ADLER

The four seven-coach ADLER trains (alpine, dynamic, quiet, elegant passenger train) consist of two three-coach traction modules, each with a driver’s cab, plus a bistro coach in between. The seven-part trains weigh approximately 200 tonnes, are 126 metres long and have 313 seats, 63 of which are in 1st class. ADLER trains are equipped with a bistro coach, which, as before, is operated by Elvetino.

Advantages of the new rolling stock

The new rolling stock offers major customer benefits and a significantly improved travel experience. Key points:  

  • Low-floor access
  • Panorama windows
  • Air conditioning
  • Infotainment
  • Bistro
  • Disabled access
  • Fast passenger transfer

At the beginning of 2021, an agreement was signed with Stadler Rail AG for the purchase of two ADLER and seven FINK trains. Delivery from Stadler Rail is planned from 2024. The new trains will replace the HGe-Pendel trains on the Luzern–Engelberg Express. They will also be used to supplement S-Bahn services and as additional trains for InterRegio services. 

Impressions

FINK

The three-coach FINK trains (nimble, innovative low-floor composition) are used as supplementary modules for the seven-coach ADLER IR trains and can also be used for the S4 or S5, the Interlaken−Meiringen Regio service and as additional relief trains for the S44 and S55. They offer 139 seats over a length of 54 metres, 18 of which are 1st class. The weight of one of these trains is approximately 90 tonnes.  

Advantages of the new rolling stock 

The new rolling stock offers major customer benefits and a significantly improved travel experience. Key points:  

  • Low-floor access
  • Panorama windows
  • Air conditioning
  • Infotainment
  • Disabled access
  • Fast passenger transfer

At the beginning of 2021, an agreement was signed with Stadler Rail AG for the purchase of two ADLER and seven FINK trains. Delivery from Stadler Rail is planned from 2024. The seven new FINK trains will be used to supplement the Luzern–Engelberg Express as well as the S-Bahn and also as additional trains for InterRegio services.

Impressions

SPATZ

2004 saw the rollout of the new SPATZ train (narrow-gauge, panorama multiple unit). These multiple units are used in the S-Bahn. Since 2017, all vehicles have been equipped with fully automatic coupling. This allows SPATZ trains to be coupled with FINK trains.

Advantages of the new rolling stock

The new rolling stock offers major customer benefits and a significantly improved travel experience. Key points:  

  • Low-floor access
  • Panorama windows
  • Air conditioning
  • Disabled access
  • Fast passenger transfer

Impressions

HGe-Pendel

Two HGe-Pendel trains run on the Luzern–Engelberg Express. An HGe locomotive pulls a former 1st class panorama coach of the GoldenPass Express, three refurbished 2nd class coaches and an articulated driving trailer.  

Three (or sometimes four) additional HGe-Pendel trains are in use for the seasonal train to Engelberg, as additional trains to the Brünig Pass and as reserve trains. Instead of a 1st class panorama coach and an articulated driving trailer, they are coupled with refurbished coaches and driving trailers. 

The three articulated driving trailers provide a panoramic view thanks to their large windows. The fully air-conditioned coaches with air-sprung bogies improve driving comfort and noise levels have been greatly optimised by equipping them with disc brakes. Passengers in this section of the train can benefit from low-floor access.  

The Globi coach in the middle of the train makes this train a Globi Express.

Impressions

Direct current vehicles

On the route between Meiringen and Innertkirchen, articulated railcar Be 125 013 is in operation. This vehicle was procured in 1997 by Transports Montreux–Vevey–Riviera (MVA) and was purchased and taken over in 2018 by the former Meiringen–Innertkirchen Railway. Since then, it has been operating in the current zb design.

Railcar Be 125 008 is available as a replacement vehicle. The Be 125 008 (formerly MIB Be 4/4 8) was built by Stadler Rail in 1996 and is a unique vehicle on Swiss rails.

Impressions

Historic vehicles

LSE BDeh 140 005 with driving trailer

The fleet of Engelberg power cars formed the backbone of LSE services to Engelberg from 1964 to 1980. Zentralbahn has the BDeh 140 006 available for the S41 route and seasonal additional trains. The BDeh 140 005 was once again given the original LSE paint and is used for the association’s special trips. Vehicle number 140 007 is at the Swiss Museum of Transport, where visitors can practice driving this locomotive in a driving simulator.

MIB BDa 125 005

From 1939, the Meiringen-Innertkirchen Railway (MIB) used two accumulator power cars for passenger and freight services. The electric vehicles had a top speed of 45km/h and were a feature of MIB operations for decades, until they were decommissioned in the 1970s and kept in a museum. They were considered pioneers of accumulator-powered rail transport in Switzerland.

SBB HGe 4/4 I 1992 with light-steel coaches

The HGe 4/4 I was a powerful cogwheel and adhesion locomotive on the Brünig Railway, which earned the nickname «Muni» due to its traction power. It was used primarily on the Giswil–Meiringen mountain line from 1954 onwards. Locomotive number 1992 remains operational today and offers a nostalgic reminder of its time as a technological pioneer on the Brünig line with its four light-steel passenger coaches. 

The locomotive belongs to the Association Verein Meterspurbahn Schweiz in Stansstad.

SBB Deh 120 914 and 909

The SBB Deh 4/6 was used on the Brünig Railway as a combined luggage and cog railway power car from 1941 and was the backbone of operations until the 1980s. Some vehicles were later converted to De 110 power cars purely for adhesion operations and used as push-pull trains in the valleys. Three historic units have been retained but are not currently operational.

Locomotive 909 belongs to the Association Verein Meterspurbahn Schweiz in Stansstad.

Steam locomotives G 3/4 Number 208, HG 3/3 Number 1068 and 1067 with passenger coaches

The Brünig Steam Railway owns several historic steam locomotives previously used on the Brünig Railway. Locomotives 1067 and 1068 are typical cog railway locomotives which are used today for nostalgic journeys. The smaller locomotive 208 has also been lovingly restored and is once again operational. They are all reminders of the age of steam on the route between Lucerne and Interlaken.

The locomotives and coaches belong to the Brünig Dampfbahn (BDB) in Interlaken.