Aigle–Ollon–Monthey–Champéry Railway
Encyclopedia
The Aigle–Ollon–Monthey–Champéry is a metre-gauge railway operating in the Chablais region of Switzerland
. It was created in 1946 by the amalgamation of the Aigle–Ollon–Monthey Railway (AOM) and the Monthey–Champéry–Morgins
Railway (MCM). Today its starting point is two newly built bay (terminal) platforms at the main line station at Aigle
, adjacent to the line of the SBB-CFF-FFS
. From there is serves the towns suggested by its title.
via Ollon and the concession was awarded on 27 April 1897. The Chemin de fer Bex-Gryon-Villars, however, strongly objected to the new line arguing that there was insufficient traffic for two lines to serve Villars. After listening to the arguments the federal authorities agreed and the original concession withdrawn to be replaced by a new one for a line from Aigle to Monthey via Ollon. Concession to build the line was awarded on 6 February 1899 and was followed by that for a line from Monthey to Champéry on 22 June of the same year.
The AOM opened to traffic on 3 April 1907. Construction of the line to Champéry was slower and this was not ready for traffic at the opening of the AOM, but followed on 30 January 1908. The plans for a line from the village of d'Illiez á Morgins were scrapped following poor profit forecasts.
From 1 January 1946 the two companies amalgamated to form the AOMC and plans were put forward to bring the line up to date. Although not delivered until 1954, on the rolling stock side, this was mean the construction of four new railcars of Series BDeh4/4, numbered 511-4.
Passenger carrying stock has been regularly updated since this time, the last delivery, two twin-car railcars (No's 591 and 592), arriving in 2001.
Although the line to Morgins was not built there was still one section of the present day system to be added, a short,just one kilometre in length section, from the town station in Champéry to Champéry-Planachaux, a lift which forms another part in the public access to the mountains.
Nowadays it is part of a larger, regional system operated, along with local bus services, by the Transports Publics du Chablais
.
at 850 V
DC
.
Important investment plans were developed by the AOMC in 1995 one of which involved the construction of a large maintenance workshop and stockholding facility. This work was completed and opened under the TPC, in 2001. The new dépôt at En Châlex, alongside the line a short distance east of Aigle has over 26,500 sq.m. of space available for workshops and nowadays is the main stockholder for the three TPC narrow gauge lines in Aigle. Space is also available on the site for expansion in the future should this be required.
In 2006 the TPC commenced a programme of building works at Aigle in collaboration with the CFF/SBB/FFS. This was to bring together all three of the metre gauge lines at new platforms adjacent to those of the main line company. Work was completed in early 2007 when the services were brought together, the AOCM making use of the two platforms nearest the main line. These platforms feature new lighting and public address systems and have easy access from the town's Place de la Gare.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It was created in 1946 by the amalgamation of the Aigle–Ollon–Monthey Railway (AOM) and the Monthey–Champéry–Morgins
Chemin de fer Monthey-Champéry-Morgins
The Monthey-Champéry-Morgins Railway was a metre gauge railway operating in the Chablais region of Switzerland.The concession to build the line was awarded on 22 June 1899 but the work proceeded slowly...
Railway (MCM). Today its starting point is two newly built bay (terminal) platforms at the main line station at Aigle
Aigle
Aigle is the capital of the district of Aigle in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. The town has a population of 8,100 people.The name of this municipality in French means eagle.-Geography:...
, adjacent to the line of the SBB-CFF-FFS
SBB-CFF-FFS
Swiss Federal Railways and SFR are not in official use) is the national railway company of Switzerland headquartered in Bern. Formerly a government institution, it is since 1999 a special stock corporation with all shares held by the Swiss Confederation or the Swiss cantons...
. From there is serves the towns suggested by its title.
