Helvetia (train)

The Helvetia was an express train that, for most of its existence, linked Hamburg-Altona station in Hamburg, Germany, with Zürich HB in Zurich, Switzerland. Introduced in 1952, it was operated by the Deutsche Bundesbahn / Deutsche Bahn (DB) and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS). The train's name, Helvetia, is the Latin word for "Switzerland".

Helvetia
Overview
Service typeFernschnellzug (F)
(1952–1957)
Trans Europ Express (TEE)
(1957–1979)
Intercity (IC)
(1979–1987)
EuroCity (EC)
(1987–1991)
Intercity-Express (ICE)
(1992–2002)
StatusNo longer a named train
LocaleGermany
Switzerland
First service18 May 1952 (1952-05-18)
Last service2002 (2002)
Former operator(s)Deutsche Bundesbahn /
Deutsche Bahn (DB)
SBB-CFF-FFS
Route
StartHamburg-Altona
EndZürich HB
Service frequencyDaily
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
Electrification15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz
Route map

Initially, the Helvetia was a Schnellzug (D), later a Fernschnellzug (F - although actually diesel multiple units were used on this service). In 1957, it became a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE). On 27 May 1979, it was reclassified as a two-class Intercity (IC),[1] and on 31 May 1987, it was included in the then-new EuroCity (EC) network.[2] Following a brief hiatus in 1991–1992, it was reintroduced as an Intercity-Express (ICE). It ceased to be a named train at the end of 2002.

On 12 August 1965, the Helvetia was involved in a serious collision in Lampertheim, Hesse, in which the train formation (consist) was severely damaged, and four people lost their lives.

See also

References

Notes

  1. Thomas Cook International Timetable (May 27–June 30, 1979 edition), p. 6. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing.
  2. Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (May 31–June 30, 1987 edition), pp. 472, 475. Thomas Cook Publishing.

Bibliography

  • Goette, Peter (2008). TEE-Züge in Deutschland [TEE Trains in Germany]. Freiburg i.B.: EK-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-88255-698-8. (in German)
  • Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; Mertens, Maurice (2007). TEE: la légende des Trans-Europ-Express [TEE: The Legend of the Trans Europ Express]. Auray: LR Presse. ISBN 978-29-03651-45-9. (in French)
  • Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; Mertens, Maurice (2008). TEE: la leggenda dei Trans-Europ-Express [TEE: The Legend of the Trans Europ Express]. Salò: ETR – Editrice Trasporti su Rotaie. ISBN 978-88-85068-31-5. (in Italian)
  • Mertens, Maurice; Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; von Mitzlaff, Berndt (2009). TEE - Die Geschichte des Trans-Europ-Express [TEE - The History of the Trans Europ Express]. Düsseldorf: Alba Publikation. ISBN 978-3-87094-199-4. (in German)
  • Media related to Helvetia at Wikimedia Commons
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