Aigle–Ollon–Monthey–Champéry Railway

The Aigle–Ollon–Monthey–Champéry is a metre-gauge railway operating in the Chablais region of Switzerland. It was created in 1946 by the amalgamation of the Aigle–Ollon–Monthey Railway (AOM) and the Monthey–Champéry–Morgins Railway (MCM). Today its starting point is two newly built bay (terminal) platforms at the main line station at Aigle, adjacent to the line of the SBB-CFF-FFS. From there is serves the towns suggested by its title.

History

The original intention had been to construct a railway from Aigle to Villars via Ollon and the concession was awarded on 27 April 1897. The Chemin de fer Bex-Gryon-Villars, however, strongly objected to the new line arguing that there was insufficient traffic for two lines to serve Villars. After listening to the arguments the federal authorities agreed and the original concession withdrawn to be replaced by a new one for a line from Aigle to Monthey via Ollon. Concession to build the line was awarded on 6 February 1899 and was followed by that for a line from Monthey to Champéry on 22 June of the same year. The AOM opened to traffic on 3 April 1907. Construction of the line to Champéry was slower and this was not ready for traffic at the opening of the AOM, but followed on 30 January 1908. The plans for a line from the village of d'Illiez á Morgins were scrapped following poor profit forecasts.

From 1 January 1946 the two companies amalgamated to form the AOMC and plans were put forward to bring the line up to date. Although not delivered until 1954, on the rolling stock side, this was mean the construction of four new railcars of Series BDeh4/4, numbered 511-4. Passenger carrying stock has been regularly updated since this time, the last delivery, two twin-car railcars (No's 591 and 592), arriving in 2001.

Although the line to Morgins was not built there was still one section of the present day system to be added, a short,just one kilometre in length section, from the town station in Champéry to Champéry-Planachaux, a lift which forms another part in the public access to the mountains.

Nowadays it is part of a larger, regional system operated, along with local bus services, by the Transports Publics du Chablais.

The Line

The line, built to metre-gauge, is 23.14 km (14.38 mi) in length of which 3.66 km (2.274 mi) is operated on the Strub rack system at a maximum gradient of 13.5%. The line rises from 404 m (1,325.5 ft) at Aigle to a summit of 1,049 m (3,441.6 ft) at Champéry, a total rise of 645 m (2,116.1 ft). It is electrically operated by overhead contact at 850 V DC.

Important investment plans were developed by the AOMC in 1995 one of which involved the construction of a large maintenance workshop and stockholding facility. This work was completed and opened under the TPC, in 2001. The new dépôt at En Châlex, alongside the line a short distance east of Aigle has over 26,500 sq.m. of space available for workshops and nowadays is the main stockholder for the three TPC narrow gauge lines in Aigle. Space is also available on the site for expansion in the future should this be required.

In 2006 the TPC commenced a programme of building works at Aigle in collaboration with the CFF/SBB/FFS. This was to bring together all three of the metre gauge lines at new platforms adjacent to those of the main line company. Work was completed in early 2007 when the services were brought together, the AOCM making use of the two platforms nearest the main line. These platforms feature new lighting and public address systems and have easy access from the town's Place de la Gare.

Railcars / Coaching Stock

• (a) Builders plate shows 1986, delivery was in 1987
• (b) Not in service at present.

Abbreviations

• ACMV Ateliers de constructions mécaniques de Vevey
• BBC Brown, Boveri & Cie
• BTB Birstigtalbahn (Baselland Transport)
• BT Bombardier Transportation (Vevey)
• SLM Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works, Winterthur.