★ 4K 🇨🇭Lenzburg - Seetal - Luzern cab ride, Switzerland [02.2020]

Welcome to the first Seetal Cab ride on youtube. This is a unique line in many ways. For starters, the line is constructed much like that of a tramway, with many intersections without barriers and reduced clearance for standard rolling stock due to the close proximity of the road. Usually tramways of this caliber feature light rolling stock. The Seetal railway however, was run with the normal heavy, standard gauge rolling stock of the SBB, including Ae 6/6 locomotives for freight, Rbe 4/4 motor coaches, De 4/4s & the specially produced De 6/6. These do not have the braking capacity of their lighter, narrow gauge counterparts, which poses a risk when crossing intersections without barriers.

During the past 30 years, many changes have been made to improve safety, including a massive reduction in crossings, installed barriers and the rerouting of the line at certain points. Beforehand there were over 500 crossings without barriers or warning lights. In 2009, the number could be reduced to 85, all fitted with a warning system, many with barriers.
Moving the entire track or fitting each crossing with barriers would have meant the end for this line due to the high costs involved, keeping in mind that it has never been profitable since it's conception in 1882. Closing the line in favour of a bus service has been debated in the past, notably in the 1950's and again in the early 90's due the safety concerns. Thankfully though, the line has been preserved and solutions were found.

Over the years, locomotives, wagons and trains have also been specially produced and adapted for use on the Seetal line. Notable examples are the De 6/6 Seetal crocodile locomotive, the reflective yellow strips used on many locomotives to warn cars and the more recently produced RABe 520, which we are riding in today, produced with a narrower body than standard SBB stock, to avoid the strafing of cars.

Freight traffic is also a very interesting part of the history of the railway. There still is occasional traffic from Hochdorf in the direction of Lucerne, where the clearance for standard trains is given. Unfortunately local freight traffic has been declining nationwide, especially in areas where only small amounts of freight were being transported. A search for "Seetal SBB" on google image search will produce some interesting photos of how things used to be.

And now, enjoy the ride on this historic railway!

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