Border Crossings: Austria - Switzerland

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Note: Despite a common electrification system, different designs of overhead line and pantographs prevents through working by electric trains without special arrangements.

Until 2006, the Internationale Rheinregulierung [1] (IRR) operated a works railway (43 km long, 750 mm gauge, electrified at 750V dc overhead) for construction and maintetance purposes for the River Rhein as it enters the Bodensee (Lake Constance). The association Verein Rhein-Schauen [2] operates passenger trains over this railway, partially with steam engines. Normally only the section on the east side between Werkhof Lustenau and the lake is in used, but specials may operate on the rest of the remaining network. However the future for all but the first mentioned section is uncertain. There were three border crossings, listed below.

Mäder IRR - Kriessern IRR

[E] on a railway bridge over the Rhine for the quarry at Koblach. This crossing is no longer in use, the track is not complete south of the former Werkhof Widnau.

Lustenau Wiesenrain IRR - Widnau IRR

[E] on a combined road/railway steel bridge over the Rhein. Observed in use for special trains in 2007.

(Bregenz -) Lustenau Markt ÖBB - St Margarethen SBB

[E] ÖBB works local trains to St Margrethen. SBB works international trains to/from Lindau, using SBB Cargo Re 421 locomotives. These are 421 371 to 421 397 (formerly 11371 to 11397) all of which have a DB/ÖBB pantograph and the necessary safety systems.

Höchst Bruggerloch IRR - St.Margrethen IRR

[E] along the left-bank (i.e. west side) Rhein flood embankment (leading to the end of the embankment in Lake Constance).Observed in use for special trains in 2007, but the remaining usable track on the Austrian side is short.

See also