Switzerland - June 2008

Saturday 14 June 2008 (0831 hrs) - Mercedes-Benz Citaro 29 (LU 15085) bus in PTT Postbus livery, operated by Bucheli Busbetriebe AG of Kriens. It was about to operate the 0840 trip of service 73 from Luzern Bahnhof to Udligenswil which operates every 30 minutes. Alternate (hourly) trips extend to Rotkreutz. Bucheli has worked this service for many years. I took a ride on one of their buses from Luzern to Rotkreutz back in 1987.

Saturday 14 June 2008 (0832 hrs) - Mercedes-Benz Citaro 29 (LU 15085) bus in PTT Postbus livery operated by Bucheli Busbetriebe AG of Kriens. The contractor name and the appropriate postal region are usually carried by contractors vehicles. Note the tow-hitch fitted to enable the towing of a mail trailer. The bus was about to operate the 0840 trip of service 73 from Luzern Bahnhof to Udligenswil which operates every 30 minutes. Alternate (hourly) trips extend to Rotkreutz.. Bucheli has worked this service for many years. I took a ride on one of their buses from Luzern to Rotkreutz back in 1987.

Saturday 14 June 2008 (0835 hrs) - Setra tri-axle 21 (LU 15010) bus in PTT Postbus livery. Local contractors are employed on a number of the Luzern based PTT services and, whilst I failed to note who the operator of this bus was. As may be seen, it didn’t carry the contractor name as contractors buses usually do but I think it was operated by Bucheli of Kriens. Note how the destination screen states ‘Pause’ with steaming cups of coffee either side!

Saturday 14 June 2008 (0828 hrs) - Setra tri-axle 21 (LU 15010) bus in PTT Postbus livery. Local contractors are employed on a number of the Luzern based PTT services and, whilst I failed to note who the operator of this bus was although I believe it to be Bucheli Busbetriebe AG of Kriens.

Saturday 14 June 2008 (0904 hrs) - Setra tri-axle 21 (LU 15010) bus in PTT Postbus livery. Local contractors are employed on a number of the Luzern based PTT services and I failed to note who the operator of this bus was. It didn’t carry the contractor name as contractors buses usually do. Note how the destination screen states ‘Pause’ with steaming cups of coffee either side!

Sunday 15 June 2008 (1253 hrs) - MAN bus number 41 (SZ 5171) of Auto AG, Schwyz (AAGS) carries all-over advertising for the services of SGV (Schiffahrtsgesellschaft der Vierwaldstättersees) the operator of the boat and steamer services on Vierwaldstättersee, ‘the lake of the four wooded cantons’, more commonly known as Lake Lucerne. It was seen at Vitznau when working the 1238 Gersau to Küssnacht am Rigi departure of service 2. This is a short working of the service which runs from Schwyz to Brunnen (on the lakeside) and then follows the lakeside itself right through to Küssnacht via Gersau, Vitznau and Weggis.

Sunday 15 June 2008 (1353 hrs) - MAN bus number 41 (SZ 5171) of Auto AG, Schwyz (AAGS) carries all-over advertising for the services of SGV (Schiffahrtsgesellschaft der Vierwaldstättersees) the operator of the boat and steamer services on Vierwaldstättersee, ‘the lake of the four wooded cantons’, more commonly known as Lake Lucerne. It was seen at Weggis when working the 1334 departure of service 2 from Küssnacht am Rigi to Schwyz. The route hugs the lakeside shoreline from Küssnacht through Weggis, Vitznau, Gersau and Brunnen before turning inland to run to Schwyz. The total journey time is 68 minutes.

Sunday 15 June 2008 (1353 hrs) - The scene from a street café in Weggis. MAN bus number 41 (SZ 5171) of Auto AG, Schwyz (AAGS) carries all-over advertising for the services of SGV (Schiffahrtsgesellschaft der Vierwaldstättersees) the operator of the boat and steamer services on Vierwaldstättersee, ‘the lake of the four wooded cantons’, more commonly known as Lake Lucerne. The lakeside is off camera to the right and the boat landing stage was close by. We had arrived by SGV boat at Weggis on a day out from Lucerne/Luzern. The bus was working the 1334 departure of service 2 from Küssnacht to Schwyz. The route hugs the lakeside shoreline from Küssnacht through Weggis, Vitznau, Gersau and Brunnen before turning inland to run to Schwyz. The total journey time is 68 minutes.

Sunday 15 June 2008 (1405 hrs) - Seen outside the boat/steamer landing stage in Weggis – funnel of one of the lake boats can be seen above the roof of the building. Mercedes-Benz Citaro (SZ 60000) of Auto AG, Schwyz (AAGS) carries all-over advertising for SKS Bank. The bus was working the 1315 departure of service 2 from Schwyz to Küssnacht am Rigi. The service travels south from Schwyz to Brunnen (on the lakeside) and then follows the lakeside itself right through to Küssnacht am Rigi via Gersau, Vitznau and Weggis. The total journey time is 68 minutes.

