History

In March 1846 the "Swiss Nordbahn" was built (from 1853 called "Nordostbahn"). In 1846 construction work began on the route from Zurich to Baden, and the railway was opened on 7 August 1847. Soon it got the name "Spanish Rolls Railway", because before farm servants had an eight-hour walk to get the Spanish bread rolls made in Baden to the inhabitants of Zurich. Now the morning train brought rolls to Zurich still warm and crisp.

The Federal Constitution came into force in 1848 and this waived over 400 tariffs and provided funds for bridge building. In addition the federation got the right to compulsorily purchase land needed for important buildings. Both simplified the building of railways. After 1852 the federal authorities decided that private companies and cantons should build the railways, and lines began to appear everywhere.

In the 1850s eight private companies were responsible for the development of Swiss railways. In German speaking parts this was the United Swiss Railways (VSB) with Schwerpunkt St. Gallen - Bodensee, the Northeast railway (NOB) centred on Zurich - Luzern and Zurich – Aarau, and the Central Railway (SCB). Five compaies located in the western part of Switzerland joined to form the Jura-Simplon Railway (JS). 1874 added a major new company the Gotthard Railway (GB). On 20 February 1898 the Swiss decided to nationalise five companies. They merged to form the Swiss State Railway (SBB) on 1 January 1902.

Already work on the first railways across the Alps had started. In Switzerland there were plans for the Spluegen, the Lukmanier, the Gotthard and the Grimsel. Since Switzerland lies in the middle in Europe, these plans were important to adjacent countries. Construction of the Gotthard tunnel started first because of its favourable location, with financial contributions from Italy and Germany. The Geneva engineer Louis Favre led the construction of the 15 km tunnel. During the work 177 people lost their lives. The tunnel was completed in 1882. In 1898 work began on the 19.8 km Simplon tunnel. Hot springs and the air temperature rising to over 50ºC made the work more difficult. On 1 January 1906 the Simplon number one tunnel was completed, and on 16 October 1922 the 20 meters longer number 2 tunnel was opened.

In 1922 the first electric railway opened from Chiasso to Luzern and in May 1925 reached Berne on electrified track. During the Second World War the coal price quadrupled, and from 1944 Switzerland received no more coal. At that time three quarters of the Swiss State Railway network was electrically operated, and by 1960 the whole network was electrified. Most private railway companies also changed over to electricity, so that today only the Brienzer–Rothorn railway is operated by steam and diesel.

The Furka-Oberalp Railway (FO), one of most remarkable Swiss railways, operates between Brig and Disentis. This route is now part of the world-famous Glacier Express route. In the game this line is simulated by special track tiles on grey-blue hexes.

Oerlikon Engine Works (MFO) produced the first electric locomotive ("EVA") in Switzerland, which from 1904 to 1909 was run on an experimental electrified line from Seebach to Wettingen.