Bern S-Bahn

Commuter rail network in Switzerland

Network map

Bern S-Bahn

A BLS S-Bahn train at Thun in 2013

Overview
Locale| Bern, Switzerland
Transit type| S-Bahn
Number of lines| 13
Daily ridership| 175,000 (weekdays)
Website| S-Bahn Bern (in German)
Operation
Began operation| 1974; 50 years ago (1974) (Bern)
1995; 29 years ago (1995) (regional)
Operator(s)| BLS AG
Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn (RBS)
Technical
Track gauge| 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) (BLS)
1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) (RBS)

The Bern S-Bahn (German: S-Bahn Bern; French: RER Berne) is an S-Bahn commuter rail network focused on Bern, the capital city of Switzerland. The network is roughly coterminous with Bern's urban agglomeration.

With approximately 9 million train kilometres per year, the Bern S-Bahn is the second-largest S-Bahn in Switzerland. It handles around 100,000 passengers daily (175,000 on weekdays), and thus carries the majority of the agglomeration's regional public transport traffic.

## History

[edit]

As early as 1974, Vereinigte Bern–Worb-Bahnen [de] (VBW), forerunner of Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn (RBS), began operating S-Bahn-style clock-face schedule services in the Bern area.[1] The next step came in 1987, when Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) began running trains from Thun through Bern to Laupen BE or Fribourg/Freiburg on a half-hourly schedule.[2]

The second line began operation on 28 May 1995, operating from Schwarzenburg to Trubschachen.[3] At this time the "S"-style designations were introduced to differentiate the lines.

The next expansion occurred in 1998, with the commissioning of the S3 (Biel/Bienne−Belp) and the S4 (Bern–Bern Bümpliz Nord−Burgdorf and beyond). The S33 and S44 supplemented service on the S3 and S4, while the S5 designation was applied to regional services between Bern and Neuchâtel. Also introduced was the S55 for services from Bern to Murten/Morat via Kerzers.[4][5]

### 2005

[edit]

The December 2004 timetable change saw major expansions of the Bern S-Bahn concept. This was partly enabled by infrastructure improvements carried out under the Rail 2000 program. The three RBS lines were formally incorporated into the network, SBB transferred the operation of the S1 and S3 to the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon-Bahn (BLS). [6] The network now consisted of the following services:[7]

Number | Route | Frequency | Operator

|
|
|

S1 | Fribourg/Laupen BE–Flamatt–Bern–Thun | Every 30 minutes | BLS
S11 | Bern–Fribourg | Rush-hour | BLS
S2 | Schwarzenburg–Bern–Langnau i.E. | Every 30 minutes | BLS
S22 | Schwarzenburg–Bern | Rush-hour | BLS
S3 | Biel/Bienne–Bern–Belp | Every 30 minutes | BLS
S33 | Bern–Belp–Thun | Every 30 minutes | BLS
S4 | Rosshäusern–Bern–Burgdorf–Affoltern-Weier | Every 60 minutes | RM
S44 | Rosshäusern–Bern–Burgdorf–Langnau i.E./Wiler | Every 60 minutes | RM
S5 | Bern–Kerzers–Neuchâtel/Murten (–Payerne) | Every 60 minutes | BLS
S51 | Bern–Bern Bümpliz Nord | Rush-hour | BLS
S7 | Bern–Bolligen–Worb Dorf | Every 15 minutes | RBS
S8 | Bern–Jegenstorf | Every 15 minutes | RBS
S9 | Bern–Unterzollikofen | Every 15 minutes | RBS

### 2009

[edit]

The December 2008 timetable change saw several major alterations to the standard gauge part of the network. On the Lausanne–Bern line, the S11 was eliminated, and the S1 began operating half-hourly between Flamatt and Fribourg and skipping most local stops between Flamatt and Niederwangen. The S2's western terminus was changed from Schwarzenburg to Laupen BE. On the Bern–Schwarzenburg railway line, the new S6 replaced the S2 and S22, offering a half-hourly service between Schwarzenburg and Bern. On the Bern–Neuchâtel line, the new S52 replaced the S4 and S44 between Bern and Rosshäusern, and was extended to Kerzers, while the S51 was increased to half-hourly service and extended to the new station at Bern Brünnen Westside. The S4 and S44 were re-routed over the Bern–Belp–Thun line to Thun via Belp, in place of the S33.[8]

Number | Route | Frequency | Operator

|
|
|

S1 | Fribourg–Bern–Thun | Every 30 minutes | BLS[a]
S2 | Laupen BE–Bern–Langnau i.E. | Every 30 minutes | BLS
S3 | Biel/Bienne–Bern–Belp (–Thun) | Every 30 minutes | BLS
S4 | Thun–Bern–Burgdorf–Affoltern-Weier | Every 60 minutes | BLS[a]
S44 | Thun–Bern–Burgdorf–Langnau i.E./Wiler | Every 60 minutes | BLS
S5 | Bern–Kerzers–Neuchâtel/Murten (–Payerne) | Every 60 minutes | BLS
S51 | Bern–Bern Brünnen Westside | Every 30 minutes | BLS
S52 | Bern–Kerzers (–Neuchâtel) | Every 30 minutes | BLS
S6 | Schwarzenburg–Bern | Every 30 minutes | BLS
S7 | Bern–Bolligen–Worb | Every 15 minutes | RBS
S8 | Bern–Jegenstorf | Every 15 minutes | RBS
S9 | Bern–Unterzollikofen | Every 15 minutes | RBS