History
The original intention had been to construct a railway from Aigle to VillarsVillars
-In France:*Villars, Dordogne*Villars, Eure-et-Loir*Villars, Loire*Villars, Vaucluse*Villars-les-Dombes, Ain*Villars-le-Sec, Territoire de Belfort-In Switzerland:*Canton of Jura** Villars, Jura, Switzerland in the municipality Fontenais*Canton of Fribourg...
via Ollon and the concession was awarded on 27 April 1897. The Chemin de fer Bex-Gryon-Villars, however, strongly objected to the new line arguing that there was insufficient traffic for two lines to serve Villars. After listening to the arguments the federal authorities agreed and the original concession withdrawn to be replaced by a new one for a line from Aigle to Monthey via Ollon. Concession to build the line was awarded on 6 February 1899 and was followed by that for a line from Monthey to Champéry on 22 June of the same year.
The AOM opened to traffic on 3 April 1907. Construction of the line to Champéry was slower and this was not ready for traffic at the opening of the AOM, but followed on 30 January 1908. The plans for a line from the village of d'Illiez á Morgins were scrapped following poor profit forecasts.
From 1 January 1946 the two companies amalgamated to form the AOMC and plans were put forward to bring the line up to date. Although not delivered until 1954, on the rolling stock side, this was mean the construction of four new railcars of Series BDeh4/4, numbered 511-4.
Passenger carrying stock has been regularly updated since this time, the last delivery, two twin-car railcars (No's 591 and 592), arriving in 2001.
Although the line to Morgins was not built there was still one section of the present day system to be added, a short,just one kilometre in length section, from the town station in Champéry to Champéry-Planachaux, a lift which forms another part in the public access to the mountains.
Nowadays it is part of a larger, regional system operated, along with local bus services, by the Transports Publics du Chablais
Transports Publics du Chablais
In the interests of the communities in the Chablais region, at the eastern end of Lake Geneva, it was decided in 1999, to bring together passenger transport companies, to co-ordinate and develop services and investment in transport in the area...
.
The Line
The line, built to metre-gauge, is 23.14 km (14.38 mi) in length of which 3.66 km (2.274 mi) is operated on the Strub rack system at a maximum gradient of 13.5%. The line rises from 404 m (1,325.5 ft) at Aigle to a summit of 1049 m (3,441.6 ft) at Champéry, a total rise of 645 m (2,116.1 ft). It is electrically operated by overhead contactOverhead lines
Overhead lines or overhead wires are used to transmit electrical energy to trams, trolleybuses or trains at a distance from the energy supply point...
at 850 V
Volt
The volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
.
Important investment plans were developed by the AOMC in 1995 one of which involved the construction of a large maintenance workshop and stockholding facility. This work was completed and opened under the TPC, in 2001. The new dépôt at En Châlex, alongside the line a short distance east of Aigle has over 26,500 sq.m. of space available for workshops and nowadays is the main stockholder for the three TPC narrow gauge lines in Aigle. Space is also available on the site for expansion in the future should this be required.
In 2006 the TPC commenced a programme of building works at Aigle in collaboration with the CFF/SBB/FFS. This was to bring together all three of the metre gauge lines at new platforms adjacent to those of the main line company. Work was completed in early 2007 when the services were brought together, the AOCM making use of the two platforms nearest the main line. These platforms feature new lighting and public address systems and have easy access from the town's Place de la Gare.
