Chur railway station
Encyclopedia
Chur railway station serves the city of Chur
, capital of the Canton
of Graubünden
, Switzerland
. Opened in 1858, it is the most important railway junction
in Graubünden.
The station is the terminus of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS) standard gauge
main line from Zürich to Chur, and is also one of the most important stations on the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) metre gauge
network.
SBB Intercity, Regio Express and Regional services stop at the station, alongside Rhaetian Railway Regio Express and Regional services. There are SBB trains to Landquart
, and then stations to Zürich (and beyond) and Rhaetian Railway services to many destinations in Graubünden
. The Glacier Express
also calls and reverses at Chur.
–Chur railway. It was opened on .
The first operator of the station was the United Swiss Railways
. Initially, only a temporary wooden goods shed was constructed as a station building. However, as early as 1860 work was completed on a station building still visible today in modified form. In 1876, that building was moved to a new location on the Gürtelstrasse, where it has remained ever since.
In light of continuing increases in tourism in the area, a new station building became desirable, and was completed on 1 November 1878. That station building still exists today, but over the years has had to endure several modifications.
and Thusis
. The first 13.68 kilometres (8.5 mi) of that line ran parallel with the already well established standard gauge line between Landquart and Chur.
Due to a ruling by the Swiss Federal Council
, the Rhaetian Railway was forced to abandon plans for a railway station of its own in Chur, and, instead, had to integrate itself into the existing United Swiss Railways station.
In 1903, the Albula Railway
was opened, making necessary another expansion of Chur station. In 1914, traffic at the station increased even further, with the opening of the Chur–Arosa railway. Between 1926 and 1928, following yet another sharp increase in traffic, the station was completely rebuilt. As part of the late 1920s renovation, the number of tracks was increased, new bridges were built, and the track layout was simplified. Simultaneously, buildings from earlier times were refurbished, and new buildings were erected.
The most striking of the station's buildings is now the roof over the Postauto bus station, which is located above the station platforms.
In 1986, the architects Richard Brosi and Robert Obrist won first prize in a competition for the design of the bus station, including its roof. Their idea was to create an airy concourse, and the structure built to their design was completed in 1993.
Comprehensive redevelopment of the station began in 2000. The complete redesign of the station was a joint project of the SBB-CFF-FFS, the Rhaetian Railway and the city of Chur. As part of the redevelopment, a new pedestrian underpass was opened in 2003. By 2006, the underpass had been expanded to the south. As a connection to the southern end of the underpass, a new shopping mall was opened. Meanwhile, the height of the platforms was raised to Switzerland's usual height of 55 cm, and the platform roofs were renewed.
The old station building, which was called Belle Epoque, was completely renovated in a project completed in 2007. Between the tracks of the SBB and the tracks of the Rhaetian Railwa's Chur-Arosa line is now a new office and retail building.
The new terminal of the Chur bus station was moved closer to the railway station and today has a direct connection to the underground shopping arcade. Also, the Bahnhofplatz in front of the station was extensively renovated in 2007.
.
. The Chur-Arosa line has its own dedicated platforms (numbers 1 & 2) at the front of Chur station, on Bahnhofplatz.
Hourly passenger services operate on the Arosa line (service "R4" on the Rhaetian network) to the town and resort of Arosa
, calling at a number of places between. The route is shown as timetable 930 in the Swiss national timetables.
