Stadtbahn Glattal
Stadtbahn Glattal atGlattzentrum inWallisellen
Overview
Owner	Verkehrsbetriebe Glattal (VBG)
Locale	Glattal Canton of Zürich Switzerland
Service
Type	Light rail
Services	3
Operator(s)	Verkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ)
History
Opened	In phases from 2006 to 2010
Technical
Line length	12.7 km (7.9 mi)
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in)metre gauge
Electrification	600VDCOverhead catenary
Route diagram VBZ from Bucheggplatz Bahnhof Oerlikon VBZ from Milchbuck Sternen Oerlikon Bahnhof Oerlikon Ost VBZ to Seebach Messe/Hallenstation Boundary between VBZ/VBG Leutschenbach Oerlikerhus Glattpark Fernsehstudio Auzelg Lindberghplatz Stelze/Margarethen Bahnhof Glattbrugg Bäuler Unterriet Viadukt Balsberg Kloten Balsberg Viadukt Balsberg Zürich Flughafen Zürich Flughafen, Fracht Option Ringbahn Hardwald Herti Belair Bahnhof Wallisellen Viadukt Wallisellen Glatt Viadukt Wallisellen Neugut Giessen Ringwiesen Boundary between VBG/VBZ Bahnhof Stettbach VBZ to Milchbuck This diagram: view talk edit

TheGlattalbahn, originally known as theStadtbahn Glattal, was a project that was ultimately successful in introducing a modern rapid-transit system to theGlattal area ofSwitzerland, to the north of the city ofZürich. Stadtbahn Glattal was developed as ametre gaugetram system withthrough-running to Zurich. It was built and is owned by theVerkehrsbetriebe Glattal (VBG), but is operated under contract to them by theVerkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ).^[1][2]

Stadtbahn Glattal is the official denomination of this system. This name is used in all official and legal processes. Elsewhere, the alternative term, Glattalbahn, is frequently substituted. The latter term correctly refers to therailway line from Wallisellen to Uster. It is, however, widely used for the Stadtbahn Glattal system and is prominent on the official website and advertising material.

Stadtbahn Glattal is sometimes described in German as aMittelverteiler, i.e., intermediate distributor (intermediate betweenS-Bahn andbus).

A private tramway company, theStrassenbahn Zürich-Oerlikon-Seebach (ZOS), opened a line from Zürich Seebach toGlattbrugg in 1908. At the time, this area was sparsely inhabited and the line was not a commercial success. The link was replaced by a bus service in 1931.

In the period followingWorld War II, theGlattal area experienced a rapid boom as population and industry spilled over from nearbyZürich. The development was accelerated by the inauguration ofZurich Airport nearKloten in 1953. The economic growth of the Glattal region is continuing to this day. One of the consequences of the rapid transformation is risingtraffic congestion.^[1]

The area was, and still is, served by theZürich S-Bahn, which provides frequent and fast connections between its stations. There are also fast train connections fromZurich Airport to central Zürich, some calling inOerlikon. However the stations of the S-Bahn are widely spaced and, prior to the development of the Stadtbahn Glattal, onward distribution from the railway stations depended on bus services.^[1]

By the 1990s, it was recognised that the bus services in the Glattal region were suffering from both road congestion and vehicle overloading. It was decided to investigate the construction of arapid transit system.^[1]

Following the evaluation of alternatives, including amonorail system, a metre gauge tram was selected on account of its compatibility withthat of neighbouring Zürich and the ability to provide through services.^[1]

The regional bus operating authority for theGlattal area, theVBG, was charged with managing the implementation of the project, and it in turn subcontracted the operation of the rail services to theVBZ.^[1]

The system was developed in three phases:

• Phase 1 saw Zürich city trams extended from Messe to Auzelg. Construction began in 2004 and this line was inaugurated in late 2006. It is operated as an extension of city route 11.^[3]
• Phase 2 branched off from phase 1 and ran toZurich Flughafen, Bahnhof viaOpfikon andGlattbrugg. Construction began in 2006 and the line was opened in December 2008. The route is operated as an extension of city route 10.^[4]
• Phase 3 saw the phase 1 line extended from Auzelg viaWallisellen toBahnhof Stettbach inDübendorf. Construction began in 2008 for a 2010 opening. Trams now run from Zurich Airport to Bahnhof Stettbach as the new route 12.^[5]

TheFederal Council approved an extension on April 6, 2022.^[6]

The Stadtbahn Glattal is operated byVerkehrsbetriebe Zürich (VBZ) as an extension to itsZürich tram network. The following routes are operated:^[1][7][8]

Routes 10 and 12 are operated by the VBZ on behalf of the VBG, normally using low floorCobra tramcars in the VBG's own predominantly white colour scheme. Route 11 is operated by the VBZ on its own behalf, normally using vehicles in its own livery with journeys alternating between low floor and older high floor vehicles.^[1][2][7]

There are several future plans for extension of the system. As a first stage, the route from the airport to the centre and industrial and commercial area of Kloten is to be extended from 2025 onwards, with the terminus in Bassersdorf Grindel. The project includes a bridge over the airport motorway, a main cycle link and the upgrading of the old stream in the centre of Kloten.^[9]The further extension plans are as yet uncommitted, although in some cases the proposed alignment has been protected. They include:^[10][11]

• TheRingbahn Hardwald extends the system from the end of the current phase 2 line atZurich Flughafen, Bahnhof, viaKloten,Bassersdorf,Dietlikon andDübendorf, to a common terminus with the already built phase 3 line atStettbach railway station.
• An extension from Dübendorf toUster.
• An extension toBülach.

Media related toGlattalbahn at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website

• Tram transport in Switzerland
• Public transport in Switzerland
• Transport in Zurich
• Railway companies of Switzerland
• Metre-gauge railways in Switzerland
• Swiss companies established in 2004
• Transport companies established in 2004

• CS1 German-language sources (de)
• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Commons category link is on Wikidata