Arbalète (train)

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).

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
StartParis-Est
EndZürich HB
Service frequencyDaily
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
Electrification15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz
(Basel SBB–Zürich HB)
Route map

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)
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