Good afternoon everyone. Today I want to propose you a new Swiss metric network. Yes, after the RhB experience in TSW, I think it's time to escape a bit from the usual Alpine setting! I want to suggest the Chemins de fer du Jura, consisting of two 1000mm lines in the French area of the country. We're in South-Western Switzerland, a few steps from the Franch border (Bourgogne-Franche-Comté). The lines complex crosses three different cantons: Jura (hence the name), Bern and Neuchâtel. Our journey begins at the important town of La Chaux-de-Fonds, continuing towards Le Noirmont. Here the route splits, heading towards Glovelier and Tavannes. A pleasant and varied journey, crossing the Jura's rolling hills, dotted with small characteristic towns, woods, meadows and cultivated fields. Until you face the tight and deep Tabeillon Stream Valley, with its characteristic turning point for services on the line. You'll also have the opportunity to travel on an urban, street section (like on Bernina Line), experiencing a variety of unique services and rolling stock! These are my Chemins de fer du Jura: La Chaux-de-Fonds to Glovelier and Tavannes! GENERAL FEATURES This network is made up of two distinct lines: a) La Chaux-de-Fonds – Le Noirmont – Glovelier Line - 51.3km (32mi) total length (including terminal areas). - Single track, metric gauge (1000mm/3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) served, electrified 1.5kV DC OHLE. Except for loops in some stations, common areas and a small stretch after Le Noirmont (double track). - 2.6/2.8% (26/28x1000) maximum gradient reached. - 60-70km/h (37-44mph) maximum permitted speed, with drops at stations/junctions or sharp bends. b) Le Noirmont – Tramelan – Tavannes Line - 23km (14mi) total length (including terminal areas). - Single track, metric gauge served, electrified 1.5kV DC OHLE (except for loops in some stations). - 5.8% (58x1000) maximum gradient reached. - 50-70km/h (31-44mph) maximum permitted speed, with a significant drop in the center of the route (urban hairpin bends). Total of 74km (46mi) in length. The path is equipped with: - Bs (Block-système), also known as Spacing/Cantonment Block (with dedicated light signals), as signaling system adopted. - ZSI 127 (formerly ZS 90) supported, as safety system adopted. - GSM-R ready, as regards comm. The network is managed by: - Jura, Bern and Neuchâtel Cantons (local government, public management). Passenger and freight services are operated by: - Compagnie des chemins de fer du Jura (CJ) SA (private/public transport company). - Le train à vapeur des Franches-Montagnes (heritage railtours association). Other companies (standard/metric gauge) marginally affected: - SBB/CFF/FFS SA (Swiss national railway company). - BLS SA (Swiss largest private operator). - Transports Publics Neuchâtelois (TransN) SA (metric line operator at La Chaux-de-Fonds). ROUTE AND STATIONS The network has a total of 28 active stations/stops, as well as several closed ones. The calls are, as follows: SBB/BLS to Le Locle (to France, standard) and TransN to Les Ponts-de-Martel (metric) lines. - La Chaux-de-Fonds, network's main terminal. Shared with SBB, BLS and TransN. Km44*. SBB/BLS lines to Neuchâtel and Bienne (standard). - La Chaux-de-Fonds-Est, Km43* [on request]. - La Cibourg, Km38* [on request]. - La Ferrière, Km35* [on request]. - La Chaux-d'Abel, Km33.4* [on request]. - La Large-Journée, Km32* [on request]. - Les Bois, Km30* [on request]. - Le Boéchet, Km27.7* [on request]. - Le Creux-des-Biches, Km26* [on request]. - Le Noirmont, node station. Km23*/0**. ---- To Tavannes----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Les Breuleux-Eglise, Km18.6* [on request]. - Les Breuleux, Km 18* [on request]. - La Chaux-des-Breuleux, Km16* [on request]. - Le Pied-d'Or, Km13.6* [on request]. - Les Reussilles, Km11.5* [on request]. - Tramelan-Chalet, Km10.3* [on request]. - Tramelan, Km8.7*. - Tramelan-Dessous, Km8* [on request]. SBB/BLS line to Moutier (standard). - Tavannes, South-East terminal of the network. Km0* SBB/BLS line to Sonceboz-Sombeval (standard). ---- To Glovelier------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ - Les Émibois, Km2.4** [on request]. - Muriaux, Km3.6** [on request]. - Saignelégier, Km5.4**. - Le Bémont, Km7.2** [on request]. - Pré-Petitjean Km11** [on request]. - La Combe, Km14.4** [on request]. - Bollement, Km16.8** [on request]. - Combe-Tabeillon, Km25**. SBB/BLS line to Porrentruy (standard). - Glovelier, North-East terminal of the network. Km30.3**. SBB/BLS line to Delémont. * Distance from route origin, Tavannes 8Km0). ** Distance from route origin, Le Noirmont (Km0). ROUTE PLAN General view of the network. All main stations/terminals are indicated. In blue, La-Chaux-de-Fonds - Glovelier Line. In red, Le Noirmont - Tavannes Variant. General network diagram. All stations/stops are present. Consider only the purple and red paths! PASSENGER