- Sargans
- Ziegelbrücke
- Pfäffikon SZ
- Thalwil
- Zürich HB - Basel SBB - Bonn
- Köln
- Hamburg Hbf
- Hamburg Altona/Kiel
Dortmund
- Köln
- Bonn
- Basel Badischer Bahnhof
- Basel SBB - Zürich HB - Thalwil
- Pfäffikon SZ
- Ziegelbrücke
- Sargans - Landquart
- Chur Bruxelles Midi - Basel SBB - Zürich HB - Thalwil
- Pfäffikon SZ
- Ziegelbrücke
- Sargans - Landquart
- Chur (operates in Switzerland as IR) Chur - Landquart - Sargans - Zürich HB - Basel SBB Chur - Landquart - Sargans - Zürich HB - Basel SBB Chur - Landquart - Sargans - Ziegelbrücke - Pfäffikon SZ - Thalwil - Zürich HB - Basel SBB Chur - Landquart - Sargans - Ziegelbrücke - Pfäffikon SZ - Thalwil - Zürich HB - Schaffhausen "Rheintal-Express" Chur - Sargans - St. Margrethen - Rorschach - St. Gallen Chur - Sargans - Ziegelbrücke
Postauto buses use the large, covered bus station
above the station platforms.
Local (Stadtbus) services call at a bus station on Bahnhofplatz, adjacent to the Arosa line platforms.
Chur
Chur or Coire is the capital of the Swiss canton of Graubünden and lies in the northern part of the canton.-History:The name "chur" derives perhaps from the Celtic kora or koria, meaning "tribe", or from the Latin curia....
, capital of the Canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
, Switzerland
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....
. Opened in 1858, it is the most important railway junction
Junction (rail)
A junction, in the context of rail transport, is a place at which two or more rail routes converge or diverge.This implies a physical connection between the tracks of the two routes , 'points' and signalling.one or two tracks each meet at a junction, a fairly simple layout of tracks suffices to...
in Graubünden.
The station is the terminus of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS) standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
main line from Zürich to Chur, and is also one of the most important stations on the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) metre gauge
Metre gauge
Metre gauge refers to narrow gauge railways and tramways with a track gauge of . In some African, American and Asian countries it is the main gauge. In Europe it has been used for local railways in France, Germany, and Belgium, most of which were closed down in mid 20th century. Only in Switzerland...
network.
SBB Intercity, Regio Express and Regional services stop at the station, alongside Rhaetian Railway Regio Express and Regional services. There are SBB trains to Landquart
Landquart railway station
Landquart is a major railway station on the SBB-CFF-FFS main line from Zürich to Chur as well as a Rhaetian Railway station.Intercity, Regio Express and Regional SBB services stop at the station alongside Regio Express and Regional services operated by the Rhaetian Railway.There are trains to...
, and then stations to Zürich (and beyond) and Rhaetian Railway services to many destinations in Graubünden
Graubünden
Graubünden or Grisons is the largest and easternmost canton of Switzerland. The canton shares borders with the cantons of Ticino, Uri, Glarus and St. Gallen and international borders with Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein...
. The Glacier Express
Glacier Express
The Glacier Express is an express train connecting railway stations of the two major mountain resorts of St. Moritz and Zermatt in the Swiss Alps. The train is operated jointly by the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn and Rhaetian Railway...
also calls and reverses at Chur.
1850-1895
Planning for a station at Chur began in 1850. After heated debate, the station was built at its present site, just outside the city limits. At that time, the station was designed to be a terminus of the RheineckRheineck
Rheineck is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Rheintal in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.-History:Rheineck is first mentioned about 1163 as castellum Rinegge. In 1218 it was mentioned as Rinegg...
–Chur railway. It was opened on .
The first operator of the station was the United Swiss Railways
United Swiss Railways
The United Swiss Railways is a former railway company in Switzerland.The United Swiss railways was created on 1 May 1857 through the merger of the Glatt Valley Railway , the original Southeastern Railway and the St...
. Initially, only a temporary wooden goods shed was constructed as a station building. However, as early as 1860 work was completed on a station building still visible today in modified form. In 1876, that building was moved to a new location on the Gürtelstrasse, where it has remained ever since.
In light of continuing increases in tourism in the area, a new station building became desirable, and was completed on 1 November 1878. That station building still exists today, but over the years has had to endure several modifications.
