Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern
Encyclopedia
Verkehrsbetriebe Luzern is the main provider of public transport
in the Swiss city of Luzern. It operates some 92 buses and 74 trolleybuses on 25 daytime routes, as well as 5 during the night (known as 'Nachstern').
way was opened in the city, which at the time had a population
of around 30,000. This tramway was completed in 1903, when it reached 11.3 km in length. Over the period 1909-1936, the tramway was extended to the Emmenbrücke and Kriens
areas. The late 1920s and early 1930s saw the first bus
services being introduced to the city. Initial proposals for a trolleybus
system in 1938 were rejected by the citizens of Luzern, however further proposals in 1941 were met with a far more positive response, and the first line was opened between Luzern station and Allmend. Trolleybuses gradually replaced trams in the city, and the tramway was finally closed in 1961. The trolleybus
system was upgraded in 1965/66 with the introduction of 14 new articulated trolleybuses. The 1970s revolutionised the way tickets were bought on the bus
and trolleybus
networks, with most now being purchased from roadside vending machines. In the 1980s several bus
lines were replaced by trolleybuses. The fleet was upgraded in 1985 with the purchase of 54 new vehicles. A new fare system was introduced in 1991, with the network being divided into various zones. In the same year, VBL took delivery of 4 new articulated trolleybuses and 6 articulated buses. The start of the 21st Century brought with it a large intake of new vehicles, with both diesel
buses and trolleybuses being delivered. VBL now boasts a very modern fleet, with the Mercedes-Benz Citaro comprising a large portion of the bus fleet.
fleet has been drastically modernised over the past few years, with the introduction of both rigid and articulated Mercedes-Benz Citaro vehicles, which have been placed into service at various points since 1998.
The current bus fleet is as follows:
The trolleybus
fleet has also been modernised in recent years, including the arrival of the company's first double-articulated trolleybuses in 2006.
The current trolleybus
fleet is as follows:
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
in the Swiss city of Luzern. It operates some 92 buses and 74 trolleybuses on 25 daytime routes, as well as 5 during the night (known as 'Nachstern').
History
VBL dates back to December 1899, when a tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
way was opened in the city, which at the time had a population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
of around 30,000. This tramway was completed in 1903, when it reached 11.3 km in length. Over the period 1909-1936, the tramway was extended to the Emmenbrücke and Kriens
Kriens
Kriens is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.The municipality lies at the foot of Mount Pilatus, and is a western suburb of Lucerne.-History:...
areas. The late 1920s and early 1930s saw the first bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
services being introduced to the city. Initial proposals for a trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
system in 1938 were rejected by the citizens of Luzern, however further proposals in 1941 were met with a far more positive response, and the first line was opened between Luzern station and Allmend. Trolleybuses gradually replaced trams in the city, and the tramway was finally closed in 1961. The trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
system was upgraded in 1965/66 with the introduction of 14 new articulated trolleybuses. The 1970s revolutionised the way tickets were bought on the bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
and trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
networks, with most now being purchased from roadside vending machines. In the 1980s several bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
lines were replaced by trolleybuses. The fleet was upgraded in 1985 with the purchase of 54 new vehicles. A new fare system was introduced in 1991, with the network being divided into various zones. In the same year, VBL took delivery of 4 new articulated trolleybuses and 6 articulated buses. The start of the 21st Century brought with it a large intake of new vehicles, with both diesel
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
buses and trolleybuses being delivered. VBL now boasts a very modern fleet, with the Mercedes-Benz Citaro comprising a large portion of the bus fleet.
Trolleybus routes
- 1 ObernauObernauObernau is a municipality in the district of Altenkirchen, in Rhineland-Palatinate, in western Germany....
- Luzern Bahnhof - Luzernhof - Maihof - 2 Emmenbrücke Sprengi - Emmenbrücke Central - Luzern Bahnhof
- 4 Hubelmatt - Luzern Bahnhof
- 6 Maihof - Bundesplatz - Luzern Bahnhof - Luzernhof - Brüelstrasse - Würzenbach
- 7 Briegghof - Bundesplatz - Luzern Bahnhof - Luzernhof - Zwyssigplatz - Unterlöchli
- 8 Hirtenhof - Bundesplatz - Luzern Bahnhof - Luzernhof - Brüelstrasse - Würzenbach
Bus routes
- 9 Bramberg - Luzern Bahnhof
- 10 Obergütsch - Luzern Bahnhof
- 11 DattenbergDattenbergDattenberg is a municipality in the district of Neuwied, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany....
- Eichhof - Luzern Bahnhof - 12 LittauLittauLittau is a former municipality, and now part of the city of Lucerne, in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. On 1 January 2010 the municipality of Littau merged into the municipality of Lucerne.-History:...
Gasshof - Luzern Bahnhof - 13 LittauLittauLittau is a former municipality, and now part of the city of Lucerne, in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. On 1 January 2010 the municipality of Littau merged into the municipality of Lucerne.-History:...
