150 Years of (Mountain) Railroads in Switzerland

In 1863, engineer Niklaus Riggenbach patents his rack-and-pinion railway system in France – a breakthrough that makes mountain railroads feasible. From 1867, he is heavily involved in the Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn. When plans from the Lucerne side become public, the citizens of Arth secure a concession in 1870 for the Schwyz side. Riggenbach and Zschokke are commissioned to build the section from Staffelhöhe to Rigi Kulm. In 1873, the Vitznau line is pushed out of this segment and must pay rent from then on. Two years later, the Arther Rigibahn opens its full route from Arth via Goldau. The line impresses with scenic views, comfort – and, starting in 1928, winter service.

Starting in 1875, the Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Localbahnen (SLB) builds the line from Winkeln to Herisau, later extended to Urnäsch. Other planned projects fail due to a lack of funds. In 1885, the company changes its name to Appenzellerbahn-Gesellschaft, later known simply as Appenzeller Bahnen. In 1886, the concessioned route is completed – and remains a core part of northeastern Switzerland’s regional rail network to this day.

After early plans for an adhesion line, the decision is made to build a standard-gauge rack railway from Rorschach to Heiden. Construction begins in 1874, and by September 1875, the 7.2-kilometer line opens. It also fulfills a federal requirement to allow for a possible extension to Trogen. The RHB starts operations with three steam locomotives, nine passenger coaches (400 seats), and eight freight cars – at a cost of over two million Swiss francs. In 2006, RHB merges into the Appenzeller Bahnen, to which it still belongs today.

In 1875, the railway to Zurich’s local mountain begins operation – one of Europe’s steepest adhesion railways, with gradients up to 7.9%. After liquidation in 1920, the City of Zurich resumes service in 1922. In 1973, the line merges with the Sihltalbahn to form today’s Sihltal Zürich Uetlibergbahn SZU AG. Since 1990, it has been integrated into the Zurich S-Bahn network as line S10 and is again promoted under the name Uetlibergbahn. To this day, it carries passengers from Zurich’s main station straight to panoramic views over the city.

Founded in 1875 and based in Winterthur, the Schweizerische Nationalbahn aims to build a publicly funded main line from Lake Constance to Lake Geneva – a “people’s railway” to challenge the dominant private companies. But political opposition, costly detours, and fierce competition doom the project early. In 1878, the SNB is forced into liquidation; in 1880, the Nordostbahn acquires its assets for just a fraction of the original investment. The resulting debt burdens many municipalities well into the 20th century.