I have returned from my annual trip to Switzerland based in Spiez from June 20th
- July 4th.
Most services were as memebers of this group would expect. However more about
the Lotschberger units - from day 1 it became obvious that there must be
problems. On the first day the set we travelled on had no operational toilet (
on a summer Sunday!!) on a Bern- Brig working!
As the week went on there were examples of the odd unit with non operational air
conditioning, or no toilet and on one occassion a set that would not let the
passengers out when the train terminated at Bern!. The most frightning was a set
( I think it was 108) when a pane of internal glass was flexing badly and will,
without attention shatter I would imagine.
The weather changed over the middle weekend to a heat wave and things appeared
to get worse - with 6 Lotschbergers being seen on shed at Spiez and NINA units
being used to work vice Lotschbergers. I would suspect that the BLS management
will have to do something to improve the situation.The 17.40 SX ex Bern appears
to be booked for 4 sets. Interesting on the start of the Bern holidays (July
4th), additonal loco hauled trains were run "over the top" and through the
tunnel. ( although many passengers let the loco hauled relief go and caught the
unit instead)
My one and only run on a ET470 - as expected arrived in Bern on time. When
reversal took place they were unable to get the brakes off - left about 12 mins
late and was delayed following stopping services to about 22 late at Spiez.
The other things I noticed was that the XX.39 from Bern - Zurich via Burgdorf ,
XX.02 Bern - Zurich via NBS, and xx.07 ex Basel appear to be too tightly timed
in that when they reach Olten East Jn ( my name for it!!) delays often occur.
The 09.07/09.39 ex Bern via Bergdorf are prone to be delayed by a late running
Pablo Cassals as happened on a number of mornings. This resulted in delays to
other(connecting) services ( one one morning I counted 5).
However one has to keep things in persective as nearly all trains were the usual
"Swiss Quality" ( although noticably emptier than the same weeks last year) and
the comemnts above are just illustrations of what I found.
Finally - does anyone know what SBB Cargo's traction policy is going to be post
the opening of the Gottard base tunnel. (can the world famous Re6/6 keep their
hands on the prestige services?)
Bill