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Facts for the Public Transport Professional and the Railway Enthusiast:

Company

• shareholding company, owned 94% by central, regional and local governments
• operation subsidies (ca. 40%) and some investment grants by central and regional governments
• 300 railway staff, 50 bus staff
• under the same management: "Busbetrieb Solothurn und Umgebung" (regional bus operator of Solothurn)

History

• 1898 - 1916: Construction of 4 railway lines, radiating as Interurban line from Bern to Solothurn and as tramways to northern and eastern suburbs of Bern.
• since 1960: Modernisation (Increased capacity, separation of road and rail, increased productivity, more double tracks in suburban area)
• since 1966: Installing 8 feeder bus lines in the suburbs of Bern

Technical features (railway)

• 55 km metre gauge lines (7 km with third rail used by SBB freight trains)
• all electrified (1250 V DC; line G: 600 V DC)
• all lines protected by block signals (CTC in Worblaufen)
• ATP systems (continuously, except line G)
• all trains (except line G) offer level boarding at least at 2 doors ( mid 2002)
• carefully designed transfer stations between rail and buses
• most level crossings protected by gates (except line G)

Rolling stock (mid of 2001)

• 16 trible-car EMU's with 1 low-floor car incorporated for suburban traffic (built 1974/79, low-floor car 2001/02)
• 5 double-car EMU's for suburban traffic (built 1974/79)
• 9 double-articulated tramcars for line G (1988)
• 11 triple-car EMU's with low floor entrances and first class compartment for interurban traffic (1992)
• some service cars, freight locomotives, transporter trucks, historical vehicles etc.
• 28 buses (6 articulated, 13 standard, 9 midi)
• EMU's = Electric multiple units

Operation and Traffic

• at least 30 min. headway on rail (15/10-min. in suburban areas)
• 500 trains/weekday between Worblaufen and Bern
• 19 million passengers / year on rail (one of the highest numbers among Swiss private railways)
• 4 million passengers / year by bus
• 40-70% market share of commuters living in the RBS-area and working in Bern
• 0,8 rides per day and per inhabitant of the region (served by RBS, outside Bern)
• rail freight carried by SBB
• all trains without guards, random checking of tickets
• most stations unstaffed
• fare system based on zones (common for rail and feeder bus)
• ticket vending machines at all railway stops.
• Sorry: Due to a very small administrative staff, we are not able to answer questions of railway enthusiasts.