Switzerland - Tram services over obscure routes

Introduction

Some tram systems advertise their depot workings and enable one to ascertain the regular use by passenger-carrying services of junctions or sections of line that do not otherwise see public service. This occasional series lists such services that have come to notice. While the data for each system is current at the date stated, it is not the intention to endeavour to keep every entry up to date at every service change - the listing serves as a guide for travellers as to the sort of services they can look out for, enabling them to check current published timetable material at their time of travel.

To assist in tracing services, the route and/or timetable number for each journey is shown in parentheses, e.g. (1). Days of operation are in English notation (respectively: Su, M, T, W, Th, F, S) - plus "O" for only, "X" for excepted. Su (Sundays) usually includes public holidays in mainland Europe - but check locally.

Listings for other systems throughout the world - in the same format as shown below (please include date of timetable validity) - will always be welcomed.

Basel

Timetables here with entries below from various dates from December 2018. A route map dated 10.12.2023 can be accessed here.

Bahnhof St.Johann street loop

• Only by all route 21's so the complete loop is done by departures from Voltaplatz at 06:26/56, 07:30/57, 08:27/57, 15:22/39/52 and every 15 minutes until 17:52 then 18:06/22 SSuX.
• Note Route 21 is at December 2019 the only route to terminate at Badischer Bahnhof so does the loop there, notionally part of which is out of service.

Bankverein west to north

• Route 6 is diverted via this curve due to engineering works between Claraplatz and Messeplatz from 25 August to 5 September 2025 (inclusive).

Basel Bahnhof SBB

• As at December 2019 Route 1 terminates here and trams turn 180° between the arrival and departure stops, in theory out of service but this does not appear to be enforced.

Dreirosenbrücke west to south

• Route 1 was diverted via this curve due to engineering works between Claraplatz and Messeplatz from 30 August to 20 October 2024 (inclusive).

Dreirosenbrücke west to north

• Route 21 departure from Novartis Campus to Wiesenplatz Depot at 09:03 SSuX
• Route 1 departures from Novartis Campus to Wiesenplatz Depot at 00:31/52, 01:31 MTWThO, 01:31/46 FO 01:16 SSuO 01:46 SuO

Dreirosenbrücke east to north

• in April 2024 a route 1 traversing this curve left Messeplatz at 08:28
• Route 21 departures from Brombacherstrasse to Wiesenplatz Depot at 18:33/48 SSuX
• Route 14 departures from Brombacherstrasse to Wiesenplatz Depot at 00:39 MTWThO 01:24/39 FO 04:39 TWThSO 01:39 SO 00:24/39 SuO

Markthalle west to north

• Route 6 is diverted over this curve between 31 March and 31 December 2025 (inclusive).

Münchensteinerstrasse to Heiliggeistkirche

• This east to south curve is used only in one direction by E11 trams running clockwise SSuX rush hours only

Messeplatz east to north

• Route 21 running SSuX Rush hours only so departures from Riehenring to Badischer Bahnhof at 06:32, 07:06/33, 08:02/32, 15:26/42/57, 16:12 and every 15 minutes until 18:27
• or departures from Messeplatz north to Bahnhof St.Johann at 06:19/49, 07:23/50, 08:20/50, 15:44 and every 15 minutes until 18:44

Zürich

"""This section should be read in conjunction with https://www.gleisplanweb.eu/Maps/Zuerich.pdf"""

Timetable website, enter a route number to access the PDFs that show Depot runs/alternative termini by footnotes and Route maps.

New Year's Eve

A number of non passenger curves are available from around 2000 on each December 31st as the city centre is closed to all traffic for celebrations. 2024 details are not yet available but the 2023 pdf gives an idea as to what is available, the diversions largely being the same each year

Kunsthaus curve

This curve enables trams coming from Bellvue to turn right and run to Klusplatz. It normally has no regular use but has seen passenger use on New Year's eve. From start of traffic 12.07.2025 to end of traffic 31.07.2025 the curve was in regular use by line 8 due to engineering work.

Bahnhof Enge/Bederstrasse to Bahnhof Enge

This curve only started in passenger use on 22.03.2007 when route 5 was extened to Laubegg

It is not in use after approximately 20:20 SuX and not at all on Sundays when route 5 terminates on Bahnhof Enge loop.

It is possible to travel the complete loop anti-clockwise on a route 5 in the evening.

This curve closes to passengers at end of traffic 13.12.2025

Bahnhof Enge loop exit east to north

In April 2024 this curve was only in use by route 6 prior to 20:00 SuX and not at all on Sundays. See above entry for different use of Bahnhof Enge loop by route 5.

Bahnhof Stettbach loop

In April 2024, a traveller reported all passengers were asked to leave Route 7 on terminating from the west at the stop on the west side of the loop, it then moved forward to layover on the loop before departing from the west side stop via the south side. This however must depend on individual drivers as the 2025 editor has done the full loop several times including on July 30 2025.

Route 12 trams arriving from the east via the south side called at the west side stop, but ran on in service to layover at the east side stop.

Hauptbahnhof North side avoiding curve

The once a day Monday to Friday in each direction Line 13 trams were removed from the timetable in December 2023 and the curve is now only used for football specials or engineering diversions, both irregular. From start of traffic 12.07.2025 to end of traffic 31.07.2025 this curve had regular service by line 4 which ran from Altstetten to Seebach, line 13 (Frankental to Auzelg) and line 17 (Werdhõlzli to Milchbuch) due to track replacement in Bahnhofplatz. This curve will see regular use by diverted line 17 for the whole of the 2026 timetable (14.12.2025-12.12.2026 both inclusive) while the Bahnhofquai area is closed to trams and rebuilt.

Neumühlequai Loop

This loop enables trams from either the above entry or Stampfenbachplatz to avoid Bahnhofquai and join lines 3/6/7/10 just to the west of Central. Use seems to be exceptionally rare, last confirmed passenger use was 01.09.2014

Bahnhofplatz Gessneralle Sidings

Trams terminating at Bahnhofplatz run to Gessneralle to layover and passengers are now not permitted to remain on board though they were in earlier years. The far end of the loop has connections to either Löwenplatz/Ustereistrasse or Sihlpost. It is also possible to run into the sidings from Löwenplatz. From start of traffic 12.07.2025 to end of traffic 31.07.2025 it was possible to travel via the sidings on Line 3 or Line 14 (Löwenplatz to Silhpost)

Route 21 Museum tram

As at April 2024 outbound to the Museum trams were using two unusual sections. After picking up at the south side stop nearest Hbf Platform 3, it ran in service via the lengthy loop that runs partly alongside the Hbf platforms, plus later ran through and called at a stop on the loop at Bellevue en route to the Burgwies Museum. See their (www.tram-museum.ch website) for operating dates.

Stauffacher south to west

As at May 2024 only in use by limited Depot runs to/from to Depot Kalkbreite [inbound advertised to Bahnhof Wiedikon]. An inbound 15 was caught from Bahnhof Enge/Bederstrasse at 20:30 on a Tuesday that also ran via the below entry.

Stockerstrasse avoiding curve

Only in use by limited Depot runs to/from Depot Kalkbreite [inbound advertised to Bahnhof Wiedikon] but there are plans for a regular service by re-routed line 8 from December 2025.