1896-1985
In 1896, the Rhaetian Railway opened a narrow gauge line between LandquartLandquart railway station
Landquart is a major railway station on the SBB-CFF-FFS main line from Zürich to Chur as well as a Rhaetian Railway station.Intercity, Regio Express and Regional SBB services stop at the station alongside Regio Express and Regional services operated by the Rhaetian Railway.There are trains to...
and Thusis
Thusis (Rhaetian Railway station)
Thusis is a railway station in Thusis, Switzerland. It is the terminus of the Landquart-Thusis railway line. Hourly services originating from Chur on that line also continue along the Albula Railway line to St. Moritz.-Rhaetian Railway services:...
. The first 13.68 kilometres (8.5 mi) of that line ran parallel with the already well established standard gauge line between Landquart and Chur.
Due to a ruling by the Swiss Federal Council
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
, the Rhaetian Railway was forced to abandon plans for a railway station of its own in Chur, and, instead, had to integrate itself into the existing United Swiss Railways station.
In 1903, the Albula Railway
Albula Railway
In 1890, the Davos hotelier Willem-Jan Holsboer proposed the construction of a rail link from Chur via Davos, and through a tunnel under the Scaletta Pass, to St Moritz, and then onwards via the Maloja Pass, to Chiavenna in Italy. Holsboer later had to abandon this planned Scalettabahn, in favour...
was opened, making necessary another expansion of Chur station. In 1914, traffic at the station increased even further, with the opening of the Chur–Arosa railway. Between 1926 and 1928, following yet another sharp increase in traffic, the station was completely rebuilt. As part of the late 1920s renovation, the number of tracks was increased, new bridges were built, and the track layout was simplified. Simultaneously, buildings from earlier times were refurbished, and new buildings were erected.
1985-present
Today, the station is located in the centre of the Chur metropolitan area, and forms the transition between the old and new towns.The most striking of the station's buildings is now the roof over the Postauto bus station, which is located above the station platforms.
In 1986, the architects Richard Brosi and Robert Obrist won first prize in a competition for the design of the bus station, including its roof. Their idea was to create an airy concourse, and the structure built to their design was completed in 1993.
Comprehensive redevelopment of the station began in 2000. The complete redesign of the station was a joint project of the SBB-CFF-FFS, the Rhaetian Railway and the city of Chur. As part of the redevelopment, a new pedestrian underpass was opened in 2003. By 2006, the underpass had been expanded to the south. As a connection to the southern end of the underpass, a new shopping mall was opened. Meanwhile, the height of the platforms was raised to Switzerland's usual height of 55 cm, and the platform roofs were renewed.
The old station building, which was called Belle Epoque, was completely renovated in a project completed in 2007. Between the tracks of the SBB and the tracks of the Rhaetian Railwa's Chur-Arosa line is now a new office and retail building.
The new terminal of the Chur bus station was moved closer to the railway station and today has a direct connection to the underground shopping arcade. Also, the Bahnhofplatz in front of the station was extensively renovated in 2007.
Platforms
Platforms 1, 2, and 10-14 are for RhB trains, whilst platforms 4, 5 and 7-9 are for SBB trains. Platform 3 is not in passenger use and the two tracks adjacent to it are used to stable RhB rolling stockRolling stock
Rolling stock comprises all the vehicles that move on a railway. It usually includes both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example locomotives, railroad cars, coaches and wagons...
.
Arosabahn
Chur is also the lower terminus of the Chur-Arosa line (the Arosabahn) and services along that line to ArosaArosa (Rhaetian Railway station)
Arosa is a railway station on the Chur-Arosa line of the Rhaetian Railway . It is situated in the town and resort of Arosa, close by to the Obersee ....
. The Chur-Arosa line has its own dedicated platforms (numbers 1 & 2) at the front of Chur station, on Bahnhofplatz.
Hourly passenger services operate on the Arosa line (service "R4" on the Rhaetian network) to the town and resort of Arosa
Arosa
Arosa is a town and a municipality in the district of Plessur in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is both a summer and a winter tourist resort.-History:...
, calling at a number of places between. The route is shown as timetable 930 in the Swiss national timetables.
