Iris (train)

Iris
TEE Iris departing from Zürich HB, 1979.
Overview
Service typeTrans Europ Express (TEE)
(1974–1981)
InterCity (IC)
(1981–1987)
EuroCity (EC)
(since 1987)
StatusWithdrawn
LocaleBelgium
Luxembourg
France
Switzerland
First service28 May 1974 (1974-05-28)
Last service2 April 2016 (2016-04-02)
Current operator(s)NMBS/SNCB
CFL
SNCF
SBB-CFF-FFS
Route
TerminiBrussels Midi/Zuid
Chur / Basel SBB
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)EC 96/97
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz
(Switzerland)
Route map

The Iris was an express train that linked Brussels Midi/Zuid in Brussels, Belgium, with Chur station in Chur, Switzerland.

Introduced in 1974,[1] the train was operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB), the Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL), the French National Railway Corporation (SNCF) and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS). It was named after a flower, the Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus), which was widespread in the Zenne/Senne valley, where Brussels is located.

Initially, the Iris was a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE). In 1981, it became a two-class InterCity (IC), and on 31 May 1987, it was included in the then-new EuroCity (EC) network.[2] As of 2015, the Iris was one of two EuroCity train-pairs running daily between Brussels and Switzerland; the other was the Vauban.[3]

History

The eastbound service was cut back to Brussels–Basel in December 2011; in December 2013 the latter was also cut back to start in Basel.

The service was discontinued on April 3 2016, alongside the introduction of a high-speed TGV service to Strasbourg.[4]


See also

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Summer services, 1974" (changes due to take effect). Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (March 29–April 25, 1974 edition), p. 465. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing.
  2. ^ Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (May 31–June 30, 1987 edition), pp. 472, 475. Thomas Cook Publishing.
  3. ^ "EuroCity trains: traditional international daytime trains". NMBS/SNCB. Archived from the original on 30 September 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Traffic disruptions and alterations". SNCB International. NMBS/SNCB. Archived from the original on 2016-04-01.

Bibliography

  • Goette, Peter; Willen, Peter (2006). TEE-Züge in der Schweiz sowie Schweizer TEE-Züge im Ausland [TEE Trains in Switzerland as well as Swiss TEE Trains abroad]. Freiburg i.B.: EK-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-88255-697-1. (in German)
  • 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)

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