Rail Transport In Switzerland
The railways of Switzerland include 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge and narrow gauge (usually 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) Metre gauge, occasionally less).
- Network size: 5,063 km
- standard gauge: 3,652 km (2,269 mi), of which 3,641 km (2,262 mi) is electrified.
- narrow gauge: 1,383 km (859 mi), of which 1,353 km (841 mi) is electrified. Mostly 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge, some 800 mm (2 ft 7 1⁄2 in) gauge and one line (Waldenburgerbahn, 13 km or 8 mi) 750 mm (2 ft 5 1⁄2 in) gauge.
- street tramways: almost all 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge.
(Data 2004, Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications)
Switzerland is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Switzerland is 85.
A remarkable feature of Switzerland's railways is that despite its small geographic size, the country has a thriving domestic rail freight system. This is made necessary by the country's mountainous terrains and strong regulations on truck transport, and is enabled by properly coordinated intermodal logistics.
Read more about Rail Transport In Switzerland: Standard-gauge Lines, Trams, S-bahn, History, Rail Links To Adjacent Countries
Famous quotes containing the words rail, transport and/or switzerland:
“If goodness were only a theory, it were a pity it should be lost to the world. There are a number of things, the idea of which is a clear gain to the mind. Let people, for instance, rail at friendship, genius, freedom, as long as they willthe very names of these despised qualities are better than anything else that could be substituted for them, and embalm even the most envenomed satire against them.”
—William Hazlitt (17781830)
“One may disavow and disclaim vices that surprise us, and whereto our passions transport us; but those which by long habits are rooted in a strong and ... powerful will are not subject to contradiction. Repentance is but a denying of our will, and an opposition of our fantasies.”
—Michel de Montaigne (15331592)
“I look upon Switzerland as an inferior sort of Scotland.”
—Sydney Smith (17711845)