Trains - Switzerland: Books - BLS (Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon)

Erlebnis Furka-Bergstrecke / Aventure Ligne sommitale de la Furka

In the St. Gotthard region and on the watershed of the Reuss and Rhone, travelers can expect a breathtaking steam ride on the former showpiece route of the world-famous Glacier Express.
The Furka mountain route, located as a connection between the high alpine valleys of the Goms in the Valais and the Urserental in the canton of Uri, has had a changeable fate for the railway for nine decades.

Exceptional photos document the railway operation in all its facets from Realp to Oberwald in an impressive way. In detailed texts, the traveler learns a lot of information about the railway line.
Various stories report in text and images about railway technology, architectural history and sights. Tips for excursions around the Furka conclude the book.

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Loks der BLS AG - Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon - seit 1906 (Typenkompass)

BLS AG, the former Berner Alpenbahngesellschaft Bern-Lötschberg-Simplon, is the best known and, with a length of 440 km, also the largest private railway in Switzerland. It maintains north-south traffic over the Lötschberg and is responsible for regional traffic in the greater Bern area. It also controls shipping on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.

This Typenkompass is dedicated to all BLS locomotives and railcars in the usual manner with lots of data and facts. A brief outline of the history of BLS rounds off this Typenkompass.

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Pionierbahn am Lötschberg - 100 Jahre Lötschbergbahn

With the opening of the second Alpine crossing in 1913, which was to be operated electrically in the near future, the canton of Bern fulfilled its wish of being directly connected to Italy. It had secured the support of France for the financing and construction of the Lötschberg line, which was very interested in a connection that would bypass Alsace, which had been conquered by the German Empire in 1871.
In 1918, after the end of the First World War, hard times began. France once again had a direct connection to Basel via the Gotthard to Italy. The BLS tried to increase efficiency with far-sighted technical solutions, such as the Ae 6/8 electric locomotive or the Blue Arrow, and to generate passengers with innovative advertising.

With posters, brochures, bookable slide shows and even a feature film, the BLS pointed out the beauty of the landscape that could be reached with it. Despite this, the BLS had to be financially rehabilitated several times, also due to the economic crisis. After the Second World War, the car transport service from Kandersteg to Goppenstein developed into an important mainstay.

With the skilful lobbying of the Bernese and Valais residents in the 1990s, the Lötschberg Base Tunnel was also built and opened in 2007. Although the BLS had to hand over long-distance traffic to the SBB, it now operates the S-Bahn in Bern.
BLS-Netz AG is also responsible for operating the Lötschberg Base Tunnel. With the liberalization of the railways, BLS Cargo AG developed into a new important mainstay, which, in cooperation with the DB, strongly promoted freight transport services in transalpine traffic.

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