Vauban (train)

Last updated
Vauban
EC Vauban Metz.jpg
Vauban departing from Metz, 2008.
Overview
Service type EuroCity (EC)
StatusOperational
Locale Belgium
Luxembourg
France
Switzerland
Italy
First service29 May 1988 (1988-05-29)
Last service2 April 2016 (2016-04-02)
Current operator(s) NMBS/SNCB
CFL
SNCF
SBB-CFF-FFS
FS
Route
Termini Brussels Midi/Zuid
Milano C /
Brig /
Zürich HB /
Chur / Basel SBB
Service frequencyDaily
Train number(s)EC 90/91
Technical
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)
Electrification 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz
(Switzerland)

The Vauban was an express train that linked Brussels Midi/Zuid in Brussels, Belgium, with France, Switzerland and Italy. Introduced in 1988, it was operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB), the Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL), the SNCF, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS), and the Italian State Railways (FS).

Contents

The train is named after Sébastien Le Prestre (1633–1707), Seigneur de Vauban and later Marquis de Vauban (and commonly referred to as Vauban), who was a Marshal of France and the foremost military engineer of his age.

The Vauban was one of two EuroCity train-pairs running daily between Brussels and Basel, Switzerland; the other was the EC Iris. [1] [2]

Original route

EC 90countrystationkmEC 91
13:01SwitzerlandBrig016:59
14:48SwitzerlandBern14715:12
15:32Switzerland Olten 21414:27
15:59Switzerland Basel 25313:39
17:13France Colmar 32812:44
17:45France Strasbourg-Ville 39312:11
19:11France Metz Ville 55210:43
19:32France Thionville 58210:24
19:56Luxembourg Luxembourg 61509:49
20:25BelgiumArlon64209:30
21:43Belgium Namur 78008:08
22:18Belgium Brussels Leopold Quarter 83507:33
22:28Belgium Brussels-North 84207:23
22:37Belgium Brussels-South 84807:15

History

The Vauban began operating on 29 May 1988, and was classified from the start as a EuroCity (EC) service. [1] It originally carried through coaches to Milano, running via Lugano and Chiasso southbound and via Brig northbound, but was not classified as an EC south of Basel. [1]

In summer 1992, the train's route was changed to run via Brig in both directions, and the train was classified as an EC throughout its route. The section between Brig and Milano later began to operate for only part of the year, and in autumn 2004 it was discontinued entirely, making the EC Vauban's route Brussels – Basel – Bern – Brig.

In June 2007, the route was diverted to terminate in Interlaken (Ost station); [3] it was soon diverted again, to terminate in Zurich, in December 2007. [4]

In December 2007, the Vauban was classified as an InterRegio (IR) on the portion of its route within Switzerland, because it did not meet all the criteria for a EuroCity, but it retained EuroCity status between Brussels and Basel. The eastbound service was cut back to Brussels–Basel in December 2011, while the westbound service still departed from Zurich; in December 2013 the latter was also cut back to start in Basel. The service was cancelled in 2016, when a TGV service between Brussels and Strasbourg was introduced. Alternatively, passengers still can take an InterCity train between Brussels and Luxembourg, then a train to Strasbourg and change again to reach Basel.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Summer services, 1988" (changes taking effect). Thomas Cook European Timetable (April 1988 edition), p. 541. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing.
  2. "EuroCity trains: traditional international daytime trains". [SNCB Europe website]. NMBS/SNCB . Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  3. "Summer International Changes". Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable (May 2007 edition), p. 539.
  4. "Winter International Services from December 9" (changes scheduled to take effect). Thomas Cook European Rail Timetable (September 2007 edition), p. 540.