The Swiss Express crossing the Reuss bridge on the Heitersberg railway line. — **The *Swiss Express* crossing the Reuss bridge on the Heitersberg railway line.** SBB Historic

Heitersberg: a short railway line with a big impact

In 1975, the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) opened its first new route in a long time: the just under eight-kilometre-long Heitersberg line between Limmattal and Lenzburg. The new inter-city Swiss Express train became an eye-catching feature on this new stretch of railway.

Marc Ribeli

Marc Ribeli is a historian and is responsible for the photo, film and video archives at SBB Historic.

It was an unusual location for an official inauguration speech. The lectern was set up on the balustrade of a railway bridge, with another railway bridge stretching above it. The new Heitersberg line was opened amongst all this concrete, on 1 June 1975.

As it happens, the location could not have been more fitting. One of the SBB’s main objectives at this time was known as ‘grade separation’, meaning that railway lines were to be designed without any junctions, particularly on major routes in the Swiss Plateau. This philosophy is strikingly illustrated at the Erlimoos bridge construction between Othmarsingen and Lenzburg, where two railway lines and a cantonal road intersect at the same point on three levels. The structure symbolised elaborate, large-scale solutions in the densely interwoven rail network. It was all about grade separation, modernisation, acceleration. The SBB was keen to present itself as a modern, practical and forward-looking organisation.

**No crossings on three levels: the Erlimoos bridge east of Lenzburg.** SBB Historic

Federal Councillor Willi Ritschard also emphasised this faith in the future in his speech: “In recent decades, the SBB as an organisation has been looking to the future. The Heitersberg line is one of many examples of that. This faith in the future will pay off.” This sentiment was clearly also shared by the SBB engineers, one of whom commented: “The SBB railway experts have been born at an opportune time: a time of constant development and the large-scale expansion of our lines.” He was describing a new self-confidence. The opening of a new railway line was an event that the SBB had not seen for decades. It came at a time when motorway expansion was booming and the railway was in danger of being left behind. The newly-opened route was intended to help add to the appeal of train travel over road transport.

**Federal Councillor Willi Ritschard officially opened the Heitersberg railway line on 1 June 1975.** SBB Historic

Both passenger transport and freight traffic benefited from the construction of the line. For passenger transport the new line formed a fast shortcut on the major route across the Swiss Plateau. The new section shortened the journey time from Zurich to Bern, but also allowed maximum speeds of 130-140km/h. On the old route via Baden, trains could only travel at 95-110km/h. Fast trains on the east-west line that didn’t stop in Baden or Brugg could from then on travel on the newly-built line, saving eight minutes of journey time.

**The Heitersberg railway line runs from Lenzburg to Killwangen-Spreitenbach. Map from 1975.** SBB Historic

The route was just as important for freight traffic. The idea of a line through the Heitersberg hills went hand in hand with the expansion of the railway infrastructures in Greater Zurich. Back in the late 1940s, initial plans had already been put forward to relocate the Zurich marshalling yard not only out of the city, but out of the canton, to the commune of Spreitenbach in the canton of Aargau. Shifting the marshalling yard to the Limmattal would allow many freight trains to be kept away from the city of Zurich. The new Heitersberg line also served as a discharge route for freight traffic heading south (Gotthard), west (Olten) and north (Basel).

**Building of the eastern section of the Heitersberg tunnel in cut-and-cover construction.** SBB Historic

**The new line was built over the old route of the national railway from 1877.** SBB Historic

While the new line was somewhat modest, covering a distance of just 7.9 kilometres, it nevertheless featured a number of interesting structures. At 4.92 kilometres, the Heitersberg tunnel was the centrepiece. A tunnel boring machine produced in Seattle was used for the first time in Switzerland to build the tunnel, using both the cut-and-cover and bored methods. This ‘monstrosity’ was 15.5 metres long and weighed 300 tonnes. The tracks in the tunnel were non-ballasted, which allowed the builders to gain experience in the construction of very long Alpine tunnels. Another important structure on the line was the Reuss bridge near Mellingen. Using the old bridge pillars, it was extended to two tracks while it remained in operation.

Much of the section from the Reuss bridge to Lenzburg was built on the old route of the former national railway built in 1877. When converting it to build the modern express train line, the existing route was widened and stretched to a double track. The stations in Spreitenbach, Mägenwil, Othmarsingen and Lenzburg also underwent large-scale expansion, getting modern safety installations and longer passing loops.

**The building of the Heitersberg tunnel provided valuable experience for the subsequent work on the long tunnels through the Alps.** SBB Historic

**Breakthrough in the Heitersberg tunnel, October 1972.** e-pics

The opening of the new line also involved the commissioning of new trains. A new fast intercity train was the real eye-catcher, and soon became commonly known as the Swiss Express. Its bright colours were striking and consciously broke with the mould: the orange and stone-grey painted engines and carriages stood out from the previous green express trains. The intercity express trains were to travel between Geneva and eastern Switzerland and pass through the Heitersberg hills. Each of the four trains comprised 14 air conditioned carriages. When they stopped at stations, recorded music was played. This was something new, which met with a mixed reception from passengers.

The Swiss Express covered the journey from Zurich to Bern in 83 minutes. — **The *Swiss Express* covered the journey from Zurich to Bern in 83 minutes.** SBB Historic

At a time when the growth of public transport was lagging well behind that of private road transport, the SBB made several attempts to upgrade train travel: a new express route; air-conditioned, intercity express trains in striking colours; and music during station stops... Many of these new features were directly linked to the new Heitersberg line – a short route with a big impact.

More of: 20th / 21st century Tourism Transportation

Further posts

The Swiss railways and food security

Marc Ribeli 22.06.2023 During the Second World War, there was a massive expansion in land used for agriculture in Switzerland to counter food shortages and difficulties with importing. Land that had been allocated for railway line construction was used instead for growing potatoes during the war years.

Working the fields in Wylerfeld Bern, April 1943.

All electricity is not the same

Kilian Elsasser 22.05.2020 At the beginning of the 20th century, the electrification of the SBB was a hugely important step for the fledgling electricity sector. However, the issue of what type of energy should be used was a source of tension.

Switzerland on the high seas

Jean-Luc Rickenbacher 24.04.2020 Switzerland is a seafaring nation. Supply shortages during two world wars ‘drove’ the Swiss onto the open sea.