without electrification.
The locos are used for shunting and delivery duties.
A class Eem 923 loco near Einigen on Lake Thun.
[Oct 2015].
In Bowil in the Emmental I came across this Eem 923, which hauled a train of waste containers.
[Dec 2015].
For the Bahn 2000 project the SBB also developed several tilting trains.
Class 500 tilting trains were introduced from 1999 onwards.
The trains operate InterCity trains between St. Gallen and Geneva or Lausanne via Solothurn and Neuchatel and
also across the Gotthard.
A RABDe 500 arrives in Arth-Goldau on its service from Zürich to Chiasso.
On the right is a FLIRT train of the SOB.
[Jul 2015].
Cisalpino operated several Pendolino trains.
These class ETR 470 tilting trains were produced from 1994 onwards in Italy.
Throughout their working lives they continued to be plagued by problems.
After the dissolution of Cisalpino, the trains were distributed between SBB and FS.
SBB took the trains out of service as soon as it had better trains available.
A Cisalpino Pendolino arrives in Thun.
[Jul 2007].
The ETR 610 is a better tilting train design.
Cisalpino introduced these trains from 2007.
SBB took over several of the trains and ordered more.
They were now referred to as class RABe 503.
Since 2015 nearly all EuroCity trains across the Lötschberg, Simplon and Gotthard are operated by these units.
One of the trains travels past Thun-Lerchenfeld.
[May 2014].
A class RABe 503 train with an EuroCity train from Basel to Milan awaits departure in Thun on a rainy autumn day.
On the adjacent track the BLS Lötschberger train from Bern to Brig (via the old mountain line) and to
Zweisimmen has arrived.
[Nov 2015].
The SBB ordered new InterCity double deck trains from Bombardier.
These units are called Twindexx Swiss Express and have given the class designation RABe 502.
They are due to enter service in December 2016.
One of the trains stands in Thun during tests.
[Apr 2016].
The German InterCityExpress trains are the only real high speed trains that operate in Switzerland,
even though they cannot develop high speeds on the Swiss railway network.
They nevertheless connect Switzerland to the German high speed net.
An ICE train stands in Interlaken Ost.
[Apr 2016].
With 12 intermediate carriages and a power unit at either end, the
ICE trains are quite long.
An ICE train is seen near Uttigen.
[Dec 2015].
In Switzerland ICE trains of the first series, class 401, are used.
These trains were delivered from 1991 onwards.
They are operated by the German state railway DB, but in Switzerland the personnel is supplied by SBB.
An ICE travels north past Lerchenfeld, a suburb of Thun.
[Nov 2015].
Shortly after the train from the opposite direction passed by.
[Nov 2015].
On a cloudy day this class 401 ICE train has left Spiez and now heads past Einigen towards Thun.
[Oct 2015].
A few days later the sun was out and the view to the mountains of the Bernese Oberland was clear,
as an ICE travels north near Einigen.
[Oct 2015].
On its journey from Interlaken to Germany an ICE travels past the village of Faulensee on the shores of Lake Thun.
I took this photo from the deck of a ship on the lake.
[May 2014].
Between Leissigen and Interlaken West the railway line is directly beside Lake Thun,
so that the train sometimes nearly seems to travel through water.
This is the view from the window of an ICE train.
[Oct 2015].
A class 401 ICE departs Interlaken West.
[Oct 2015].
ICE trains travel from Germany to Interlaken via Basel and Bern.
There are also several ICE service to Zürich and Chur.
One of the ICE trains stands in Interlaken Ost.
On the right is an SBB InterCity train.
[Jan 2016].
All the ICE trains carry names.
This train is called Interlaken.
On this night I saw it in Interlaken Ost.
[Jan 2016].
The Deutsche Bahn (DB) also operates freight trains in Switzerland.
For many years it worked together with the BLS, but now more with the SBB.
Class 185 locos from DB haul a train of clay waggons past Lerchenfeld.
[Nov 2015].
The class 185 locomotives entered service from 2000 onwards.
Two of the locomotives stand with their freight train in Thun
to await a gap in the busy passenger train timetable.
[Jan 2018].
Two class 185 DB locos haul a train of multimodal containers on the Lötschberg line.
[Jul 2007].