Bahnhof - Ruopigen - Seetalstrasse - 14 Brüelstrasse - St. Anna - Luzern Bahnhof
- 15 KriensKriensKriens is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.The municipality lies at the foot of Mount Pilatus, and is a western suburb of Lucerne.-History:...
- Zumhof/Senti/Bachstrasse/Bergstrasse/Sidhalde - KriensKriensKriens is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.The municipality lies at the foot of Mount Pilatus, and is a western suburb of Lucerne.-History:... - 16 KriensKriensKriens is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.The municipality lies at the foot of Mount Pilatus, and is a western suburb of Lucerne.-History:...
- Mattenhof - Kuonimatt - Pilatusmarkt - HorwHorwHorw is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Horw is first mentioned in 1231 as Horwe.-Geography:...
Zentrum - SpitzSpitzSpitz-type dogs are a type of dog, characterized by long, thick, and often white fur, and pointed ears and muzzles... - 18 Friedental - Kantonsspittal - Kreuzstutz - Luzern Bahnhof
- 19 Friedental - Kantonsspittal - Scholssberg - Luzern Bahnhof
- 20 Ennethorw/Technikumstrasse - HorwHorwHorw is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Horw is first mentioned in 1231 as Horwe.-Geography:...
Zentrum - Wegscheide - Luzern Banhof - 21 HorwHorwHorw is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Horw is first mentioned in 1231 as Horwe.-Geography:...
Steinbach - Wegscheide - Kastanienbaum - St. Niklausen - Luzern Bahnhof - 22 InwilInwilInwil is a municipality in the district of Hochdorf in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Inwil has an area of . Of this area, 70.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 16.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 11.4% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
/Perlen - BuchrainBuchrainBuchrain is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Buchrain has an area of . Of this area, 49.5% is used for agricultural purposes, while 17.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 27.3% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
- EbikonEbikonEbikon is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Ebikon has an area of . Of this area, 38.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 23.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 30.3% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
- Luzern Bahnhof - 23 GisikonGisikonGisikon is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Gisikon has an area of . Of this area, 50% is used for agricultural purposes, while 20% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 24.5% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
Bahnhof - RootRoot, LucerneRoot is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Root has an area of . Of this area, 50.9% is used for agricultural purposes, while 27.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 17% is settled and the remainder is non-productive . , 27.86% of...
- Dierekon - EbikonEbikonEbikon is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Ebikon has an area of . Of this area, 38.4% is used for agricultural purposes, while 23.9% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 30.3% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
- Luzern Bahnhof - 24 MeggenMeggenMeggen is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Meggen is first mentioned in 1226 as Meken, though a 14th Century copy of an older document mentions in Acta Murensia around 1160.-Geography:...
Gottlieben/MeggenMeggenMeggen is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Meggen is first mentioned in 1226 as Meken, though a 14th Century copy of an older document mentions in Acta Murensia around 1160.-Geography:...
Tschädigen - Lerchenbühl - Luzern Bahnhof - 25 MeggenMeggenMeggen is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Meggen is first mentioned in 1226 as Meken, though a 14th Century copy of an older document mentions in Acta Murensia around 1160.-Geography:...
Piuskirche - Büttenhalde - Brüelstrasse - 26 AdligenswilAdligenswilAdligenswil is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. It is east of the city of Lucerne and borders on canton Schwyz.-Geography:...
- Brüelstrasse - 27 Ottigenbühl - Ebikon Hofmatt - Unterlöchli
- 31 HorwHorwHorw is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Horw is first mentioned in 1231 as Horwe.-Geography:...
Zentrum - Pilatusmarkt - Grabenhof - Nidfeld - Grosshofstrasse - Eichhof - Pilatusplatz - Kasernenplatz - N1 ObernauObernauObernau is a municipality in the district of Altenkirchen, in Rhineland-Palatinate, in western Germany....
- KriensKriensKriens is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.The municipality lies at the foot of Mount Pilatus, and is a western suburb of Lucerne.-History:...
- Hofmatt - Grosshofstrasse - Grabenhof - Eichhof - Pilatusplatz - Luzern Bahnhof - N2 Bertiswil - RothenburgRothenburg, SwitzerlandRothenburg is a municipality in the district of Hochdorf in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Rothenburg has an area of . Of this area, 67.8% is used for agricultural purposes, while 16.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 15.5% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
- Spregi - Pilatusplatz - Luzern Bahnhof - N3 Luzern Bahnhof - Maihof - Hofmatt - Perlen - GisikonGisikonGisikon is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Gisikon has an area of . Of this area, 50% is used for agricultural purposes, while 20% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 24.5% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
Bahnhof - N4 Luzern Bahnhof - Luzernhof - Brüelstrasse - Seefeldstrasse - Lerchenbühl - AdligenswilAdligenswilAdligenswil is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. It is east of the city of Lucerne and borders on canton Schwyz.-Geography:...
- N5 WolhusenWolhusenWolhusen is a municipality in the district of Sursee in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-Geography:Wolhusen has an area of . Of this area, 58.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while 32.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 8.6% is settled and the remainder is non-productive...
