Arbalète (train)

Arbalète
Overview
Service typeTrans Europ Express (TEE)
(1957–1979)
InterCity (IC)
(1979–1987)
EuroCity (EC)
(1987–1997)
StatusReplaced by a TGV
LocaleFrance
Switzerland
First service2 June 1957 (1957-06-02)
Last service28 September 1997 (1997-09-28)
Former operator(s)SNCF
SBB-CFF-FFS
Route
TerminiParis-Est
Zürich HB
Service frequencyDaily
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz
(Basel SBB–Zürich HB)
Route map

The Arbalète (alternatively written L'Arbalète)[1] was an express train that linked Paris-Est in Paris, France, with Zürich HB in Zurich, Switzerland. Introduced in 1957, it was operated by the SNCF and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS).

The train was named after the crossbow used by William Tell to hit the apple on his son's head.

Originally, and for 22 years, the Arbalète was a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE). On 27 May 1979, it became a two-class InterCity (IC) train,[2] and on 31 May 1987, it was included in the then-new EuroCity (EC) network.[3] It was discontinued in September 1997, replaced by a TGV service that was routed via Pontarlier and Bern instead of Mulhouse and Basel.

See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ The Thomas Cook Timetable, for example, always identified the train as "L'Arbalète".
  2. ^ Thomas Cook International Timetable (May 27–June 30, 1979, edition), p. 6. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing.
  3. ^ Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (May 31–June 30, 1987, edition), pp. 472, 475. Thomas Cook Publishing.

Bibliography

  • Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; Mertens, Maurice (2007). TEE: la légende des Trans-Europ-Express [TEE: The Legend of the Trans Europ Express]. Auray: LR Presse. ISBN 978-29-03651-45-9. (in French)
  • Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; Mertens, Maurice (2008). TEE: la leggenda dei Trans-Europ-Express [TEE: The Legend of the Trans Europ Express]. Salò: ETR – Editrice Trasporti su Rotaie. ISBN 978-88-85068-31-5. (in Italian)
  • Mertens, Maurice; Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; von Mitzlaff, Berndt (2009). TEE - Die Geschichte des Trans-Europ-Express [TEE - The History of the Trans Europ Express]. Düsseldorf: Alba Publikation. ISBN 978-3-87094-199-4. (in German)