SBB-CFF-FFS services
Chur - LandquartLandquart railway station
Landquart is a major railway station on the SBB-CFF-FFS main line from Zürich to Chur as well as a Rhaetian Railway station.Intercity, Regio Express and Regional SBB services stop at the station alongside Regio Express and Regional services operated by the Rhaetian Railway.There are trains to...
- Sargans
Sargans
Sargans is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Sarganserland in the canton of St. Gallen in Switzerland.Sargans is known for its castle, which dates from before the founding of the Swiss Confederation in 1291...
- Ziegelbrücke
Ziegelbrücke railway station
Ziegelbrücke railway station is a junction station in the village of Ziegelbrücke, which is shared between the municipalities of Niederurnen in the canton of Glarus, and Schänis in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland....
- Pfäffikon SZ
Pfäffikon SZ railway station
Pfäffikon SZ railway station is a junction station serving Pfäffikon, the principal town of the municipality of Freienbach, in the Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland....
- Thalwil
Thalwil railway station
Thalwil is a railway station in the municipality of Thalwil in the Swiss Canton of Zürich.The station is located on the Zürich to Lucerne main line. To the Zurich side of the station, the Zimmerberg Base Tunnel diverges from the original main line, whilst on the Lucerne side is the junction point...
- Zürich HB - Basel SBB - Bonn
Bonn Hauptbahnhof
is a railway station located on the left bank of the Rhine along the Cologne–Mainz line. It is the principal station serving the city of Bonn. In addition to extensive rail service from Deutsche Bahn it acts as a hub for local bus, tram, and Stadtbahn services....
- Köln
Köln Hauptbahnhof
Köln Hauptbahnhof is the central railway station in Cologne, Germany.The station is an important local, national and international hub, with many ICE, Thalys and Intercity trains calling there, as well as regional RegionalExpress, RegionalBahn and local S-Bahn trains...
- Hamburg Hbf
Hamburg Hauptbahnhof
is the Hauptbahnhof for the German city of Hamburg. It was opened in 1906 to replace 4 terminal stations. Hamburg Hauptbahnhof is operated by DB Station&Service...
- Hamburg Altona/Kiel
Kiel Hauptbahnhof
is the main railway station in the northern German city of Kiel. It consists of six rail tracks, all of which are electrified, and is a hub for train services to nearby towns such as Plön and Eckernförde.-Overview:...
Dortmund
Dortmund Hauptbahnhof
is the central station for the city of Dortmund in Germany.The station's origins lie in a joint station of the Köln-Mindener Eisenbahn and Bergisch-Märkische Eisenbahn which was built north of the city centre in 1847. That station was replaced by a new station, erected in 1910 at the current site....
- Köln
Köln Hauptbahnhof
Köln Hauptbahnhof is the central railway station in Cologne, Germany.The station is an important local, national and international hub, with many ICE, Thalys and Intercity trains calling there, as well as regional RegionalExpress, RegionalBahn and local S-Bahn trains...
- Bonn
Bonn Hauptbahnhof
is a railway station located on the left bank of the Rhine along the Cologne–Mainz line. It is the principal station serving the city of Bonn. In addition to extensive rail service from Deutsche Bahn it acts as a hub for local bus, tram, and Stadtbahn services....
- Basel Badischer Bahnhof
Basel Badischer Bahnhof
Basel Badischer Bahnhof is a railway station situated in the Swiss city of Basel. Whilst the station is situated on Swiss soil, the platforms and part of the entrance hall are extraterritorial, belonging to Germany, and the station is operated by the German railway company Deutsche Bahn...
- Basel SBB - Zürich HB - Thalwil
Thalwil railway station
Thalwil is a railway station in the municipality of Thalwil in the Swiss Canton of Zürich.The station is located on the Zürich to Lucerne main line. To the Zurich side of the station, the Zimmerberg Base Tunnel diverges from the original main line, whilst on the Lucerne side is the junction point...
