Basel S-Bahn

Basel Regional S-Bahn
S-Bahn train at Liestal
Overview
Native name	Template:Lang-de
Locale	Trinational Eurodistrict Basel
Transit type	S-Bahn
Number of lines	8
Number of stations	72+
Annual ridership	19 million (2007)
Headquarters	Basel, Switzerland
Website	Tri-national S-Bahn Basel
Technical
System length	250 km (160 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
System map

The Basel Regional S-Bahn (Template:Lang-de) has provided an S-Bahn-style rail service connecting the Basel metropolitan area since 1997 in Switzerland, Germany and France. It consists of eight suburban train lines, including four that operate across borders.

The S-Bahn is operated by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS), its German subsidiary SBB GmbH, the German DB, and the French TER Alsace. It is also run in partnership with Deutsche Bahn (German Railways, DB) and the Société nationale des chemins de fer français (French National Railways, SNCF) and its sponsors (the Swiss cantons of Basel, Basel-Country, Aargau, Solothurn, Jura; the German state of Baden-Württemberg and the French region of Alsace).

Operations

Due to various factors, the service frequency of the five suburban train lines is not the same. Lines S1 (between Basel SBB and Stein-Säckingen) and S3 (between Olten and Laufen) with a large patronage run every half hour. Lines with medium ridership (S5 and S6) operate partly at hourly intervals. Lines with low ridership (S3 between Laufen and Porrentruy and S9) operate at hourly intervals. Due to operating in three countries, this pattern of operations is not only determined by demand, but also by the various national and local governments involved.

Two S-Bahn services operate on each of the lines between Basel SBB and Pratteln and between Lörrach-Stetten and Steinen, resulting in a 15 minute frequency on these lines. During peak hours additional services operate.

Lines

The following lines currently operate:

• Template:S-Bahn-Basel Grüne Linie/ligne verte (SNCF: TER): Mulhouse Ville – St.-Louis – Basel St. Johann – Basel SBB – Pratteln – Rheinfelden – Stein-Säckingen – Laufenburg/ Frick
• Template:S-Bahn-Basel Jurabahn (west), Hauensteinlinie (east): Porrentruy – Delémont – Laufen – Dornach-Arlesheim – Basel SBB – Pratteln – Liestal – Gelterkinden – Olten

• Template:S-Bahn-Basel Rheintalbahn: (Basel SBB –) Basel Badischer Bf – Weil am Rhein – Müllheim – Bad Krozingen – Schallstadt – Freiburg (Breisgau) Hbf – Emmendingen – Lahr (schwarzwald) – Offenburg
• Template:S-Bahn-Basel Gartenbahn: Weil am Rhein – Lörrach – Steinen (– Schopfheim – Zell (Wiesental))
• Template:S-Bahn-Basel Wiesentalbahn: Basel SBB – Basel Badischer Bf – Riehen – Lörrach – Steinen (D) – Schopfheim – Zell (Wiesental)
• Template:S-Bahn-Basel Hochrheinbahn: Basel Badischer Bf – Rheinfelden (Baden) – Laufenburg (Baden) – Waldshut
• Template:S-Bahn-Basel Waldenburgerbahn: Liestal – Waldenburg
• Template:S-Bahn-Basel Alte Hauensteinlinie: Sissach – Läufelingen – Olten

The lines S3, S9, and WB operate exclusively in Switzerland, line S1 between Switzerland and France, line S6 (and RE) between Switzerland and Germany, and the line S5 and RB in Germany only.

The 250 km long railway network currently includes 72 stations and stops, of which 47 are in Switzerland, 18 in Germany and 7 are in France. The shortest line is the S5 (13 km) and the longest line is S3 (105 km).

External links

• Media related to S-Bahn Basel at Wikimedia Commons