Dominic Stucki Profile picture
Feb 5, 2022 49 tweets 42 min read Read on X
Another month, another Swiss railway goodbye.
Today: #CJ's really old school standard gauge branch line Porrentruy–Bonfol and the last days of their class RBDe 566 I trainsets.
Join @Felyxorez and me for a little goodbye tour!
⬇️⬇️⬇️
#AjoieBijou Image
First point: What line again?
We're in the #Ajoie, a secluded and quite France-like part of 🇨🇭, separated from the rest of the country by the Jura mountains.
It's here, where the Chemins de fer du Jura operate a short branch line from Porrentruy to Bonfol.
[Maps: SBB]
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImage
The 11 km long line opened in 1901 as «Régional Porrentruy–Bonfol» (RPB). Only 9 years later, the line became international, as it was extended by 2km to the border to connect to the German (after 1945: French) Dannemaire–Pfetterhouse line built in 1910!
#AjoieBijou Image
1944, RPB was integrated in the newly founded Chemins de fer du Jura (CJ), together with other, mostly narrow gauge, loss-making railways. Thats why CJ, known today for the scenic narrow gauge network (see 📷) also operates this little known normal gauge railway.
#AjoieBijou Image
#CJ's international career didn't last long, though. As trains across the border were mostly empty, traffic was shut down in 1946; the tracks remained until 1970. The Swiss part however was electrified and modernised in the 1950s.
📷: Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv
#AjoieBijou Image
But even on the Swiss side, demand remained low. The line survived anyway, but fell in a kind of hibernation with little to no modernisation, saving an otherwise long lost atmosphere until today. But this is about to change rapidly - and that's why we're here!
#AjoieBijou Image
Now, you know what you need to know – let's start!
Porrentruy, capital of Ajoie, features a big #SBB station telling stories from "better" times, when a good part of the 🇨🇵/🇨🇭 traffic passed over the SBB line here.
Our #CJ train awaits the connection from Basel.
#AjoieBijou Image
First stop up the line is Alle. 1800 inhabitants, a lovely farmer's village. Hourly trains and busses to Porrentruy.
And there's an interesting train parked here, which you might know, if you're following me already a bit longer. But more on this later.
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImage
Welcome to Change... erm, I mean Alle!
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
The station still has a ticket office, as it needs to be staffed anyway - someone has to operate the manual (!) switches for the Mon to Fri peak hour train crossings here!
Also note the properly branded ticket machine.
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
Following the line out of town. After a while, we reach the freight centre of La Fenatte. Expanding it and concentrating the remaining rail freight traffic from/to the whole region here has played a major role for the decision to keep and modernise the line.
#AjoieBijou Image
Then, finally, it's photo time!
One of the two trainsets here – sadly the one working today – has been covered in comic-style illustrations, messing up the original design. But apart from that, I really do like these trains.
#AjoieBijou Image
Like most of the trains here in the last 120 years, they were bought second hand, in this case from #BLS.
Tomorrow, as the thread will continue towards Bonfol, I'll explain what makes them so special and why they're of railway historical importance.
#AjoieBijou Image
Porrentruy–Bonfol, part 2️⃣➡️!
#CJ has are only two trainsets avaliable for this line. They consist of a class RBDe 566 I railcar and a matching driving trailer. They were built in 1973/74 for the #EBT-Group, today part of #BLS, and taken over by #CJ in 2013/2016.
#AjoieBijou Image
These trains are of historical importance. As +/- the only ones, they represent the transition between the widespread 1960 stock and the NPZ series from the 80s on nearly all 🇨🇭normal gauge railways.
📷 1: Peter Hürzeler, CC BY-NC-ND 2.5 CH, bahnbilder.ch
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
8 railcars, 9 driving trailers, 10 coaches were delivered to the three railways of EBT group by SWS/Sécheron. Technically, they were still close to the 1960 stock, construction is based on the EW I coaches.
📷: Nigel Menzies, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, flickr.com/nigelmenzies
#AjoieBijou Image
From the conceptional point hovever, they were revolutionary:
➡️ Railcar with cab on one end only
➡️ Large, swinging-sliding doors
➡️ Big entrance platforms
➡️ Traction characteristics tailored for S-Bahn traffic
➡️ New front design without front door
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
It's interesting, that these trains were never used for suburban traffic. #EBT operated rural lines and when some of them have been integrated into S-Bahn Bern, other stock was working these services.
📷: Hans-Peter Bärtschi, CC BY-SA 4.0, e-pics.ethz.ch
#AjoieBijou Image
But the new concept was successful! The conception of the «NPZ» generation with roughly 200 trainsets built in the 80s and 90s was based on these #EBT trains. They therefore paved the way for one of the most successful and widespread regional train generations in 🇨🇭.
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImageImage
For most of their life, the class RBDe 566 stayed aroud the Emmental, working local trains. In the 1990s, after the EBT group was rebranded as «Regionalverkehr Mittelland» (RM) they were repainted in a beautiful, bold livery by famous designer Luigi #Colani.
#AjoieBijou Image
The winged wheel livery was sadly rather short lived. When RM was integrated into #BLS in 2006, the large logo had to go - although the symbol was still part of the #BLS identity!
In a modified design, they were used until 2013, when BLS took them out of service.
#AjoieBijou Image
This brings us back to our Porrentruy–Bonfol line, as #CJ looked for an opportunity to replace one of their original class BDe 4/4 railcars. The #BLS class RBDe 566 I seemed suitable and so, one trainset was saved from scrapping and transferred to the Ajoie in 2013.
#AjoieBijou Image
In 2016, #CJ's NPZ was due for an overhaul. As this was apparently to expensive, they decided to rent another old RBDe 566 I from BLS and to scrap the newer NPZ (see 📷), bought in 2009 only.
Correction: BLS took the trains out of service end of 2014 (not 2013).
#AjoieBijou Image
In the meantime, we walked towards Vendlincourt. The line crosses over a small pass here, mostly running in a cutting.
En route, we spot a local celeb, which is also immortalised on the train!
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
Vendlincourt. 447 m, 560 inhabitants and a big surprise! The station has been completely modernised and moved some 100 m towards Alle. The passing loop is gone. The new station is incredibly well equipped, including bike racks and car charging station! Well done, #CJ!
