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Arbalète (train)

The Arbalète (alternatively written L'Arbalète)[1] was an express train that linked Paris-Est in Paris, France, with Zürich HB in Zurich, Switzerland. Introduced in 1957, it was operated by the SNCF and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS).

The train was named after the crossbow used by William Tell to hit the apple on his son's head.

Originally, and for 22 years, the Arbalète was a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE). On 27 May 1979, it became a two-class InterCity (IC) train,[2] and on 31 May 1987, it was included in the then-new EuroCity (EC) network.[3] It was discontinued in September 1997, replaced by a TGV service that was routed via Pontarlier and Bern instead of Mulhouse and Basel.

See also

  • History of rail transport in France
  • History of rail transport in Switzerland
  • List of named passenger trains of Europe

References

  1. The Thomas Cook Timetable, for example, always identified the train as "L'Arbalète".^
  2. Thomas Cook International Timetable (May 27–June 30, 1979, edition), p. 6. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing.^
  3. Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (May 31–June 30, 1987, edition), pp. 472, 475. Thomas Cook Publishing.^