Stadtbahn Glattal
Encyclopedia
Stadtbahn Glattal is a project to introduce a modern rapid-transit system to the Glattal area to the North of the city of Zürich
in Switzerland
. Stadtbahn Glattal is being developed as a metre gauge
tram
system with through running to that of neighbouring Zürich. It is built and owned by the Verkehrsbetriebe Glattal VBG (Glatt valley
public transport company)
, is frequently subtituted. The latter term correctly refers to the railway line from Wallisellen
to Uster
. It is, however, widely used for the Stadtbahn Glattal system and is prominent on the official website and advertising material.
In the period following World War II
, the Glattal area experienced a rapid boom as population and industry spilled over from nearby Zürich
. The development was acceleated by the inauguration of Zürich Airport near Kloten
in 1953. The economic growth of the Glattal region is continuing to this day. One of the consequences of the rapid transformation is rising traffic congestion
.
providing frequent and fast connections between its stations. There are also fast train connections from Zürich Airport to central Zürich, some calling in Oerlikon. Onward distribution from the railway stations is assured by bus
services. However, the bus services are suffering from both road congestion and vehicle overloading. It was recognised in the 1990s that the construction of a rapid transit
system was justified.
Stadtbahn Glattal is sometimes described in German as a Mittelverteiler, ie, intermediate distributor (intermediate between S-Bahn
and bus
).
system, a metre gauge tram was selected on account of its compatibility with that of neighbouring Zürich
and the ability to provide through services.
, has been entrusted with managing the implementation of the project.
and Glattbrugg. Construction began in 2006 and the line was opened in December 2008. The route is operated as an extension of city route 10.
to Bahnhof Stettbach in Dübendorf
. Construction began in 2008 for a 2010 opening. Trams now run from Zürich Airport to Bahnhof Stettbach as the new route 12.
to Bassersdorf
and then on to Dübendorf
. The realisation of this so-called Ringbahn Hardwald is not currently a priority.
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Stadtbahn Glattal is being developed as a metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
system with through running to that of neighbouring Zürich. It is built and owned by the Verkehrsbetriebe Glattal VBG (Glatt valley
Glatt Valley
The Glatt Valley is a region and a river valley in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.- Geography :The River Glatt is a tributary of the River Rhine in the Zürcher Unterland area of the Canton of Zurich...
public transport company)
The name
Stadtbahn Glattal is the official denomination of this system. This name is used in all official and legal processes. Elsewhere, the alternative term, GlattalbahnGlattalbahn
The term Glattalbahn is ambiguous as it refers to three different entities: a railway line opened in 1856, the company that built that line, and a rapid transit system opened in 2006.-Railway line from Uster to Wallisellen:...
, is frequently subtituted. The latter term correctly refers to the railway line from Wallisellen
Wallisellen
Wallisellen is a municipality in the district of Bülach in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, and belongs to the Glatt Valley .-History:The first settlement at Wallisellen dates from 58 BC....
to Uster
Uster
Uster is a city and capital of the district Uster in the Swiss Canton of Zürich.It is the third largest city in the Canton of Zürich, with over 30,000 inhabitants, and is one of the twenty largest cities in Switzerland...
. It is, however, widely used for the Stadtbahn Glattal system and is prominent on the official website and advertising material.
Past history
The private tramway company Zürich-Oerlikon-Seebach (ZOS) opened a line from Zürich Seebach to Glattbrugg in 1908. At the time, this area was sparsely inhabited and the line was no commercial success. The link was replaced by a bus service in 1931.In the period following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the Glattal area experienced a rapid boom as population and industry spilled over from nearby Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
. The development was acceleated by the inauguration of Zürich Airport near Kloten
Kloten
-External links:* -References:...
in 1953. The economic growth of the Glattal region is continuing to this day. One of the consequences of the rapid transformation is rising traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
.
