Feldkirch–Buchs railway
The Feldkirch–Buchs railway is a 18.52 km (11.51 mi) electrified single track railway line that links Austria and Switzerland passing through Liechtenstein. Owned by the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), it represents the only railway line of Liechtenstein.
| Feldkirch-Buchs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Overview | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line number | 303 01 (ÖBB) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 18.52 km (11.51 mi) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 15 kV 16.7 Hz ~ AC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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History
The line opened in 1872, during the opening period of the Vorarlberg Railway, and was electrified in 1926. It is served by some pairs of regional trains and buses and by some international trains (EuroCity, InterCity, and Railjets) that are non-stop between Feldkirch and Buchs.[1]
In June 2008 the Canton of St. Gallen, the Federal State of Vorarlberg, and the Principality of Liechtenstein signed an agreement for a project to upgrade the line (and the surrounding ones) and to increase the rail traffic. The project, named S-Bahn Liechtenstein (de; formerly "S-Bahn FL.A.CH"[2]), was approved by Liechtenstein and Austria in a Letter of Intent signed in April 2020[3] and under that plan, it was to be fully realised by 2027 and will cost an estimated €185 million.[4] That plan was however rejected by 62.3% of Liechtenstein voters in a referendum on 30 August 2020.[5]
Stations
| Station | Dist. (km) | Tracks | Location | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feldkirch | 0.00 | 6 | Feldkirch town center | Austria |
| Feldkirch-Altenstadt | 2.13 | 1 | Altenstadt quarter in Feldkirch | Austria |
| Feldkirch-Gisingen | 3.59 | 1 | Gisingen quarter in Feldkirch | Austria |
| Feldkirch-Tisis | 7.28 | 1 | Tisis quarter in Feldkirch | Austria |
| Schaanwald | 9.38 | 1 | Schaanwald, a civil parish of Mauren | Liechtenstein |
| Nendeln | 11.47 | 2 | Nendeln, a civil parish of Eschen | Liechtenstein |
| Forst Hilti | 14.12 | 1 | North of Schaan, close to the Hilti AG | Liechtenstein |
| Schaan-Vaduz | 15.87 | 2[6] | Schaan, 3.5 km from Vaduz | Liechtenstein |
| Buchs SG | 18.52 | 5 | Buchs | Switzerland |
Gallery
View of Feldkirch town center and its main station
Schaan-Vaduz station
The bridge over the Rhine between Switzerland and Liechtenstein
Buchs station
Notes and references
- (in German) A timetable scheduled on ÖBB official website
- Also written FLACH, from the vehicle registration codes of Liechtenstein (FL), Austria (A) and Switzerland (CH)
- https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/s-bahn-liechtenstein-to-proceed/56358.article
- (in German) Pictures and information about the FL.A.CH project
- https://www.railwaygazette.com/voters-reject-liechtenstein-s-bahn-proposal/57265.article
- The second track is not used for passenger trains
