Aigle - Leysin

-gauge cog-wheel railway using the Abt rack system.

Aigle's main railway station is not only served by the trains of the Swiss Federal Railways but also those of three local, narrow-gauge railways: the Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry (AOMC), the Aigle-Leysin (AL) and the Aigle-Sépey-Diablerets (ASD).

History

The Aigle-Leysin line is 6.5 km. long and rises 1047 m. (3245 ft.) from its terminus outside the main line station in Aigle to its summit at the Grand Hôtel at Leysin. The first 1 km. of the route is through the streets of Aigle from the railway station to the railway depot where the train reverses to enable the powered vehicle to be at the rear of the train for the uphill journey, normal working on a rack (cog-wheel) railway. From this point the line climbs steeply through the vineyards, the steepest gradient being 1 in 4.3 (23%).

The operating voltage of the line has changed four times, increasing from 600v. d.c. at opening, first to 650v. d.c., then in 1946 to 1300v. d.c., and later to the present operating voltage of 1500v. d.c.

Coming up to date:

In 1975 the four local railway companies, Aigle-Leysin (AL); Aigle-Ollon-Monthey-Champéry (AOMC); Aigle-Sépey-Diablerets (ASD) and Bex-Villars-Bretaye (BVB) merged to form a single operating company, known as the Transports Publics du Chablais (TPC). This brought about increased co-operation between the companies in the provision of community-based services.

In 1985, the Federal Government informed AL, and other privately operated railways, that it would cease all funding the following year, however they renewed a federal concession for a further period of 50 years. An agreement was signed between the Canton of Vaud, the communities served by the railway, and the AL and its partners to renew rolling stock and upgrade the track.

In the mid 1990's, faced with greatly increased operating costs, the Canton of Vaud and the communities served by the railway petitioned the Federal Government to revoke its 1985 decision. The Federal Government did so and in 1996, recognizing the importance of this regional line as a public transportation carrier, awarded the line with a contract to provide a public transportation service. This brought about, in 1999, the founding of Transports Publics du Chablais as the parent body of local public transportation with the four local railway companies as founding members.(For further details since 1999 refer to Transports Publics du Chablais)

Railcars and rolling stock

The "automotrice" (railcars) are, with the exception of No. 201, class BDeh2/4 whilst the company owns 5 "Voiture Pilote" (driving trailers) and retains 2 older coaches.Details from official stock lists, May 2006.