Swiss and German regional railways connect in Basel
Switzerland and Germany's regional railways have been linked in the Basel area for the first time.
The so-called “Orange line” now connects the German town of Offenburg with Basel via Freiburg in Breisgau. The line is an extension of an existing service.
Until now, most travellers had to get on and off regional trains for Germany at Basel’s German station, which meant many of them faced cross-town trips to reach their destinations.
The four-kilometre extension will take them to the city’s main station.
To mark the event, the German railways and the Land of Baden-Württemberg have bought 28 new double-decker wagons worth a total of €28 million (SFr41.24 million). The cantonal and federal authorities should share of the yearly cost for the new line, which is estimated at SFr595,000.
Regional passes are already on sale in Germany and Switzerland. Border checks are carried out in the trains. Another international regional line is planned to connect Germany and Basel by 2004 or 2005.
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