Sunday 15 June 2008 (1404 hrs) - Seen outside the boat/steamer landing stage in Weggis. Mercedes-Benz Citaro (SZ 60000) of Auto AG, Schwyz (AAGS) carries all-over advertising for SKS Bank. The bus was working the 1315 departure of service 2 from Schwyz to Küssnacht am Rigi. The service travels south from Schwyz to Brunnen (on the lakeside) and then follows the lakeside itself right through to Küssnacht am Rigi via Gersau, Vitznau and Weggis. The total journey time is 68 minutes.

Sunday 15 June 2008 (1330 hrs) - Seen outside the boat/steamer landing stage in Weggis (Vierwaldstättersee or Lake Lucerne), Mercedes-Benz Citaro of Auto AG, Schwyz (AAGS) (SZ 11315) which was working the 1337 departure of service 2 from Weggis to Küssnacht am Rigi. This is a short working of the service which runs from Schwyz to Brunnen (on the lakeside) and then follows the lakeside itself right through to Küssnacht via Gersau, Vitznau and Weggis.

Monday 16 June 2008 (1330 hrs) - Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe (ZVB) Seen in Bahnhofplatz near Zug railway station (which was behind the camera up the street) about to work the 1340 service 1 to Oberägeri. NAW bus 109 (ZG 54619) was towing drawbar trailer number 410. The trailer carries its own licence plate (ZG 82550). Both units were fitted with cycle racks although when a trailer is being pulled the racks on the bus are not used.

Monday 16 June 2008 (1328 hrs) - Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe (ZVB) Seen in Bahnhofplatz near Zug railway station (the glass building top right) about to work the 1340 service 1 to Oberägeri. NAW bus 109 (ZG 54619) was towing drawbar trailer number 410. The trailer carries its own licence plate (ZG 82550). Both units were fitted with cycle racks although when a trailer is being pulled the racks on the bus are not used. Bus 13, also a NAW, stands behind.

Monday 16 June 2008 (1328 hrs) - Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe (ZVB) Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated 15 (ZG 3365), seen in Bahnhofplatz near Zug railway station (which was up the street behind the camera) was ready to work the 1336 service 5 to Walchwil (due 1358). On special days the buses carry flags. The red/white Swiss national flag and the blue/white Zug Canton flag were carried.

Monday 16 June 2008 (1328 hrs) - When I first visited Zug in 1987 Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe (ZVB) had recently revamped its image with an orange and white livery (having phased out blue which has subsequently been re-introduced). One of the last remaining orange buses was this small NAW bus, number 137 (ZG 67637) working the 1340 service 12 to Gimenen, a ‘Flexibus’ (Dial-a-ride) service. Behind that was Mercedes-Benz Citaro 15 working the 1336 service 5 to Walchwil (due 1358). On special days the buses carry flags, the red/white Swiss national flag and the blue/white Zug Canton flag were carried by 137 today. Across the street is a most charming lady in a green top who I was later to ask for directions to the bus enquiry office. She was such a smiling and amenable lady laughing at the way she stumbled with her spoken English. I only spoke to her for a brief moment or so but she was one of those people you sometimes encounter for such a brief time but one that is never forgotten.

Monday 16 June 2008 (1327 hrs) - Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe (ZVB) 139 (ZG 3399) seen in Bahnhofplatz near Zug railway station (which was behind the camera) ready to work the 1338 trip of service 33 to Baar via Arbach and Inwil. (A different Inwil than the one served by buses in Luzern). Bus 13 (ZG 54613), a NAW, stands across the street working the 1339 service 2 to Kreuzegg. It is fitted with a tow hitch and cycle racks. In front of that was bus 109, another NAW, which was towing a drawbar trailer (number 410 also fitted with cycle racks!) working the 1340 service 1 to Oberägeri. When I first visited Zug in 1987, ZVB had recently revamped its image with an orange and white livery (having phased out blue). One of the last remaining orange buses (NAW number 137) can be seen behind 139. It was working the 1340 service 12 to Gimenen, a ‘Flexibus’ (Dial-a-ride) service. Behind that was Mercedes-Benz Citaro 15 working the 1336 service 5 to Walchwil (due 1358). On special days the buses carry flags. The red/white Swiss national flag and the blue/white Zug Canton flag were carried by 139.

Monday 16 June 2008 (1322 hrs) - Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe (ZVB) Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated 208 (ZG 4313) seen in Baarerstrasse, Zug when working the 1258 service 4 from Cham (Bahnhof) to Inwil (1331). (This is a different Inwil than the one served by buses in Luzern).

Monday 16 June 2008 (1323 hrs) - Zugerland Verkehrsbetriebe (ZVB) Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated 208 (ZG 4313) seen in Baarerstrasse when working the 1258 service 4 from Cham (Bahnhof) to Inwil (1331). (This is a different Inwil than the one served by buses in Luzern).