Zug, 21.11.2019

Questions about the train timetable

The two cantonal councils Claus Soltermann (GLP) and Heinz Achermann (CVP) ask the Zug government questions related to the train schedules.

The scene repeats itself on almost every working day. Commuters are crowded together on the platforms of Zug railway station in the morning and in the evening. Cantonal councillors Claus Soltermann (GLP, Cham) and Heinz Achermann (CVP, Hünenberg) are often underway during the commuter peaks. Now they’ve apparently had enough. In a recent interpellation, they asked five questions about the light railway, and how the canton intends to respond to the further growth of the population.

Claus Soltermann has a clear idea of how the commuter peaks could be broken: "Double-decker trains have to be used." At present, the SBB uses the FLIRT (Fast Light Innovative Rail Transport) trains from Stadler Rail. These compositions, originally designed for the Zug Stadtbahn, are a model of success for the Thurgau company today, and are in use worldwide.

During the discussions, the Cham Cantonal Council mentions the possibility of "condensing the timetable". Soltermann believes that this could work, because there are currently more trains than usual on the stretch between Zug and Rotkreuz because of the line blockage on the eastern shore of Lake Zug. According to Soltermann, a further measure would be to run the light railway from Baar to Lucerne at quarter-hourly intervals from start of operations to their close.

The Stadtbahn train was inaugurated 15 years ago. In the picture, the S1 at the Schutzengel stop.

The two councillors wanted to know from Zug Construction Head Florian Weber (FDP) - the department of public transport has been part of his management since New Year - whether the proposed compression of the timetable that is under consideration is actually feasible. The two Ennetsee interpellants are also interested in the capacity utilisation of the S1 (Baar-Rotkreuz/Sursee) and the S2 (Baar Lindenpark-Erstfeld). Soltermann and his colleague also want transparency with regard to the costs that the canton and/or the municipalities must expect if they implement their ideas.

The fact is, however, that the canton of Zug published its timetable strategy at the beginning of October, as well as the timetable structure for the time after the blockage of the line on the east side of Lake Zug-. Whether the double-decker trains envisaged by Soltermann could be easily put onto the rails is another matter.