Yverdon–Ste-Croix railway


The Yverdon to Sainte-Croix Railway is a railway line and former railway company in Switzerland. The line connects the towns of Yverdon-les-Bains and Sainte-Croix, both in the canton of Vaud, and is some long, overcoming a vertical height change of. It is now owned and operated by the TRAVYS company.

History

The line was opened in 1893 by the Yverdon–Ste-Croix railway company, largely as a result of the influence of William Barbey from Valeyres-sous-Rances, who financed the building of the line. The line initially used steam locomotives to the articulated Mallet design. Because of the influence of the religious William Barbey, the line did not operate any trains on Sundays.
In 1918, after the death of William Barbey, the line began operations on Sundays. Like many Swiss railways, it suffered from a shortage of coal during the Second World War and, in 1945, it was electrified at, using overhead wires.
On February 14, 1976 two railcars collided head-to-head between Essert-sous-Champvent and Valeyres-sous-Montagny at about. Seven people died and 40 others were injured. The accident was put down to human error; the two trains were scheduled to cross at Essert-sous-Champvent, but the line was not equipped with automatic block signalling that would have prevented the accident.
In 2001, the Yverdon–Ste-Croix railway company was merged with the Pont-Brassus railway company and the Transports Publics Yverdon-Grandson bus company to form the new TRAVYS company. The company has since also absorbed the Orbe–Chavornay railway company.
In 2013 and as part of a joint order with Transports de la région Morges-Bière-Cossonay, the Montreux–Oberland Bernois railway and Transports publics fribourgeois, TRAVYS ordered three new trains for the Yverdon–Ste-Croix railway from Stadler Rail. Of these, two will be used to replace older stock, whilst the third will allow the introduction of a half-hourly service on the line. The trains are due for delivery in 2015.

Locomotives and Rolling Stock

No.TypeSeats: 2ndBuilders DetailsDate BuiltNotesImage
1Be4/440ACMV/SIG/SAAS1981Named "Yverdon - les - Bains"
2Be4/440ACMV/SIG/SAAS1981Named "Baulmes".
3Be4/440ACMV/SIG/SAAS19812004 sold to Chemin de fer Bière-Apples-Morges as No.15
4Be4/446SIG/BBC1945withdrawn March 2008
5Be4/446SIG/BBC1945
21Ge4/4YSC/SIG/BBC1950
22BSIG1893Sold to Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme
22"Tm2/2Schöma/Deutz1971
23Tm2/2RACO/Cummins1989
26BFSIG1893Sold to CFBS
27BFSIG1893Sold to CFBS
31BSIG1929Sold to CFBS
32BSIG1929Sold to CFBS
35B64SWP1968Wired as intermediate coach for 1-3/51-53 and 4-5/54
36ArsSIG/RhB/Travys1913ex-RhB B 2218, saloon "La Traverse". Rebuilt in 1960 and again in 2002.
51Bt56ACMV/SAAS1983Driving Trailer for 1-3/2000-01
52Bt56ACMV/SAAS19832004 sold to BAM as No.54
52"BtStadler2007Driving Trailer for 1-2/2000-01
53BDt64SWP/SWA1968Ex-No.33, Rebuilt in 1991 from B, driving trailer for 1-3/2000-01
54BDt64SWP/SWA1968Ex-No.34, Rebuilt in 1991 from B, driving trailer for 4
55Bt64ACMV/SAAS1981
2000Be2/688Stadler/Adtranz2001Stadler GTW
2001Be2/688Stadler/Adtranz2001Stadler GTW