With approximately 9 million train kilometres per year, the Bern S-Bahn is the second-largest S-Bahn in Switzerland. It handles around 100,000 passengers daily (175,000 on weekdays), and thus carries the majority of the agglomeration's regional public transport traffic.
The second line began operation on 28 May 1995, operating from Schwarzenburg to Trubschachen.[3] At this time the "S"-style designations were introduced to differentiate the lines.
The next expansion occurred in 1998, with the commissioning of the S3 (Biel/Bienne−Belp) and the S4 (Bern–Bern Bümpliz Nord−Burgdorf and beyond). The S33 and S44 supplemented service on the S3 and S4, while the S5 designation was applied to regional services between Bern and Neuchâtel. Also introduced was the S55 for services from Bern to Murten/Morat via Kerzers.[4][5]
2005
The December 2004 timetable change saw major expansions of the Bern S-Bahn concept. This was partly enabled by infrastructure improvements carried out under the Rail 2000 program. The three RBS lines were formally incorporated into the network, SBB transferred the operation of the S1 and S3 to the Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon-Bahn (BLS). [6] The network now consisted of the following services:[7]
The December 2008 timetable change saw several major alterations to the standard gauge part of the network. On the Lausanne–Bern line, the S11 was eliminated, and the S1 began operating half-hourly between Flamatt and Fribourg and skipping most local stops between Flamatt and Niederwangen. The S2's western terminus was changed from Schwarzenburg to Laupen BE. On the Bern–Schwarzenburg railway line, the new S6 replaced the S2 and S22, offering a half-hourly service between Schwarzenburg and Bern. On the Bern–Neuchâtel line, the new S52 replaced the S4 and S44 between Bern and Rosshäusern, and was extended to Kerzers, while the S51 was increased to half-hourly service and extended to the new station at Bern Brünnen Westside. The S4 and S44 were re-routed over the Bern–Belp–Thun line to Thun via Belp, in place of the S33.[8]
The December 2009 timetable change saw a limited number of changes. The most significant involved the S4 and S44. Service on the Ramsei–Huttwil line [de] was cut back from Affoltern-Weier to Sumiswald-Grünen, and the S4 and S44 swapped termini, with the S4 now going to Sumiswald-Grünen and the S44 going to Langnau i.E.[9] The December 2011 addition of the S31 between Münchenbuchsee and Belp (via Bern) increased the service frequency between those two stations to every fifteen minutes.[10]
Operations
The Bern S-Bahn Bern is operated, under a joint commission from the Canton of Bern, its neighbouring cantons and the Federal Government, by the following railway companies:
Upon the timetable change on 12 December 2004, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS) withdrew from its previous involvement in the operation of the Bern S-Bahn, but also took over all of the long-distance services previously operated by the BLS.
Lines
As of May 2022[update], the network consists of the following lines. Unless otherwise stated, the lines are 1,435 mm or 4 ft 8+1⁄2 instandard gauge.[11]
The normal rolling stock rosters for the Bern S-Bahn are:
S1BLS RABe 515 ("MUTZ"): up to two units per train (2 x 4- double-decker car EMU).
S2 BLS RBDe 565 [de] ("NPZ") with two "B6 Jumbo [de]" intermediate cars.
S3 BLS RABe 515 ("MUTZ"): up to two units per train (2 x 4- double-decker car EMU).
S31 BLS RABe 515 ("MUTZ"): up to two units per train (2 x 4- double-decker car EMU).
S4BLS RABe 528 ("MIKA") (up to two units per train (2 x 6 cars EMU)) or BLS RBDe 565 or BLS RBDe 566 II [de] ("NPZ") with "B6 Jumbo" and "B Lego" intermediate cars.
S44 BLS RABe 525 ("NINA"): 1-2 units per train (4 cars EMU).
S5 BLS RABe 525 ("NINA"): 1–3 units per train (3 cars EMU).
