Limmattal light rail line

This article is about the new light rail line in the Limmat Valley. For the former tramway in the same area, see Limmattal tramway.
Limmattal light rail line
Limmattalbahn line 20
Overview
Native nameLimmattalbahn
StatusOperational
OwnerLimmattalbahn AG
Termini
Stations27
Websitehttps://www.limmattalbahn.ch/
Service
TypeLight rail
Operator(s)AVA AG
History
OpenedSeptember 2, 2019 (phase 1),[1] December 11, 2022 (complete line)
Technical
Line length13.4 km (8.3 mi)
Number of tracksDouble
Track gauge1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge
Electrification600/1200 V DC
Route map
VBZ trams of line 2, here at the Farbhof stop, also use tracks of Limmattalbahn

The Limmattal light rail line (German: Limmattalbahn) is a metre gauge tram line in the Limmat Valley between Zürich Altstetten and Killwangen which started service in 2022. The line is 13.4 kilometres (8.3 mi) long and serves 27 stops.[2][3][4][5] It is served by the lines 20 and 2 of the Zürich tram network.

History

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The Limmat Valley is of primary historical importance for Swiss public transport as it is the location of the Spanisch-Brötli-Bahn, the first railway line of the country, operational since 1847. That line now carries long-distance passenger trains, freight trains and suburban trains of the Zürich S-Bahn. A light rail line, the Limmattal tramway, was operational since 1900, but closed in stages between 1928 and 1955, being replaced by buses. The success of the Glattalbahn suburban tram lines in the north-east of Zurich and the road system in the Limmat Valley running at capacity with projected 113,000 extra journeys a day by 2030[6] led to the development of the Limmattalbahn project.

Planning began in 2000, and by 2007 the line was included in the cantonal structure plans of the Canton Zürich and Canton Aargau. In 2010, the Limmattalbahn AG company was founded by the two cantons as a planner and projected operator of the infrastructure. After the project got the approval of the parliaments of both involved Cantons, a group of citizens from the Canton of Zurich gathered the 3'000 signatures by voting citizens necessary in order to enforce a referendum on the investment of CHF 510,3 Mio by the Canton. The citizens of the Canton of Zurich approved the investment in a November 2015 referandum.

In May 2016 it was announced that the line would be operated by BDWM Transport, now part of Aargau Verkehr, who also operate the Bremgarten–Dietikon line. Construction commenced in August 2017, and phase 1 between Farbhof and Schlieren opened in September 2019,[1] operated by Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich and served by an extension of the existing tram line 2 from Zürich Tiefenbrunnen railway station at the shore of Lake Zurich. Line 20 of the Zurich tram network from Zürich Altstetten railway station to Killwangen-Spreitenbach railway station, operated by Aargau Verkehr, opened on December 11 2022.[2][3][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Service

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Trams on line 20 run every 15 minutes between Zürich-Altstetten and Killwangen-Spreitenbach stations, with the option to later increase the frequency to every 7.5 minutes. The line is double-track throughout, and over 90% segregated from road traffic. The stretch of the line between Farbhof and Schlieren is also in use by an extension of Zürich tram line 2 since 2019, running every 7.5 minutes and replacing the trolleybus line 31 on that stretch. (Although Line 31 still serves the stops at Seidelhof, Farbhof and Micafil on the route). The Limmattal and Bremgarten–Dietikon lines also share a short section of track in the centre of Dietikon.[2][3][5][6][11]

Infrastructure

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From Farbhof to Schlieren the line is electrified at 600 V DC for compatibility with the Zürich tram network, and the section of phase 2 between Altstetten and Farbhof is also electrified at this voltage. The rest of the line is electrified at 1200 V DC, which is also used by the Bremgarten–Dietikon line. A joint order, with Baselland Transport, was placed with Stadler for the supply of light rail vehicles to operate the service from Altstetten to Killwangen.[12] The Limmattal portion of this order is for eight 45-metre (148 ft) long and 2.4-metre (7 ft 10 in) wide bi-directional Tramlink vehicles, with an option for up to eight more. The extension of Zürich tram line 2 is operated by the existing single-ended Zürich tram fleet, for which a turning loop has been provided at Schlieren.[3][13][14]

The Federal Office of Transport granted authorization in 22 February 2020 for the construction of a depot for the line 20 at Müsli, between Dietikon and Spreitenbach. The depot provides parking space for up to 14 light rail vehicles. The facility also includes a building with a maintenance area and a washing facility.[15][16]

References

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  1. ^ a b Green, Anitra (2 September 2020). "First stage of Limmattal LRT line opens in Zürich". International Railway Journal. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Betrieb & Angebot" [Operation & Offer] (in German). Limmattalbahn AG. Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Work begins on Limmattalbahn light rail project". Metro Report International. 30 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  4. ^ Moglestue, Andrew (March 2010). "Limmattalbahn". Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "First phase of Limmattalbahn opens in Zürich". Railway Gazette International. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  6. ^ a b c "Portrait" (in German). Limmattalbahn AG. Archived from the original on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  7. ^ Hotz, Stefan; Müller, André (22 November 2015). "Nur das Limmattal selbst stimmt gegen "sein" neues Tram" [Only the Limmattal itself voted against "its" new tram]. Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  8. ^ Zander, Corsin (13 May 2016). "Aargauer betreiben Zürcher Limmattalbahn" [Aargau company to operate Zürcher Limmattalbahn]. Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  9. ^ "Ein Baustopp bleibt im Zürcher Kantonsparlament ohne Chance" [A freeze on construction in the Zurich Cantonal Parliament will have no chance] (in German). Swiss Radio and Television. 9 April 2018. Archived from the original on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
  10. ^ Moglestue, Andrew (24 September 2018). "83 percent want Limmattalbahn". Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Situation Zentrum Dietikon" (PDF). Limmattalbahn AG. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 May 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  12. ^ Buch, Erik (2022-07-18). "Everything prepared: Limmattalbahn test runs have started". Retrieved 2023-04-30.
  13. ^ Green, Anitra (29 November 2017). "BLT and Limmattalbahn to order 18 trams". International Railway Journal. Archived from the original on 1 June 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  14. ^ Moglestue, Andrew (13 November 2018). "Stadler to supply Limmattalbahn and Waldenburgerbahn". Archived from the original on 27 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  15. ^ "Bund genehmigt Pläne für Limmattalbahn-Depot bei Dietikon" [Federal government approves plans for Limmattalbahn depot near Dietikon]. Aargauer Zeitung (in German). 17 April 2020. Archived from the original on 5 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  16. ^ "Situation Depot" (PDF). Limmattalbahn AG. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2018. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
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