Other public transport in the Glattal area
The area is served by the Zürich S-BahnZürich S-Bahn
The Zurich S-Bahn system is a network of rapid transit rail lines that has been incrementally expanded to cover the ZVV area, which comprises the entire canton of Zurich and portions of neighboring cantons The Zurich S-Bahn system is a network of rapid transit rail lines that has been...
providing frequent and fast connections between its stations. There are also fast train connections from Zürich Airport to central Zürich, some calling in Oerlikon. Onward distribution from the railway stations is assured by bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
services. However, the bus services are suffering from both road congestion and vehicle overloading. It was recognised in the 1990s that the construction of a rapid transit
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
system was justified.
Stadtbahn Glattal is sometimes described in German as a Mittelverteiler, ie, intermediate distributor (intermediate between S-Bahn
S-Bahn
S-Bahn refers to an often combined city center and suburban railway system metro in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark...
and bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
).
Evaluation of alternatives
Following the evaluation of alternatives, including a monorailMonorail
A monorail is a rail-based transportation system based on a single rail, which acts as its sole support and its guideway. The term is also used variously to describe the beam of the system, or the vehicles traveling on such a beam or track...
system, a metre gauge tram was selected on account of its compatibility with that of neighbouring Zürich
Zürich trams
Trams make an important contribution to public transport in the city of Zurich in Switzerland. The tram network serves most city neighbourhoods, and is the backbone of public transport within the city, albeit supplemented by the inner sections of the Zurich S-Bahn, along with urban trolleybus and...
and the ability to provide through services.
Realisation
The regional bus operating authority for the Glattal area, VBGVerkehrsbetriebe Glattal
Verkehrsbetriebe Glattal is the main bus operator to the northern suburbs of Glattal, Furttal, Effretikon and Volketswil in the canton of Zürich, Switzerland. One of the eight public transport operators that make up the umbrella organisation Zürcher Verkehrsverbund, VBG operates some 73 buses and...
, has been entrusted with managing the implementation of the project.
Phase 1A
Phase 1A saw Zurich city trams extended from Messe to Auzelg. Construction began in 2004 and this line was inuagurated in late 2006. It is operated as an extension of city route 11.Phase 1B
Phase 1B branches off from phase 1A and runs to Zürich Airport via OpfikonOpfikon
Opfikon is the name of a municipality in the Swiss canton of Zurich, located in the district of Bülach.-Coat of arms:Blazon: Party per fess gules and argent, in chief a half length portrait of a man wearing a coat sable with a white collar, in base cross pattee sable.-Geography:Opfikon is situated...
and Glattbrugg. Construction began in 2006 and the line was opened in December 2008. The route is operated as an extension of city route 10.
Phase 2
This phase will see the phase 1A line extended from Auzelg via WallisellenWallisellen
Wallisellen is a municipality in the district of Bülach in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland, and belongs to the Glatt Valley .-History:The first settlement at Wallisellen dates from 58 BC....
to Bahnhof Stettbach in Dübendorf
Dübendorf
Dübendorf is a municipality in the district of Uster in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.It is a suburb of Zürich in Switzerland with a population of about 23,000 . It is the fourth largest city in the canton, after Zürich, Winterthur, and Uster.-History:Dübendorf is first mentioned in 946 as...
. Construction began in 2008 for a 2010 opening. Trams now run from Zürich Airport to Bahnhof Stettbach as the new route 12.
Further phases
There are plans to extend the system from the airport via KlotenKloten
-External links:* -References:...
to Bassersdorf
Bassersdorf
Bassersdorf is a municipality in the Swiss canton of Zurich, located in the district of Bülach, and belongs to the Glatt Valley .- History :...
and then on to Dübendorf
Dübendorf
Dübendorf is a municipality in the district of Uster in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland.It is a suburb of Zürich in Switzerland with a population of about 23,000 . It is the fourth largest city in the canton, after Zürich, Winterthur, and Uster.-History:Dübendorf is first mentioned in 946 as...
. The realisation of this so-called Ringbahn Hardwald is not currently a priority.