Railcars / Coaching Stock
| Vehicle Type | Running No. | Name | Series No. | Builder | Date | Rebuilt | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automotrice | 101 | Yvorne | Be 4/4 | Schindler Schindler Group thumb|200px|Schindler Test Tower in Ebikon, Lucerne, SwitzerlandSchindler was founded in Switzerland in 1874 and is the largest manufacturer of escalators and the second largest manufacturer of elevators world wide. Schindler produces, installs, maintains and modernizes elevators and escalators in... /BBC |
1966 | 1985 | Ex-BTB No.14, Adhesion only |
| Automotrice | 102 | Chablais | Be 4/4 | Schindler/BBC | 1966 | 1985 | Ex-BTB No.12, Adhesion only |
| Automotrice | 103 | Collombey-Muraz | Be 4/4 | Schindler/BBC | 1966 | 1985 | Ex-BTB No.13, Adhesion only |
| Automotrice | 104 | Ollon | Be 4/4 | Schindler/BBC | 1966 | 1985 | Ex-BTB / scrapped 2007 |
| Automotice | 105 | Aigle | Be 4/4 | Schindler/BBC | 1966 | 1985 | Ex-BTB No.11, Adhesion only |
| Automotrice | 501 | Vaud | BDeh 4/4 | ACMV/SLM/BBC | 1986 | (a) | |
| Automotrice | 502 | Valais | BDeh 4/4 | ACMV/SLM/BBC | 1987 | (a) | |
| Automotrice | 503 | Europe | BDeh 4/4 | ACMV/SLM/BBC | 1992 | ||
| Automotrice | 511 | Champéry | BDeh 4/4 | Schindler/BBC | 1954 | Rack equipped, Out of order | |
| Automotrice | 512 | Val d'Illiez | BDeh 4/4 | Schindler/BBC | 1954 | Rack equipped | |
| Automotrice | 513 | Monthey | BDeh 4/4 | Schindler/BBC | 1954 | Rack equipped | |
| Automotrice | 514 | Troistorrents | BDeh 4/4 | Schindler/BBC | 1954 | Rack equipped | |
| Automotrice-Double | 591 | Beh 4/8 | BT/Stadler Stadler Rail Stadler Rail AG , based in Bussnang, Switzerland, is a Swiss manufacturer of rail passenger cars.In 1942 Ernst Stadler founded the Stadler Engineering Office which later became Stadler Rail.- Factories :... |
2001 | Rack equipped | ||
| Automotrice-Double | 592 | Portes-du-Soleil | Beh 4/8 | BT/Stadler | 2001 | Rack equipped | |
| Voiture pilote | 132 | Bt | Schindler/BBC | 1966 | 1985 | Driving Trailer | |
| Voiture pilote | 133 | Bt | Schindler/BBC | 1966 | 1985 | Driving Trailer / scrapped 2007 | |
| Voiture pilote | 134 | Bt | Schindler/BBC | 1966 | 1985 | Driving Trailer | |
| Voiture pilote | 531 | Bt | ACMV/BBC | 1987 | Driving Trailer (a) | ||
| Voiture pilote | 532 | Bt | ACMV/BBC | 1987 | |||
| Voiture voyageur | 122 | B2 | 1932 | 2nd class coach/now VFV | |||
| Voiture voyageur | 523 | B | ACMV | 1967 | 2nd class coach (b) | ||
| Voiture voyageur | 524 | B | ACMV | 1968 | 2nd class coach (b) | ||
| Voiture voyageur | 525 | B | ACMV | 1969 | 2nd class coach (b) | ||
- (a) Builders plate shows 1986, delivery was in 1987
- (b) Not in service at present.
Abbreviations
- ACMV Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de VeveyAteliers de Constructions Mécaniques de VeveyAteliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey was an metal engineering company based in Vevey, Switzerland. Founded as Ateliers B.Roy & Cie in 1848 by Benjamin Roy it became Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey SA in 1895....
- BBC Brown, Boveri & CieBrown, Boveri & CieBrown, Boveri & Cie was a Swiss group of electrical engineering companies.It was founded in Baden, Switzerland, in 1891 by Charles Eugene Lancelot Brown and Walter Boveri who worked at the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon. In 1970 BBC took over the Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon...
- BTB Birstigtalbahn (Baselland Transport)
- BT Bombardier TransportationBombardier TransportationBombardier Transportation is the rail equipment division of the Canadian firm, Bombardier Inc. Bombardier Transportation is one of the world's largest companies in the rail-equipment manufacturing and servicing industry. Its headquarters are in Berlin, Germany....
(Vevey) - SLM Swiss Locomotive and Machine WorksSwiss Locomotive and Machine WorksSwiss Locomotive and Machine Works were a railway equipment manufacturer based in Winterthur in Switzerland...
, Winterthur.