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImageImage
The old station building still features the sign, but isn't in use anymore. The electrified (!) siding to the left leads to a sawmill. During my last visit in 2017 it was still in service, but for today I don't kown. Maybe @CJTrainDriver knows?
#AjoieBijou Image
Cloud lottery north of Vendlincourt. Also note the new signals. I suppose, the line is now equipped with ETCS L1LS.
With these pictures, I'll take a break. Last part coming this evening.
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
Porrentruy–Bonfol, part 3️⃣
The way from Vendlincourt to Bonfol leads along the peaceful Etangs de Bonfol. Once built to provide fish for the Bishop of Basel, they are a nature reserve today. If you're in Bonfol, don't miss a visit here!
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImage
Branch line atmosphere south of Bonfol. Notice the beautiful, filigree lattice catenary supports, which most probably date back to the electrification in 1952.
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
Finally: Bonfol.440 m, 650 inhabitants. Terminus. A once very typical branch line terminus with two tracks, a freight loading ramp, a two-track depot, station building and goods shed. Not much is going on here in the early afternoon.
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImageImage
The second trainset with railcar 221 awaits the next working, which will probably never come. This train is set to leave for the scrapyard very soon.
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImageImage
Interesting railway references around the station. The sign saying «SBB CJ CFF» outside the former Hôtel de la Gare is technically correct, as #SBB operated the line from 1902 to 1908 on behalf of RPB.
Sadly no «produits du terroir» in the vending machine.
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImage
Short pause for the friendly driver and the trainset shuttling between Porrentruy and Bonfol today. Later, we have the chance to photograph the two trains side by side, when 222 leaves again for Porrentruy.
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
If you look closely at this picture, you'll spot that there's a track leaving the station northwards. It is the former international line towards France, which later served as freight siding, when an old hazardous waste landfill had to be excavated in the 2010s.
#AjoieBijou Image
It's worth exploring the first few hundred metres of this approximately 2 km long track, as Félix' drone video showed an interesting train hidden there. The second of the two NPZ formerly owned by TPF, bought to replace the current RBDe 566 I trainsets.
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImage
I chased these trains last year during their last months with TPF, and of course I'm delighted that two of them will survive here! 😊
A smart buy from #CJ, as they were thoroughly modernised in the 2000s and meet the accessibility standards.
#AjoieBijou
Speaking of which: To provide level boarding, the station of Bonfol has to be modernised as well! Works should start this year, so if you want to get the full branch line experience here, better hurry up!
#AjoieBijou Image
As the next train leaves in 1.5 hours only (as on every authentic old school branch line, there is kind of a takt gap), we walk back to Vendlincourt, where we tried the new «station park». Good, but will be much better, once the trees are a few decades old.😉
🐴💉🚞🌳
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImageImage
After a good 15 km by foot, it's now time to hop on a train. The "journey" from Bonfol to Porrentruy is 15 minutes only. We enjoy the sound of the old motors, the slightly bumpy ride and #FensterAuf!
The spartan interior is typical for EBT stock from the 70s/80s.
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImageImage
A short Pause in Porrentruy and back to Alle, to make something out of the last sunrays.
The second TPF trainset is parked, well..., a bit unfortunate from a photographers perspective. But I really wanted to get this shoot of old and new side by side.
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
Sunset in Alle. The future is bright for the NPZ trainset, waiting for its indian summer in the Ajoie.
#AjoieBijou Image
The hourly service leaves quite a bit of waiting time. Enough to study timetables (every 30 mins in peak hours and a takt switch in order to optimize connections from/to Basel with one diagram only).
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
Goodbye to the NPZ (I'll definitely come back for them!) and boarding a last train to Bonfol.
#AjoieBijou ImageImage
Bonfol, 17:37. The sun is gone and it's freezing cold. The driver disappears in the station building and soon, it's really quiet. Only the purring of the old trains and occasional cars on the road break the silence. Time for a final goodbye to these trains.
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImageImage
Then, the warm train interior where the heating is fighting against the Jurassian frost for one of the last times lures me in. It's a cozy and quiet last ride down to Porrentruy.
#AjoieBijou ImageImageImageImage
If you like the line and/or these trains, make sure you don't miss @Felyxorez' video from today, including bird's eye views.
#AjoieBijou
Porrentruy. Terminus. Last photos before I board the SBB train. Another chapter in railway history is closing.
But, although modernised, the line will survive! So if you're around, do go and see one of the most original branch lines in 🇨🇭 – the Porrentruy–Bonfol, the #AjoieBijou. ImageImage

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More from @dominicstucki

Mar 12, 2023
Zürich HB, Wednesday evening, at the time when the intresting trains depart. Time for a short trip and to test Zürich's newest night train, the EN Canopus. We're booked in a deluxe sleeper compartment in a CD sleeping car.
#Trambinging
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#Trambinging
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New year - new timetable.
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#SwissTramStats Image
1️⃣ General stats

The number of cities with tram network remains unchanged: 4.
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#SwissTramStats ImageImageImageImage
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📷️ 1: t-mizo (CC BY 2.0)
📷️ 2: Alexandre Prevot (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Two more cities will be added to the list in this decade! ImageImageImageImage
Read 70 tweets
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#MountainMetro Image
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Diagram: SZU.

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