Helvetia (train)

VT 11.5 TEE Helvetia 1957-1964

Trans Europ Express ( TEE) ( 1957-1979 ) / Intercity ( IC) ( 1979-1987 ) / Euro City ( EC ) (1987-1991) / Inter - City Express ( ICE) ( 1992-2002)

Germany Germany

TEE Helvetia, 1957

Helvetia is the name of an international long-distance high-speed train, the Hamburg and Frankfurt / Main with Zurich 's Association. The term " Helvetia " is the Latin name of Switzerland. From 1957, this train as TEA, 1979 was driven as an intercity and most recently as ICE.

Fernzugeinsatz

Already in 1952 planned the German Federal Railroad a railcar quick connection between Frankfurt / Main and Zurich to set up. However, the former railcar shortage prevented the realization at this time. As a replacement, there was a connection Tw Frankfurt / Main - Stuttgart - Munich FT 29/30. The traffic in Switzerland, was driven by a locomotive-hauled train as a long-distance train F 77/78, Frankfurt / Main with Basel SBB Association. More holding dare Basel Bahnhof Baden, Freiburg im Breisgau, Offenburg, Karlsruhe, Mannheim -Friedrich field ( change locomotives ) and Darmstadt. Morning was started in Basel, in the evening was the return trip.

In the summer of 1953 new diesel railcar VT 08 Series were sufficiently available, so that the new connection has been changed to this trainset. At the same time the train route was extended to Zurich. For the winter timetable 1953/54, the Ferntriebzug from Frankfurt and Kassel, Hannover, Hamburg Hbf to Hamburg -Altona was performed. With a journey time of just 12 hours for the 959 km long total distance of the train in travelers was extremely popular. For the summer schedule 1954 running on the Main- Weser Railway was abandoned after Kassel and taken the faster route via Fulda and Bebra. Also accounted for the train stops in Offenburg. 1955 was used which also faster Riedbahn between Frankfurt and Mannheim and thus abandoned the stop in Darmstadt.

TEE- use

The Helvetia was one of the first features that have been integrated into the 1957 furnished TEE network. Although this already happened for the summer timetable 1957, was further driven railcar VT 08 Series. Some of the trains prewar railcar design Hamburg were held in the association. Only in October the route of the train could be converted to the new diesel -TEE - trains of the new class VT 11.5. Thus, the " Helvetia " could now be driven at a maximum speed of 140 km / hr. The train was one of the fastest in the Federal Railroad at all and was often fully booked.

After the great success of the long-distance trains Rheingold and Rheinpfeil Helvetia has also been changed to a wagon train with Lokbespannung 1965. For brand new cars of the Rheingold - type came with minor modifications, such as the steep roof used. Typical of these were one-story building train dining car of the type WRümh -64 ( later WRmz132 ) and bar car of the type ARDümh -64 ( later 105). Instead of the cobalt - blue-beige of Das Rheingold, the new car in the TEE color scheme red and beige (RAL 3004 and 1001 ) have been deleted.

Between Hamburg and Zurich, the pulling stem from two AVMH later Avmz was a Apmh (later Apmz ) as well as the dining and the bar car formed. Two other AVMH and if necessary, up to two Apmh were additionally beige is the train between Hamburg and Basel. As motive power came on the DB section new E- class E 10 series, used the TEA -Lok E 10:12, the later 112 was only in the section Mannheim - Frankfurt represented before TEA 78. It was not until 1968 these locomotives were generally in front of the Helvetia is used, its top speed was simultaneously raised to 160 km / hr.

In 1967, there were coaches Zurich - Amsterdam, in Mannheim on the TEA Rembrandt ( Munich - Amsterdam) went.

Already in 1971, took over the new DB express train locomotives of the series 103, the fabric of the train. The coaches to Amsterdam accounted for simultaneously.

Winter Timetable 1971/72

IC - use

The new IC - network of the DB from the fall of 1971 with his two-hour clock remained on the TEE Helvetia first without effect. He was integrated into the timetable concept of the IC line 3 ( Hamburg -Frankfurt- Basel).

Only in 1979 with the launch of dual-class IC network " Intercity '79 " of the train in the dual-class IC 178/179 was converted. He reversed now and from Westerland (Sylt ), where he was classified as D- train between Hamburg and Westerland. At the same time, he led a course to second class Westerland - Saarbrücken. Between Sylt and the Main metropolis Frankfurt led the train even a ABm 225 - cars, for one single IC. With the commissioning of the new Intercity Express system (ICE 9) the Helvetia stopped in 1991 for a short time.

ICE - use

Already in 1992 the Helvetia DB did, however, revive. He associated from now on with an ICE set between Hamburg and Zurich, as ICE 70 /71. That particular purpose, some ICE power cars with Swiss pantographs and train protection systems were fitted. With the abolition of the ICE trains name 2002 of Helvetia lost its exclusivity. Today it operates as a nameless ICE 70/71 between Hamburg -Altona and Basel SBB.

Accident

The TEE Helvetia was involved on 12 August 1965 in a serious accident when he collided in Lampert home station with the non-profile freestanding last car of a freight train and derailed. Four people died, many were injured.