Wallisellen–Uster–Rapperswil
Overview
Native name	Glatthalbahn
Service
Route number	740
Technical
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	15 kV  16.7 Hz AC
Maximum incline	1.7  %
Route map Legend km elev SBB line from Zürich HB via Oerlikon S8 S14 S19 93.2 Wallisellen 92.8 SBB to Winterthur S8 S19 Glatttal Viaduct of the Zürichberg line 91.7 SBB line from Zürich HB via Stettbach S5 S9 S15 90.4 Dübendorf 90.5 to Dübendorf Air Base (until 2005) 87.1 Schwerzenbach 84.5 Nänikon-Greifensee 81.3 Uster ↑ S9 77.1 Aathal Aathal 265 m (former route until 1990) 74.5 SBB from Effretikon S3 74.5 Wetzikon ↑ S3 74.5 SBB to Hinwil S14 68.6 Former UeBB from Hinwil 68.6 Bubikon 68.6 Siding to Wolfhausen (former UeBB) A15 bridge 66.4 SBB line from Winterthur S26 Jona bridge Joweid rack railway siding (disconnected) 65.9 Rüti ZH ↑ S26 Täusi 157 m A15 bridge Jona bridge 60.9 Jona 59.4 from Ziegelbrücke 59.4 SBB Zurich via Meilen 59.3 Rapperswil ↑ S15 to Pfäffikon S5 Source: Swiss railway atlas [1]

The Wallisellen–Uster–Rapperswil railway line is a railway line in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland. It is also known as the Glatthalbahn, Glatttalbahn or Glattalbahn (Gl-TB), although the latter name is now more commonly used to refer to the Stadtbahn Glattal, a nearby light rail system.

The line runs from Wallisellen, where it diverges from the Zürich–Winterthur line to Uster and Rapperswil. A second link from Zürich, via the Zürichberg Tunnel, joins the line just before Dübendorf, and both routes are used by through trains from Zürich. The line also has junctions with the Effretikon to Hinwil line, at Wetzikon, and the Tösstalbahn, at Rüti. At Rapperswil, it connects with the Lake Zurich right bank line, the Rapperswil to Ziegelbrücke line, and the Südostbahn over the Seedamm. ^[2]

The name Glattalbahn is German for Glattal railway, or Glatt valley railway. The river Glatt is a tributary of the river Rhine flowing from Greifensee lake to Glattfelden in Switzerland.

History

The original section of the railway line from Wallisellen to Uster was opened in 1856 by the Glatttalbahn company. That company was taken over by the Vereinigte Schweizerbahnen (VSB) one year later in 1857, and that company extended the line to Rapperswil. The VSB was in turn taken over by the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) in 1902. The original roundhouse at Uster railway station is preserved.

At Bubikon, the Wallisellen to Rapperswil line was crossed by the former Uerikon to Bauma railway (UeBB). The section of this line from Bubikon in the direction of Bauma was closed in 1948 and little now remains. The line towards Uerikon was largely closed at the same time, but a short stretch is still in use as a siding. ^[2]

Operation

Today the line carries trains of the Zürich S-Bahn and freight traffic.

The line is double track from Wallisellen to Uster, and is then single track with shorter stretches of double track between Aathal and Wetzikon, Bubikon and Rüti, and Jona and Rapperswil. ^[2]

Whilst no single S-Bahn line traverses the full length of the line from Wallisellen to Rapperswil, no fewer than six lines traverse some part of the line, providing a high frequency of service to many stations. ^[3]

The following lines operate on sections of the line: ^[3]

• S3 ( Bülach –) Hardbrücke – Zürich HB – Effretikon – Wetzikon
• S5 Zug – Affoltern am Albis – Zürich HB – Uster – Wetzikon – Rapperswil – Pfäffikon SZ
• S8 Winterthur – Wallisellen – Oerlikon – Zürich HB – Thalwil – Pfäffikon SZ (– Ziegelbrücke)
• S9 ( Schaffhausen –) Rafz – Hardbrücke – Zürich HB – Uster
• S14 Affoltern am Albis – Zürich HB – Oerlikon – Uster – Wetzikon – Hinwil
• S19 ( Koblenz – Baden – ) Dietikon – Zürich HB – Oerlikon – Effretikon ( – Pfäffikon ZH )
• S15 Niederweningen – Hardbrücke – Zürich HB – Uster – Wetzikon – Rapperswil
• S26 Winterthur – Bauma – Rüti ZH

See also

• List of railway companies in Switzerland

References

External links

• Media related to Wallisellen–Uster–Rapperswil railway line at Wikimedia Commons
• Lok Remise Uster page in German on the roundhouse at Uster