- MaltersMaltersMalters is a municipality in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland.-History:Malters is first mentioned in second half of the 9th Century as in Maltrensi marcha. In 1238 it was mentioned as villa Malters.-Geography:...
- LittauLittauLittau is a former municipality, and now part of the city of Lucerne, in the district of Lucerne in the canton of Lucerne in Switzerland. On 1 January 2010 the municipality of Littau merged into the municipality of Lucerne.-History:...
Bahnhof - Kreuzstutz - Hirzenhof - Pilautsplatz - Luzern Bahnhof
Rolling stock
The busBus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
fleet has been drastically modernised over the past few years, with the introduction of both rigid and articulated Mercedes-Benz Citaro vehicles, which have been placed into service at various points since 1998.
The current bus fleet is as follows:
- 38 Mercedes-Benz Citaro (1998-2006)
- 31 Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulatedArticulated busAn articulated bus is an articulated vehicle used in public transportation. It is usually a single-deck design, and comprises two rigid sections linked by a pivoting joint...
(2002-2006) - 3 VolvoVolvoAB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
(1996) - 4 Mercedes-BenzMercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
O405N2 (1995-1997) - 2 Mercedes-Benz O405N (1993)
- 2 ScaniaScania ABScania Aktiebolag , commonly referred to as Scania AB or just Scania, is a major Swedish automotive industry manufacturer of commercial vehicles - specifically heavy trucks and buses...
/HessCarrosserie HessCarrosserie Hess AG is a bus, trolleybus and commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Bellach , Switzerland. Its products can be found operating across the globe, including the United States and Canada.-History:...
N94UBScania N94The Scania N94 was a transverse-engined low-floor city bus built by Scania AB, which was a direct replacement of Scania N113.It was originally available with rigid version N94UB and articulated version N94UA, but from 2002 a double-deck version known as the N94UD also became available.The N94UD was...
(2005) - 2 Volvo B10LVolvo B10LThe Volvo B10L is a rear-engined, low-floor single-deck city bus chassis built by Volvo between c. 1993 and c. 2005. An articulated version of the B10L, known as the B10LA, was also produced.-United Kingdom:...
(1996) - 1 Mercedes-BenzMercedes-BenzMercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
416CDI (2002) - 1 Neoplan N4009Neoplan N4009The Neoplan N4009 is a low-floor midibus built by Neoplan between 1988 and 1999, initially at Stuttgart in Germany and later also in Poland. It is the smaller version of the Neoplan N4016 city bus.-Specifications:...
(1994) - 1 Neoplan N4411Neoplan CentrolinerThe NEOPLAN Centroliner is a series of low floor bus which was first unveiled in 1997, and mainly built by NEOPLAN Bus GmbH for the European market...
(2001)
The trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
fleet has also been modernised in recent years, including the arrival of the company's first double-articulated trolleybuses in 2006.
The current trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
fleet is as follows:
- 29 NAW/HessCarrosserie HessCarrosserie Hess AG is a bus, trolleybus and commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Bellach , Switzerland. Its products can be found operating across the globe, including the United States and Canada.-History:...
/SiemensSiemensSiemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
BG5-25 (1988-1989) - 19 NAW/HessCarrosserie HessCarrosserie Hess AG is a bus, trolleybus and commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Bellach , Switzerland. Its products can be found operating across the globe, including the United States and Canada.-History:...
/SiemensSiemensSiemens may refer toSiemens, a German family name carried by generations of telecommunications industrialists, including:* Werner von Siemens , inventor, founder of Siemens AG...
BG5-25 articulated (1987-1991) - 15 Lanz & Marti/HessCarrosserie HessCarrosserie Hess AG is a bus, trolleybus and commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Bellach , Switzerland. Its products can be found operating across the globe, including the United States and Canada.-History:...
APM 5.6-13 (1998-2005) - 9 HessCarrosserie HessCarrosserie Hess AG is a bus, trolleybus and commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Bellach , Switzerland. Its products can be found operating across the globe, including the United States and Canada.-History:...
/Vossloh KiepeVossloh KiepeVossloh Kiepe is a German manufacturer of electrical traction equipment for trams, trolleybuses and other transport vehicles, as well as air-conditioning and heating systems, and conveyor device components.-History:...
BGT-N2C articulated (2004-2006) - 3 HessCarrosserie HessCarrosserie Hess AG is a bus, trolleybus and commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Bellach , Switzerland. Its products can be found operating across the globe, including the United States and Canada.-History:...
/Vossloh KiepeVossloh KiepeVossloh Kiepe is a German manufacturer of electrical traction equipment for trams, trolleybuses and other transport vehicles, as well as air-conditioning and heating systems, and conveyor device components.-History:...
BGGT-N2C lighTram 3Hess lighTram 3The Hess lighTram3 is a 24.7m long double-articulated trolleybus with a capacity of around 192 passengers. It is manufactured by Carrosserie Hess, a bus, trolleybus and commercial vehicle manufacturer based in Bellach , Switzerland. It is in use in several cities in Switzerland including Zurich and...
double-articulated (2006)