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Trams in Basel

{{Short description|Overview of the tram system in Basel, Switzerland}}

{{Infobox tram network

| color =

| name = Basel tramway network

| system =

| logo =

| image = Tram in Basel BLT.jpg

| caption = A BLT tram in Basel

| locale = Basel, Switzerland

| open = {{Start date|1895|5|6|df=y}}

| close =

| status = Operational

| lines = 12

| owner =

| operator = {{unbulleted list|Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (BVB)|Baselland Transport (BLT)}}

| gauge = {{track gauge|metre|allk=on}}

| el = {{650 V DC}}{{cite book | title = Eisenbahnatlas Schweiz | year = 2012 | publisher = Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH | isbn=978-3-89494-130-7 | pages = 62}}

| depot =

| stock =

| single_track_length =

| double_track_length =

| total_track_length =

| route_length = {{convert|128.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| pass_year =

| passengers =

| pass_percent =

| pass_system =

| mpassengers =

| map = File:Basel - Straßenbahnnetzplan.png

| map_state = show

| website = http://www.bvb.ch Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe {{in lang|de}}

}}

The Basel tramway network ({{langx|de|Basler Strassenbahn-Netz}}) is a network of tramways forming part of the public transport system in Basel, Switzerland, and its agglomeration - it also reaches into adjacent suburbs in Germany and France. The only two other tramway networks to cross an international border are Geneva's and Strasbourg's tramways. The Basel tram system consists of 12 lines. Due to its longevity (the network is now more than a century old), it is part of Basel's heritage and, alongside the Basel Minster, is one of the symbols of the city.

The trams on the network are operated by two transport providers: Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (Basel Transport Service) (BVB) and Baselland Transport (BLT). Both operators are part of the integrated fare network Tarifverbund Nordwestschweiz (TNW), which in itself is part of the three countries-integrated fare network triregio.{{cite book | title = Eisenbahnatlas Deutschland | year = 2009 | publisher = Verlag Schweers + Wall GmbH | isbn=978-3-89494-139-0 | pages = 110–111}}{{cite web |url=http://www.twn.ch |title=Tarifverbund Nordwestschweiz | publisher=Trarifverbund Nordwestschweiz |language=de |access-date=2014-11-05}}{{cite web |url=http://www.triregio.info/ |title=triregio - grenzenlos mobil | publisher=triregio |language=de, fr |access-date=2014-11-05}}

BVB is owned by the Canton of Basel-Stadt. Its green trams operate mostly in the city, although termini of its lines 3, 6, 8 and 14 are across the cantonal or country border.

BLT is owned by the Canton of Basel-Land and has yellow and red livery. It owns the tram infrastructure in Basel-Land und runs the lines 10, 11 and 17 who are passing through Basel on BVB-tracks. At the same time, BVB line 14 runs partially on BLT-tracks. BLT line 10 at one point passes through the territory of France.{{cite web| title=Geschichte (history)| publisher=Baselland Transport| url=http://www.blt.ch/Unternehmen/Geschichte/Geschichte.aspx| access-date=28 February 2010| archive-date=18 May 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100518162935/http://www.blt.ch/Unternehmen/Geschichte/Geschichte.aspx| url-status=dead}}

History

File:Blonay-Chamby Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe - 182 - 01.jpg]]

The first line of the Basel tramway network was opened on 6 May 1895. It followed the route Centralbahnhof–Marktplatz–Mittlere Brücke–Aeschenplatz–Badischer Bahnhof.

The network grew quickly. In 1897, six new sections were put in service, with one linking Basel and Birsfelden.

In 1900, the Basel tramway network acquired an international dimension, when a new cross-border line was opened to Sankt-Ludwig (now Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin), in the then German Empire. The line operated till 1950. In 1910, a second international line was opened to Hüningen (now Huningue also Haut Rhin), which was used until 1961. The line to Lörrach in Baden, Germany, was opened in 1919 and worked till 1967.

Since 1887, the tram from Basel to Rodersdorf, now part of Baselland Transport line n° 10, passed (and passes) through the village of Leymen in Alsace. But that Birsigthalbahn (Birsig Valley Railway) would be joined to the general tram network of Basel as late as in 1984.

From 1900 until 1936, at least one section of the network was modified each year. In 1934, upon the opening of a new section of line from Margarethenstr. to Binningen, the network reached its greatest length of {{convert|72|km|abbr=on}}.

During the two World Wars, services were suspended on the parts of the line extending beyond Switzerland's borders. After World War II, several lines were closed. In 1958, the total length of the network's routes was {{convert|51.7|km|abbr=on}}.

In 1974, the several companies that had been operating the suburban lines were merged to form the new company bearing the name Baselland Transport AG (BLT).

Lines

{{As of|2022|post=,}} the Basel tram network comprises 12 lines. Nine are operated by BVB and three by BLT. The combined line length of the 12 lines is {{convert|128.5|km}}.{{cite web | title=Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe Geschäftsbericht 2021 | url=https://www.bvb.ch/wp-content/bvb/Dokumente/Geschaeftsberichte/2021/BVB_Geschaeftsbericht_2021.pdf | lang=de | date=2021 | author=Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe | page=22}}{{cite web | title=Geschäftsbericht 2021 | url=https://www.blt.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/blt/PDF_Content/Geschaeftsberichte/Geschaeftsbericht_BLT_2021_DS_web.pdf | date=2021 | author=Baselland Transport | lang=de | page=64}}{{efn|BVB operates Line {{Abbr|No.|Number}} 14 on behalf of BLT, using BLT infrastructure, and both companies include it in their annual reports.}}{{efn|The line length excludes the N6 and N14 night routes.}}

class="wikitable sortable"
No.

