Trams in Switzerland

In Switzerland tram systems exist in the cities of Geneva, Neuchatel, Bern, Zürich, and Basel. Unfortunately, I hardly took any photos of them. Only in Bern I decided to point my camera at a few trams for some hours. In Bern the trams are operated by the City Transport Corporation, which is generally known under the brand Bernmobil.

The Bubenbergplatz at the main station of Bern is also the centre for the tram network. All lines meet here. Therefore, there is constant traffic under the large glass canopy. [Sep 2015].

This is the network plan of the trams in Bern. The network has five lines: 3, 6, 7, 8 und 9. [2021].
Line 3 connects the station with Weissenbühl. It is the shortest line of the network. A tram operating on Line 3 meets a tram on Line 6 at Hirschengraben. [Jan 2018].
Near the stop Kocherpark two Line 3 trams meet. [Sep 2015].
The southern part of Line 9 was closed for maintenance for a few weeks, so that the northern part of Line 9 was combined with Line 3. A Line 3/9 tram has just left the terminus Weissenbühl on its route to Wankdorf. [Sep 2015].
This tram is about to arrive at Weissenbühl, the terminal of Line 3. [Sep 2015].
These Combino-Trams manufactured by Siemens entered service from 2002 and some were lengthened in 2009. One of these trams is ready to depart on a Line 6 service from Fischermätteli, one of the terminals on this line. [May 2015].
The railway line through the Gürbe Valley passes directly by the terminal Fischermätteli. But there is no railway station here, so that there is no connection between tram and trains. A class 515 railcar of the BLS hurries past the tram. [Sep 2015].
Line 6 continues Worb. The route to Worb used to be operated by RBS, which acquired two-directional trams for this service. When Bernmobil took over the operation of this route, it continued to use these trams, though they are still owned by RBS. One of the blue, two-directional trams at Bern main station. [Sep 2015].
Two blue trams meet in Marktgasse. The trams to Worb are the only blue vehicles in use for Bern public transport. The blue trains were made famous through a radio sketch. [Sep 2015].
The blue trams entered service in 1987. Their design is based on the Zürich Tram 2000 series. In 2010 low-floor centre sections were added, which are now painted red. One of the trams on the Kirchenfeld Bridge. [Sep 2015].
Once Bernmobil took over the operation of the line to Worb, turning circles were built in Worb and the Siloah Hospital. That allowed the uni-directional Combino-Trams to be used on Line 6. One of these trams to Worb is seen on the Kirchenfeld Bridge. [Sep 2015].
A blue tram in Muri. In a few years the little blue train to Worb will be no longer, as new red trams will take over on this route. [Sep 2015].
In Muri there is a real tram station. [Sep 2015].
A Combino-Tram arrives in Muri from Worb. [Sep 2015].
In Gümligen the tram line crosses the railway line Bern - Thun. Trams then continue to the stop on the station square of Gümligen. [Sep 2015].
A Combino-Tram has crossed the bridge and is about to arrive at Gümligen Station. A BLS Lötschberger RegioExpress hurries through Gümligen. [Sep 2015].
These semi-low-floor trams manufactured by DUEWAG entered service from 1989. They have a small step at many of the doors. One of the trams crosses the Kirchenfeld Bridge. In the background is the Bundeshaus Bern, the seat of the Swiss government. [Sep 2015].
That's the view from below of the Kirchenfeld Bridge. A Combino-Tram crosses the bridge. [Sep 2015].
Line 7 runs between Bümpliz via Bern Main Station and the city centre to the terminal Ostring. A DUEWAG-Tram travels the streets near the stop Burgernziel, not far from the terminal Ostring. [Sep 2015].
The same tram near the Catholic Church Bruder Klaus. These trams are also called Vevey-Trams, because the body shell was built in Vevey. [Sep 2015].
A tram on Line 7 towards Ostgraben turn from Hirschengraben into the Bubenbergplatz. [Jan 2018].
Line 8 runs from the mall and spa centre Brünnen Westside via Bethlehem, Bern Main station and the city centre to Saali. A tram has just arrived on the turning loop on the large square near the large shopping and spa centre. [Sep 2015].
A Combino-Tram waits at the terminal stop of Brünnen Westside. This is right beside the railway station. Above the tram the platforms of the railway station with a station clock are visible. [Sep 2015].
This tram has just left the terminal of Brünnen Westside. The next tram is already arriving from the opposite direction. [Sep 2015].
Near Holenacker lawn track has been installed. With grass between the rails, trams run across a green corridor. [Sep 2015].
A Line 8 tram travelling towards Saali arrives at the stop Hirschengraben in the city. [Jan 2018].
Combino Tram 757 advertised its manufacturer Siemens for a few years. At this time Bernmobil was considering the purchase of new trams. The advertising did not help: Bernmobil decided to buy trams from competitor Stadler Rail. In the background is the Church of the Holy Spirit. [Jan 2018].
In the city centre tram tracks run through the gate of the Käfigturm. For trams running in the other direction a gap has been cut into the former city wall. This tram passing through the Käfigturm is the new version of the Combino-Tram, which was introduced from 2009. [Sep 2015].
The stop Brunnadernstrasse is in the middle of the street. When a tram approaches all cars are stopped by a traffic light, while the tram continues to the stop. [Sep 2015].
When the tram has stopped, passengers cross the vehicle lanes and board the tram, while the cars wait. Only when the tram has left the stop and continued on its way, the traffic lights turn green so that cars can also continue. [Sep 2015].
Line 9 runs from Wabern via Bern Main Station, the city centre and Viktoriaplatz to Wankdorf. A Line 9 Combino Tram turns into the Bubenbergplatz at the same time as a Bernmobil bus. [Jan 2018].
A tram operating on Line 9 towars Wabern makes its way through the busy streets of Bern. Not far behind it is a Line 8 tram. Trolley buses, too, find space in the streets and on the catenary above. [Jan 2018].
A Combino-Tram on Line 9 passes the Käfigturm. [Sep 2015].
That's the interior of a quite empty Combino-Tram. [Sep 2015].
At the time when I took these photos the southern part of Line 9 to Wabern was closed for maintenance. Instead trams from the northern part continued on Line 3 on a combined Line 3/9 route. A tram in the direction of Wankdorf has just travelled past the Zytglogge, the famous clock tower of Bern. [Sep 2015].
A Combino Tram crosses the Kornhaus Bridge to the city centre. [Sep 2015].
The red trams of Bern make it easy to get across town in Bern. They offer a capacity on some key routes, which buses just cannot offer. [Sep 2015].
A Combino-Tram on Kornhaus Bridge. [Sep 2015].
The tram network in Zürich is the largest in Switzerland. The Tram 2000 class was introduced in 1976. One of the trams at the stop Römerhof. [Dec 2015].
A Tram 2000 in the evening at the stop Stauffacher. [Dec 2015].
The Cobra-Trams were developed specifically for Zürich. The main series entered service from 2005 onwards. They are entirely low-floor trams. A Cobra-Tram in the Bahnhofstrasse. [Aug 2015].
A Cobra-Tram at night near the stop Stauffacher. [Dec 2015].