Keystone-SDA
The work launched on June 27 on the Friborg-Berne line, involving a two-month interruption, is going well. Halfway through, despite the inconvenience, travelers say they are “impressed” by the “solidity” of the concept of the substitution offer, according to SBB.
(Keystone-ATS) The observation is set by Jean-Philippe Schmidt, spokesperson for SBB, about large-scale works budgeted at 90 million francs. “The return of passengers is favorable,” he rejoices, even if the old federal management does not have figures at this stage. On the side of some pendulums, enthusiasm is less marked.
The journey time, Lausanne-Berne for example, doubled from around an hour to two, indicates a dissatisfied user, under the cover of anonymity. Not to mention that the price is higher if travelers go through Bienne, climbing 18 to 24 francs for a simple race with the non-degrifheed half-prix subscription, she says.
The sites take place in accordance with the schedule. The closure makes it possible to concentrate the work over eight weeks, until August 25. Otherwise the restrictions would have lasted three years. “The option reduces morning uncertainty with night work when it comes to reopening traffic,” notes Jean-Philippe Schmidt.
Easier work
“The total interruption guarantees to be able to work better,” said the SCB spokesman, contacted by Keystone-ATS. The concentration operation of several sites over a short period is also a test. For the record, the 30 -kilometer section is borrowed by 33,000 travelers daily.
In detail, the IC1 connecting Geneva-Airport to St-Gall and the IR15 between Geneva-Airport and Lucerne are notably removed during the complete interruption of rail traffic. An identical spell is reserved for RE2 between Friborg and Bern and Re3 between Friborg and Guin (FR). Other journeys will be affected (S1 and S2).
The Friborg-Berne line is substituted for main lines by a replacement bus service. A direct bus line thus connects every 10 minutes Friborg to the federal capital, and vice versa, replacing the main lines IC1, IR15 and RE, with a rate of 15 minutes after 8:00 p.m.
Via the jura foot
“It is necessary to count with longer journey times, with an additional 30 minutes between Friborg and Bern,” repeated Jean-Philippe Schmidt. In addition to the direct bus bus line for long distance, four offers have been set up to replace the deleted regional trains.
The clientele between French -speaking Switzerland and German -speaking Switzerland can travel by taking the jura foot line, with the IC5 trains via Neuchâtel and Bienne. In addition, working during the summer holidays limit the number of pendulums affected. Beyond that, SBBs have provided for commercial flexibility measures.
Euro without a pittance
Increased partly since September, the sites have entered an “intensive phase”, with the total modernization of Schmitten station (FR). Also the redevelopment of switches at Friborg station as well as the renewal of 8 kilometers of track and contact line between Flamatt (FR) and Bern.
Some 200 workers are at work in a secure environment. Regarding the Women’s Football Euro, which ended on Sunday with the victory of England, the SBB claim that they had recorded any negative return. The event had been taken into account obviously in planning the substitution offer.