### 2010–2012

[edit]

The December 2009 timetable change saw a limited number of changes. The most significant involved the S4 and S44. Service on the Ramsei–Huttwil line [de] was cut back from Affoltern-Weier to Sumiswald-Grünen, and the S4 and S44 swapped termini, with the S4 now going to Sumiswald-Grünen and the S44 going to Langnau i.E.[9] The December 2011 addition of the S31 between Münchenbuchsee and Belp (via Bern) increased the service frequency between those two stations to every fifteen minutes.[10]

## Operations

[edit]

The Bern S-Bahn Bern is operated, under a joint commission from the Canton of Bern, its neighbouring cantons and the Federal Government, by the following railway companies:

* BLS AG (BLS);
* Regionalverkehr Bern-Solothurn (RBS).

Upon the timetable change on 12 December 2004, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS) withdrew from its previous involvement in the operation of the Bern S-Bahn, but also took over all of the long-distance services previously operated by the BLS.

## Lines

[edit]

As of June 2024[update], the network consists of the following lines. Unless otherwise stated, the lines are 1,435 mm or 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in standard gauge.[11]

#  | Route  | Notes  | Operator

|
|
|

S1 | Fribourg/Freiburg–Bern–Münsingen–Thun |  | BLS AG
S11 | Thun-Bern | Rush-hour service only in direction of Bern | BLS AG
S2 | Laupen BE–Flamatt–Bern–Konolfingen–Langnau i.E. |  | BLS AG
S21 | Thun-Konolfingen |  | BLS AG
S22 | Bern-Konolfingen-Langnau i.E. | Rush-hour service | BLS AG
S3 | Biel/Bienne–Bern–Belp |  | BLS AG
S31 | Belp–Bern–Münchenbuchsee(–Biel/Bienne) | Rush-hour service | BLS AG
S35 | Kerzers-Lyss |  | BLS AG
S36 | Lyss-Büren an der Aare |  | BLS AG
S4 | Thun–Belp–Bern–Burgdorf–Hasle-Rüegsau–Langnau i.E. |  | BLS AG
S41 | Thun–Hasle-Rüegsau–Burgdorf–Solothurn |  | BLS AG
S42 | Konolfingen–Hasle-Rüegsau(–Thun) |  | BLS AG
S43 | Thun-Konolfingen |  | BLS AG
S44 | Thun–Belp–Bern–Burgdorf–Solothurn/Hasle-Rüegsau-Sumiswald-Grünen | Operates as a single train between Thun and Burgdorf[12] | BLS AG
S45 | Ramsei–Sumiswald-Grünen |  | BLS AG
S46 | Solothurn–Burgdorf–Zollikofen-Ostermundigen | Rush-hour service only in direction of Ostermundigen | BLS AG
S5 | Neuchâtel–Ins/Payerne–Murten/Morat–Kerzers–Bern Brünnen Westside–Bern | Operates as a single train between Bern and Kerzers[13] | BLS AG
S51 | Bern Brünnen Westside–Bern |  | BLS AG
S52 | (Ins–)Kerzers–Bern Brünnen Westside–Bern | Operates between Ins and Kerzers only during rush hour | BLS AG
S6 | Schwarzenburg–Bern |  | BLS AG
S7 | Bern–Worb Dorf | Operates over the metre (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge Worb Dorf–Worblaufen line | RBS
S8 | Bern–Jegenstorf/Bätterkinden | Operates over the metre (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge Solothurn–Worblaufen line | RBS
S9 | Bern–Unterzollikofen | Operates over the metre (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge Zollikofen–Bern line | RBS

## Network map

[edit]

## Rolling stock

[edit]

The normal rolling stock rosters for the Bern S-Bahn are:

* S1 BLS RABe 515 ("MUTZ"): up to two units per train (2 x 4- double-decker car EMU)[14]
* S11 BLS RABe 515 ("MUTZ"): (6 car EMU)[14]
* S2 BLS RABe 528 ("MIKA"): (up to two units per train (2 x 6 cars EMU))[15]
* S21 BLS RABe 535 ("Lötschberger")[16]
* S22 BLS RABe 535 ("Lötschberger")[16]
* S3 BLS RABe 515 ("MUTZ"): up to two units per train (2 x 4- double-decker car EMU)[14]
* S31 BLS RABe 515 ("MUTZ"): up to two units per train (2 x 4- double-decker car EMU)[14]
* S35 BLS RBDe 565 [de] ("NPZ") with two "B6 Jumbo [de]" intermediate cars or BLS RBDe 566 II [de] ("NPZ")[17]
* S36 BLS RABe 525 ("NINA")[18]
* S4 BLS RABe 528 ("MIKA") (up to two units per train (2 x 6 cars EMU))[15]
* S41 BLS RABe 535 ("Lötschberger")[16]
* S42 BLS RABe 525 ("NINA")[18]
* S43 BLS RABe 525 ("NINA")[18]
* S44 BLS RABe 525 ("NINA") or BLS RABe 535 ("Lötschberger"): 1-2 units per train (4 cars EMU)[16][18]
* S45 BLS RABe 525 ("NINA") or BLS RABe 535 ("Lötschberger")[16][18]
* S46 BLS RABe 525 ("NINA")[18]
* S5 BLS RABe 525 ("NINA") or : 1–3 units per train (3 cars EMU)[18]
* S51 BLS RBDe 565 ("NPZ") with two "B6 Jumbo" intermediate cars[17]
* S52 BLS RBDe 565 ("NPZ") with two "B6 Jumbo" intermediate cars[17]
* S6 BLS RABe 515 ("MUTZ")[14]
* S7 RBS Be 4/10 [de] ("Worbla"): in peak times 2 x Be 4/10,
* S7 supplementary trains Bern–Bolligen RBS Be 4/10 ("Worbla")[19]
* S8 RBS Be 4/12 ("Seconda"): 2 EMU per train in peak hours, 1 EMU outside of peak hours[20]
* S9 RBS Be 4/12 ("Seconda") or RBS Be 4/10 ("Worbla")[19][20]

## See also

[edit]

* Trams in Bern
* Trolleybuses in Bern

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ a b BLS Lötschbergbahn and Regionalverkehr Mittelland merged in 2006 to form BLS AG, also commonly known as BLS.

## Footnotes

[edit]

1. ^ Bützer & Jeker 1980, p. 149.
2. ^ "Berner S-Bahn fährt ab 1995 auf zwei Linien". Der Bund (in German). 14 July 1993. p. 21. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
3. ^ "Neue S-Bahn-Linie Langnau-Schwarzenburg". Thuner Tagblatt (in German). 22 May 1995. p. 3. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
4. ^ "Berner S-Bahn: Täglich 400 Züge für 40 000 Reisende". Thuner Tagblatt (in German). 20 May 1998. p. 24. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
5. ^ Aebischer, Pascal (20 May 1998). "Murten hat S-Bahn-Anschluss". Freiburger Nachrichten [de] (in German). p. 7. Retrieved 21 December 2022.+[de]&rft.atitle=Murten+hat+S-Bahn-Anschluss&rft.pages=7&rft.date=1998-05-20&rft.aulast=Aebischer&rft.aufirst=Pascal&rft_id=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d;=FZG19980520-01.2.60&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Bern+S-Bahn" class="Z3988">
6. ^ Bern 2004, p. 70.
7. ^ Bern 2004, p. 21.
8. ^ "Der Fahrplan 2009" (PDF) (in German). 10 November 2008. p. 6. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
9. ^ "Veränderungen beim öffentlichen Verkehr mit dem Fahrplanwechsel vom 13. Dezember 2009" (PDF) (in German). Canton of Bern. 13 December 2009. p. 1. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
10. ^ "Fahrplanwechsel 11. Dezember 2011". Berner Zeitung (in German). 22 November 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
11. ^ "Liniennetz S-Bahn Bern" (PDF). S-Bahn Bern (in German). 10 December 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
12. ^ "S44: Thun–Belp–Bern–Burgdorf–Solothurn + Sumiswald-Grünen" (PDF). BLS AG. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
13. ^ "S5: Bern–Kerzers–Neuchâtel + Murten/Morat (–Payerne)" (PDF). BLS AG. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
14. ^ a b c d e "Charter trains: RABe 515 – Double-decker train "MUTZ"". BLS. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
15. ^ a b "Charter trains: RABe 528 – «MIKA»". BLS. 15 June 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
16. ^ a b c d e "Charter trains: RABe 535 – "Lötschberger"". BLS. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
17. ^ a b c "Charter trains: RBDe 565 – commuter train with railcar". BLS (in German). 10 December 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
18. ^ a b c d e f g "Charter trains: RABe 525 – low-floor regional train "NINA"". BLS. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
19. ^ a b "Der Fahrzeugpark des RBS - Worbla". RBS (in German). Retrieved 8 June 2024.
20. ^ a b "Der Fahrzeugpark des RBS - Seconda". RBS (in German). Retrieved 8 June 2024.

## References

[edit]

* "Angebotskonzept Des Kantons Bern Für Den Öffentlichen Orts - Und Regionalverkehr 2005 - 2008" (PDF) (in German). December 2004.
* Bützer, Hans-Peter; Jeker, Mark (1980). Grosser Eisenbahn-Atlas Schweiz (in German). Bern: Kümmerly & Frey. ISBN 3-259-03234-6. OCLC 1222543836.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: ignored ISBN errors (link)

## External links

[edit]

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