- Pfäffikon SZ
Pfäffikon SZ railway station
Pfäffikon SZ railway station is a junction station serving Pfäffikon, the principal town of the municipality of Freienbach, in the Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland....
- Ziegelbrücke
Ziegelbrücke railway station
Ziegelbrücke railway station is a junction station in the village of Ziegelbrücke, which is shared between the municipalities of Niederurnen in the canton of Glarus, and Schänis in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland....
- Sargans - Landquart
Landquart railway station
Landquart is a major railway station on the SBB-CFF-FFS main line from Zürich to Chur as well as a Rhaetian Railway station.Intercity, Regio Express and Regional SBB services stop at the station alongside Regio Express and Regional services operated by the Rhaetian Railway.There are trains to...
- Chur Bruxelles Midi - Basel SBB - Zürich HB - Thalwil
Thalwil railway station
Thalwil is a railway station in the municipality of Thalwil in the Swiss Canton of Zürich.The station is located on the Zürich to Lucerne main line. To the Zurich side of the station, the Zimmerberg Base Tunnel diverges from the original main line, whilst on the Lucerne side is the junction point...
- Pfäffikon SZ
Pfäffikon SZ railway station
Pfäffikon SZ railway station is a junction station serving Pfäffikon, the principal town of the municipality of Freienbach, in the Canton of Schwyz, Switzerland....
- Ziegelbrücke
Ziegelbrücke railway station
Ziegelbrücke railway station is a junction station in the village of Ziegelbrücke, which is shared between the municipalities of Niederurnen in the canton of Glarus, and Schänis in the canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland....
- Sargans - Landquart
Landquart railway station
Landquart is a major railway station on the SBB-CFF-FFS main line from Zürich to Chur as well as a Rhaetian Railway station.Intercity, Regio Express and Regional SBB services stop at the station alongside Regio Express and Regional services operated by the Rhaetian Railway.There are trains to...
- Chur (operates in Switzerland as IR) Chur - Landquart - Sargans - Zürich HB - Basel SBB Chur - Landquart - Sargans - Zürich HB - Basel SBB Chur - Landquart - Sargans - Ziegelbrücke - Pfäffikon SZ - Thalwil - Zürich HB - Basel SBB Chur - Landquart - Sargans - Ziegelbrücke - Pfäffikon SZ - Thalwil - Zürich HB - Schaffhausen "Rheintal-Express" Chur - Sargans - St. Margrethen - Rorschach - St. Gallen Chur - Sargans - Ziegelbrücke
Rhaetian Railway services
- RE1/R11 - 1tph
- RE3/R31 - 1tph
- R4 - 1tph
- S8 - 1tph
- S9 - 1tph
Bus stations
The station serves as a major bus terminal for local and Postauto bus services.Postauto buses use the large, covered bus station
Bus station
A bus station is a structure where city or intercity buses stop to pick up and drop off passengers. It is larger than a bus stop, which is usually simply a place on the roadside, where buses can stop...
above the station platforms.
Local (Stadtbus) services call at a bus station on Bahnhofplatz, adjacent to the Arosa line platforms.
Other stations in Chur
There are three other railway stations in Chur:- Chur StadtChur Stadt (Rhaetian Railway station)Chur Stadt is a small railway station on the Chur-Arosa line of the Rhaetian Railway . It is situated near the old town of Chur, on Plessurquai by the Plessur river, less than a kilometre from the main railway station of the city.The halt is closer to the shops, bars and attractions of the old...
(on the Chur-Arosa line) - Chur WestChur West (Rhaetian Railway station)Chur West is a railway station in Chur, Switzerland. It is located on the Chur S-Bahn network. It is served twice hourly by S8 and S9 trains in each direction...
(towards Thusis) - Chur WiesentalChur Wiesental (Rhaetian Railway station)Chur Wiesental is a station on the Rhaetian Railway's Landquart-Chur metre gauge railway line.*RE3 - 1tph*R31 - 1tph *S8 - 1tph-Services:...
(towards Landquart)