! Route

! Route length

! Operator

!Route map

width=50 | {{rcb|Basel tramway network|1|inline=route}}

| Dreirosenbrücke – Brausebad - Bahnhof SBB (– Badischer Bahnhof)

| {{convert|7.31|km}}

| BVB

| Image:Linie 1 (BVB).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|2|inline=route}}

| Binningen Kronenplatz – Badischer Bahnhof - Eglisee (– Riehen Fondation Beyeler)

| {{convert|9.26|km}}

| BVB

| Image:Linie 2 (BVB).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|3|inline=route}}

| Saint-Louis (France) Burgfelderhof – Breite - Birsfelden Hard

| {{convert|9.58|km}}

| BVB

| Image:Linie 3 (BVB).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|6|inline=route}}

| Allschwil - Morgartenring – Badischer Bahnhof -Riehen Grenze

| {{convert|12.58|km}}

| BVB

| Image:Linie 6 (BVB).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|8|inline=route}}

| Neuweilerstrasse – Kleinhüningen Weil am Rhein (Germany)

| {{convert|10.23|km}}

| BVB

| Image:Linie 8 (BVB).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|10|inline=route}}

| Rodersdorf - Flüh - Ettingen – Bahnhof SBB - Münchenstein-Dornach

| {{convert|25.974|km}}

| BLT

| Image:Linie 10 (BLT).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|11|inline=route}}

| St. Louis Grenze – Bahnhof SBB - Reinach Dorf - Aesch

| {{convert|14.235|km}}

| BLT

| Image:Linie 11 (BLT).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|14|inline=route}}

| Dreirosenbrücke Aeschenplatz – Basel St. Jakob - Muttenz Dorf - Pratteln

| {{convert|12.81|km}}

| BVB

| Image:Linie 14 (BVB).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|15|inline=route}}

| Messeplatz – Bruderholz

| {{convert|5.39|km}}

| BVB

| Image:Linie 15 (BVB).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|16|inline=route}}

| Bruderholz – Schifflände

| {{convert|5.48|km}}

| BVB

| Image:Linie 16 (BVB).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|17|inline=route}}

| Wiesenplatz – Ettingen

| {{convert|12.215|km}}

| BLT

| Image:Linie 17 (BLT).png

{{rcb|Basel tramway network|21|inline=route}}

| Bahnhof St. Johann – Badischer Bahnhof

| {{convert|3.50|km}}

| BVB

| Image:Linie 21 (BVB).png

= Cross-border routes =

The Basel tram network is unusual in crossing international borders.

Line 10 to Rodersdorf runs via Leymen in France. For customs purposes the trams operate through France as privileged transit traffic. Passengers remaining on the tram are not subject to customs rules. Passengers may get on or off the tram in Leymen only if they are carrying goods within the customs limits.

In 2014, line 8 was extended across the border to Weil am Rhein station, in Germany.

Construction started in 2015 to extend Line 3 from its then-terminus at Bourgfelden Grenze to Saint-Louis station in France.{{cite web| title= Tram 3 info| publisher=Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe|url=http://www.tram3.info/| access-date=26 June 2015}} The extension opened in 2017.{{cite news| title= Switzerland Just Opened the World's Only Tri-National Streetcar System| newspaper=Bloomberg| date=13 December 2017| publisher=CityLab|url=https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2017/12/switzerland-just-opened-the-worlds-only-tri-national-streetcar-system/548213/| access-date=13 December 2017}} Late-night services on the cross-border line were suspended in 2019 due to a series of attacks in which laser pointers were used to obstruct the vision of tram operators.{{cite news |date=3 May 2019 |title='Too dangerous': Basel cancels late-night trams to France |url=https://www.thelocal.ch/20190503/too-dangerous-for-basel-trams-to-go-to-france |work=The Local |access-date=4 May 2019}}

Network Map

{{Rapid transit OSM map

| system_qid = Q679108

| frame-lat = 47.54

| frame-long = 07.58

| frame-width = 750

| frame-height = 470

| zoom = 11

| length = yes

}}

See also

{{Portal|Transport|Switzerland}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

Footnotes

{{Reflist}}

References

  • {{cite book |last=Appenzeller |first=Stephan |title=Basel und sein Tram : die Geschichte der Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe |trans-title=Basel and its Trams: the History of the Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe |year=1995 |publisher=Christoph-Merian-Verlag |location=Basel |isbn=3856160639 |language=de}}
  • {{Bernet-Trams-Schweiz}}
  • {{cite book |last=Madörin |first=Dominik |title=Das Rollmaterial der Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe |trans-title=The Rolling Stock of the Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe |year=2003 |publisher=EK-Verlag |location=Freiburg (Breisgau) |isbn=3882558431 |language=de}}
  • {{Schwandl-TAtlas-Schweiz}}

External links

{{commons category}}

  • [http://www.bvb.ch/ Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe (BVB)] – official site {{in lang|de}}
  • [http://www.blt.ch/ Baselland Transport (BLT)] – official site {{in lang|de}}
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20121014070000/http://www.tramclub-basel.ch/de/index.php Tramclub Basel] – official site {{in lang|de}}
  • [http://www.trammuseumbasel.ch/ Tram-Museum Basel] – official site {{in lang|de}}
  • {{Urban Electric Transit | id = 345 | title = Basel | tram = yes}}
  • {{Phototrans | id = 163 | title = Basel}}
  • [http://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Map.php?Map=Basel Gleisplanweb track map]

{{Urban public transport in Switzerland}}

{{coord|47|33|17|N|7|35|21|E|region:CH-BS_type:railwaystation_source:googlemaps|display=title}}

Category:Transport in Basel

Basel

Category:600 V DC railway electrification

Basel

Category:Cross-border rapid transit