Public transport users in the Swiss city of Zurich have been warned to prepare for “historic” changes to its tram system that authorities say will certainly cause “confusion”.
The changes impact the city’s tram network with the the transport company VBZ announcing the “biggest timetable change in its history”.
From December 14th numerous lines will run on different routes. The full new timetable will be made available from mid-November.
“There will certainly be confusion,” said VBZ Director Martin Sturzenegger.
Zurich city councillor Michael Baumer also described the plans as a “major change”.
One change will see increased services to the Lengg/Balgrist hospital area during rush hours. The aim is to ensure that around 9,000 employees and 50,000 patients arrive at the hospitals on time.
This expansion will affect seven tram lines: Line 2, for example, will no longer run to Tiefenbrunnen station, but to the hospital cluster in Lengg. Line 4 will also no longer run to Tiefenbrunnen, but to Rehalp instead.
There will also be a new “Super Line 5” connecting the Lengg hospital area and Uetlihof with the railway stations on the left and right banks of the lake.
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To cater for the changes some 1,800 new stop signs will be produced and 7,500 new timetable notices put up around the city.
To get a better look at the changes visit the VBZ website.
The new tram network won’t be fully completed until December 2026 given the stop at Zurich’s main station has to be renovated to make it accessible for the disabled. This means that five tram lines will change their route during this time.
“This is very time-consuming and very complex,” said Sturzenegger.