SERVICE RÉGIO CJ (Regional) - 236 Line (R36): La Chaux-de-Fonds - Le Noirmont - Saignelégier - Glovelier a) La Chaux-de-Fonds – Glovelier, with 1/2Tph. 14Tpd. b) Glovelier – La Chaux-de-Fonds, with 1/2Tph. 15Tpd. c) La chaux-de-Fonds/Les Bois – Saignelégier, with 9Tpd. d) Saignelégier – Les Bois/La Chaux-de-Fonds, with 7Tpd. e) Le Noirmont – Glovelier, with 1Tpd. f) Glovelier - Le Noirmont, with 1Tpd. g) Le Noirmont – La Chaux-de-Fonds, with 2Tpd. h) La Chaux-de-Fonds – Noirmont, with 2Tpd. i) Le Noirmont – Saignelégier, with 1Tpd. j) Saignelégier – Le Noirmont, with 2Tpd. Total: 54Tpd. -237 Line (R37): Saignelégier - Le Noirmont - Tavannes a) Le Noirmont -Tavannes, with 1Tph. 14Tpd. b) Tavannes – Le Noirmont, with 1Tph. 17Tpd. c) Tramelan -Tavannes, with 11Tpd. d) Tavannes – Tramelan, with 10Tpd. e) Saignelégier – Les Breuleux/Tavannes, with 4Tpd. f) Tavannes/Les Breuleux – Saignelégier, with 3Tpd. g) Le Noirmont – Les Breuleux, with 2Tpd. h) Les breuleux – Le Noirmont, with 1Tpd. i) Le Noirmont – Tramelan, with 1Tpd. j) Tramelan – Le Noirmont, with 1Tpd. Total: 64Tpd. Total of 118Tpd. HERITAGE RAILTOUR - Train des Horlogers: La Chaux-de-Fonds – Tavannes Heritage railtour service, May-October, weekends (mainly). FREIGHT SERVICE Freight service on this network is mainly aimed at: - Waste transport/evacuation (metric only). - Chopped logs transport (metric-standard). Also occasional ballast/aggregates and beet pulp trips (metric-standard). ROLLING STOCK PASSENGER (REGIONAL) - CJ ABe 4/12 and ABe 2/6 Stadler Rail EMUs, for Régio CJ services. - CJ Be 4/4 Stadler Rail Electric railcar + EW II B and ABt FFA Coaches, for Régio CJ services. FREIGHT/RAILTOUR - CJ Be 4/4 FFA Electric railcar and CFe 601 + Ct 702 SIG Electric railcar+cabcar trailer, for CJ Freight and Heritage railtour services. Please, put your LIKE here firs, Thank You! Continue Below...
Page 2 - CJ Sb Flatbed wagon and SBB Snps Timber wagon + CJ Ua Truck carrier, for CJ/SBB freight services. There are also a variety of other metric wagons, such as some "X"(hopper), boxcars etc... OTHER LAYERS SBB/CFF/FFS - RABe 523 Flirt/Flirt 3 - RBDe 560 Domino - RABe 520 Seetal BLS - RABe 528 "Mika" - RABe 515 "Mutz" Plus other TransN stock (AI Only). STATIONS La Chaux-de-Fonds. The most important station of the network, crossroads of many lines, metric and standard. The structure is striking for its grandeur and size. Left side, the metric terminal is represented by the first shelter on left (and the first 4 tracks). Left: Les Bois, small station north of La Chaux-de-Fonds. Right: Le Noirmont, important node station on the route. Terminal of some regional services and switching point from the Tavannes line. Left: Les Breuleux, first major stop on the Tavannes line. It's located in the centre of the village, behind a rather sharp bend. Right: Saignelégier, important stop on the stretch towards Glovelier. Terminal of some regional, freight services and home to 2 depots and a workshop (note in the background). Left: Combe-Tabeillon, convoys reverse point, located halfway up the valley of the namesake stream. Note, in the background, the two stetch of the line going up or down. Right: Glovelier, Northeast terminal of the route. Note how the structure is actually separate from the main station (standard gauge). Continue Below...
Page 3 Left: Tramelan, intermediate stop on the Tavannes line. Terminal of some regional services, it features two depots. Right: Tavannes, southeast terminal of the route. Here too, the terminal is separated from the main station (left side). Almost all structures and platforms have been extensively renovated in recent years! ROUTE VIDEOS Régio CJ 36, La Chaux-de-Fonds - Glovelier. Be 4/4 Stadler+EW II coaches (loco-hauled). Régio CJ 36, Glovelier – La Chaux-de-Fonds. ABe 2/6 Stadler GTW. Régio CJ 37, Tavannes – Le Noirmont. ABe 2/6 Stadler GTW. Some miscellaneous passages on the route (trainspotting). Transits in the urban area of La Chaux-de-Fonds! ROUTE PICS General view of La Chaux-de-Fonds. The red arrow indicates the location of our terminal. On left, the road level stretch at Roue du Menège. Left: landscape near La Cibourg. Note the characteristic "green" of the Swiss hills. Right: La Ferrière Bridge, one of the major railway structures of this network, dating back to the 70s. Left: the Prè-Petitjean Heritage Depot, where the local association of railway enthusiasts keeps their metric rolling stock wonders. Right: Tavannes Viaduct (ramp), it constitutes the major railway work here. It allows to overcome the last height difference between the urban area and the above hill. Left: Tabeillon Valley, characterized by its restricted width and rocky nature of its walls. It hosts most of the bridges and tunnels of this route, as the line climbs directly into one of its sides. Right: general view of Glovelier. Note the metric terminal, the standard line and local sawmill (below). Caravatt .
