Bière–Apples–Morges railway

The Compagnie du Chemin de fer Bière -Apples- Morges (BAM ) is a former private railway company in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. She called herself in July 2003 Transports de la région Morges- Bière- Cossonay ( MBC) to and in addition to their original rail lines also several bus routes in the Morges region as well as the funicular Cossonay Gare -Ville (CG ).

BAM, short for Bière -Apples- Morges remained for ten years as a brand name for the railway operations of the MBC. On 19 June 2013, the company announced that in future all activities will occur under the label of MBC.

The 19.1 km long main route goes from Morges on the shores of Lake Geneva about Apple's Bière at the foot of the Jura. A 10.6 km long branch line connects with Apple's L' Isle- Mont- la -Ville, this relation is now in large part served with a minibus.

Route

After leaving the station of Morges ( 381 m asl) runs the BAM route about 500 meters from the SBB main line Lausanne- Geneva in southwestern direction. After a right turn, the path runs north to Vufflens -le- Château ( 473 m asl). From here the route in a westerly and southwesterly direction to Yens (524 m asl) runs. After a 180 ° turn, the route runs north again on a gradient 26-35 per thousand until after Apple's ( 642 m asl).

The train station at the western edge of the village of Apple is applied as a wedge station; the station building is made ​​between the tracks of the main line and those of the branch line to L' Isle. There were and are no timetabled direct trains from Morges to L' Isle. Occasional direct trains in both freight and passenger traffic have to leave the Apple's direction Bière station and reset it. The main route leads westward over flat to gently rising terrain; in bale ( 713 m asl) is the highest point of the route network is achieved. The last stop in Bière ( 694 m asl) is the operation center with depot and workshop. Approximately one kilometer before the end of the track at Bière branches off a 2.1 -kilometer-long railway siding to the barracks of the Swiss Army, which exclusively serves the transportation of goods.

The branch line leading from Apple's northward over flat terrain. After Pampigny station (625 m asl) The route runs west to Mont Richer ( 676 masl), the train station is one kilometer away from the village center. Here the route turns into a sharp right turn to the northeast. She finally ends in the station of L' Isle ( 666 m asl). The three served by the branch line communities have come together not quite 3000 inhabitants.

History

The opening of the barracks in Bière in 1873 (and the resulting freight) was the main reason for the configuration of a railway line along the Jura. It was planned a route from Yverdon- les- Bains on Orbe, L' Isle, Mont Richer, Bière, Gimel and Genolier to Nyon. But this project failed due to high costs. Then society BAM was founded on 29 June 1893, construction began on 5 August 1893.

The opening of the main route from Morges about Apple's Bière was on 1 July 1895. Meanwhile, a second company was founded. She built the branch line from Apple to L' Isle; The opening took place on 12 September 1896., you handed over the management of the BAM, but stuck fast in financial straits. Therefore, the Chemin de fer Apples- L'Isle (AL) was acquired on 1 July 1899 by BAM.

On both routes initially inverted exclusively steam locomotives. In 1904 there had been plans for electrification, but these were not implemented until after the start of the Second World War, when coal was scarce. The electrical operation between Morges, Apple and Bière was taken on May 10, 1943 between Apple's and L' Isle only on 13 November 1943 after it had been tested at the request of the Federation, whether could be dispensed with the branch line.

During the 1960s there was an attempt to set the path operations, but the neighboring communities defended themselves successfully against it. It was followed by a thorough modernization. Between 1992 and 1995 the station of Morges was completely rebuilt, and BAM received a covered platform. The opening of the railway siding to the barracks in Bière on April 10, 1997.

Rolling stock

The three shuttle trains from 1981 consisting of railcar Be 4/4 11-13 and matching control car Bt 51-53 lead regional trains between Bière and Morges. Since the railcar was 13 mostly involved in the accident, he was renumbered from superstition and re- enters the number 14 An almost identical design shuttle was ( / YSteC Be 4 4 3 and Bt 52) adopted by TRAVYS; These two vehicles are the same used as loading 4/4 15 and Bt 54 as the existing and also mixed with them. However, Bt is 54 in the other direction than the Bt 51-53, because the control multiple line was installed in different TRAVYS. The two modern locomotives Ge 4/4 21-22 of 1994 for freight in use.

There are three of five old BDe 4/4 1-5 ( 1943-1949 model years ) available as a reserve; they come along with some timber vans for special trips for use. Four narrow- car unit I, type FFA as it also has the Rhaetian Railway (RhB), round off the car park. These cars can be classified as intermediate cars in the shuttle trains. In 2010, three new intermediate cars from Stadler Altenrhein were delivered, which have a low -level entry and are queued in the commuter trains to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

In August 2012, 17 narrow gauge trainsets were advertised together with the TRAVYS, the MOB and the TPF. In March 2013 it was announced that Stadler has won the CHF 150 million contract. At BAM three two -car multiple units, which are supplemented with the 2010 delivered low-floor cars, and a three-piece train set will be delivered. The first trains will be delivered in early 2015.

In 2006, the railway purchased two standard gauge shunting tractors of the type Te III of the SBB. These are needed for the dolly maneuvers in Morges railway station.

Before electrification BAM possessed four tank locomotives of the type G 3/3 with the numbers 1-4. In 1921 she took over from the SBB Brünigbahn the G 3/3 number 109 and set them as number 6. 1943 this locomotive was sold to the company in Biel- Mett Renfer and came to the local railway industry is used. 1941, the HG 3/4 7 of the Furka -Oberalp -Bahn as " war reserve " for BAM; it was sold in 1946 to France. From the steam locomotives the former Brünigbahn tank locomotives G 3/3 number 6 has been preserved in the Blonay -Chamby.