Bex Villars Bretaye RailwayBex-Villars-Bretaye RailwayThe Bex Villars Bretaye railway (French: Chemin de fer Bex Villars Bretaye, BVB) is a metre gauge railway line operating between the towns of Bex and Villars sur Ollon and the Col de Bretaye mountain pass, situated in the Chablais region of southwest Switzerland. It is, in fact, two railways, one mixed adhesion and rack worked between Bex and Villars-sur-Ollon, the other, linking Villars to the Col de Bretaye being worked on the Abt rack system. Passengers making the full journey are required to change trains at Villars. Bex Villars Bretaye Railway History The authority to construct the railway was gained in three stages, that from Bex, a small town on the main Lausanne–Simplon railway, to Villars-sur-Ollon on 15 October 1897; from Villars to Chesières on 19 December 1905 and from Villars to Bretaye on 5 October 1911. The lines were opened in five stages. A tramway was opened from Bex to Bévieux on 10 September 1898, continuing to Gryon from 3 June 1900 as a rack railway and reaching Villars, again as tramway, just over one year later. The line from Villars to Chesières was opened on 12 August 1901, less than eight months after authorisation while the final link, that from Villars to Bretaye, opened on 18 December 1913 as a distinct company. The two companies BGVC and VB merged in 1943. However, the company was officially registered as "Forces motrices de l'Avançon" and this company still exists. Simply, the railway no longer belongs to this company. Since 1999 the line has been operated as part of the Transports Publics du Chablais and details from that date of investments are included under that heading. Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Line The line, with a total length of 17.1 km, rises from 427 m (1,401 ft) at Bex to 1,810 m (5,938 ft) at Bretaye. Of this length, 7.34 km is operated on the Abt rack system. The first part of the line, reflecting its tramway history, runs alongside and through the streets of Bex from its terminal in the square outside the main line station. For many years, the 3.4-km section between Bex station and Bévieux had a regular tram service in addition to the through service, albeit running only approximately hourly, using 1948-built three-axle trams 15 and 16. A bus service replaced the tram service in 2002, but in 2007 it was reported that a single round trip was still scheduled to take place each weekday, departing Bévieux at 7:01 and Bex at 7:15, using one of the 1948 trams. In 2013, this round trip was still being operated and was scheduled to depart Bévieux at 6:58 and return from Bex at 7:12, on weekdays only. Electrical power is provided at 700 V DC through an overhead contact wire. Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 8 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Be 2/2 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SWS Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1907 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled electric railcar; rebuilt 1953; out of service Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 9 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Be 2/2 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SWS Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1915 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 15 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Be 2/3 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SWS/SLM Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1948 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Three-axle tramcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 16 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Be 2/3 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SWS/SLM Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1948 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Three-axle tramcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 22 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: BDeh 2/4 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SLM Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1940 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 23 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: BDeh 2/4 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SLM Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1940 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 24 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: BDeh 2/4 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SLM Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1941 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 25 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: BDeh 2/4 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SLM Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1944 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 26 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: BDeh 2/4 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SLM Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1945 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 31 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Lavey HGe 4/4 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SIG/MFO Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1953 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Locomotive Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 32 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Villars Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: HGe 4/4 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1964 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Locomotive Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 42 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Te 2/2 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SIG (rebuilt by BVB) Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1898 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Shunting locomotive Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 51 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: B Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1953 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Rebuilt 1996 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 52 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Bs Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1953 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Rebuilt 1999 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 53 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Bst Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1964 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Control trailer; rebuilt 1997 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 54 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Bt Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1964 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Control trailer; rebuilt 1999 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 61 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Bt Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1976 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Rebuilt 2000 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 62 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: B Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1977 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 63 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Bt Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: Schindler/SAAS Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1976 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Control trailer Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 64 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Bt Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: Schindler/SAAS Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1977 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Control trailer Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 65 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Bt Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: SIG/ACMV (Vevey)/BBC Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1987 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Control trailer Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 81 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Gryon Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: BDeh 4/4 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: ACMV (Vevey)/SLM/BBC Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1976 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 82 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Ollon Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: BDeh 4/4 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: ACMV (Vevey)/SLM/BBC Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 1977 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 83 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Bex Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: BDeh 4/4 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: ACMV (Vevey)/SLM/BBC 1987 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 91 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Bretaye Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Beh 4/8 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: Bombardier Transportation (Vevey)/Stadler Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 2000 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled twin-unit electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 92 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Barboleuse Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Beh 4/8 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: Bombardier Transportation (Vevey)/Stadler Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 2001 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled twin-unit electric railcar Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Number: 93 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Name: Tuttlingen Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock class: Beh 4/8 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Manufacturers: Bombardier Transportation (Vevey)/Stadler Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Date of Manufacture: 2001 Bex Villars Bretaye Railway Locomotives, Railcars and Rolling Stock Notes: Self-propelled twin-unit electric railcar Abbreviations ACMV....Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey BBC.....Brown, Boveri & Cie BT......Bombardier Transportation SAAS....S. A. Ateliers de Secheron, Geneva SIG.....Societe Industrielle SLM.....Schweizerische Lokomotiv- und Maschinenfabrik, Winterthur Chemin de fer Bex Villars Bretaye Overview Chemin de fer Bex Villars Bretaye Local: Bex, Switzerland Chemin de fer Bex Villars Bretaye Operation Opened: 10 September 1898 Chemin de fer Bex Villars Bretaye Line Length: 17.1 km (10.63 mi) Chemin de fer Bex Villars Bretaye Track Gauge: 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in) metre gauge Chemin de fer Bex Villars Bretaye Electrification: 700 V DC Overhead wire Chemin de fer Bex Villars Bretaye Highest Elevation: 1,810 m (5,938ft) Chemin de fer Bex Villars Bretaye Rack System: Abt Bex-Villars-Bretaye Railway Route Bretaye Bouquetins Villars sur Ollon Golf Col de Soud Villars sur Ollon Arveyes La Clairière La Barboleuse Gryon Bois Gentil Gryon Les Posses Fontannaz Seulaz Le Bevieux Foyer Dents du Midi TPC-bvb Bex Pont-Neuf Bex Place du Marché Bex la Ruaz Bex | |||||
| |||||
