Iris (train)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iris

TEE Iris departing from Zürich HB, 1979.
Overview
Service type Trans Europ Express (TEE)
(1974–1981)
InterCity (IC)
(1981–1987)
EuroCity (EC)
(since 1987)
Status Operational
Locale Belgium
Luxembourg
France
Switzerland
First service 28 May 1974 (1974-05-28)
Current operator(s) NMBS/SNCB
CFL
SNCF
SBB-CFF-FFS
Route
Start Brussels Midi/Zuid
End Chur
Service frequency Daily
Train number(s) EC 96/97
Technical
Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
Electrification 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz
(Switzerland)
Route map

The Iris is an express train that links Brussels Midi/Zuid in Brussels, Belgium, with Chur station in Chur, Switzerland.

Introduced in 1974,[1] the train is operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS/SNCB), the Chemins de Fer Luxembourgeois (CFL), the French National Railway Corporation (SNCF) and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS). It is named after a flower, the Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus), which was widespread in the Zenne/Senne valley, where Brussels is located.

Initially, the Iris was a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE). In 1981, it became a two-class InterCity (IC), and on 31 May 1987, it was included in the then-new EuroCity (EC) network.[2] As of 2013, the Iris was one of two EuroCity train-pairs running daily between Brussels and Switzerland; the other was the Vauban.[3]

See also

References

Notes

  1. "Summer services, 1974" (changes due to take effect). Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (March 29–April 25, 1974 edition), p. 465. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing.
  2. Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (May 31–June 30, 1987 edition), pp. 472, 475. Thomas Cook Publishing.
  3. "EuroCity trains: traditional international daytime trains". SNCB Europe website. NMBS/SNCB. Retrieved 23 March 2013. 

Bibliography

  • Goette, Peter; Willen, Peter (2006). TEE-Züge in der Schweiz sowie Schweizer TEE-Züge im Ausland [TEE Trains in Switzerland as well as Swiss TEE Trains abroad]. Freiburg i.B.: EK-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-88255-697-1.  (German)
  • Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; Mertens, Maurice (2007). TEE: la légende des Trans-Europ-Express [TEE: The Legend of the Trans Europ Express]. Auray: LR Presse. ISBN 978-29-03651-45-9.  (French)
  • Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; Mertens, Maurice (2008). TEE: la leggenda dei Trans-Europ-Express [TEE: The Legend of the Trans Europ Express]. Salò: ETR – Editrice Trasporti su Rotaie. ISBN 978-88-85068-31-5.  (Italian)
  • Mertens, Maurice; Malaspina, Jean-Pierre; von Mitzlaff, Berndt (2009). TEE - Die Geschichte des Trans-Europ-Express [TEE - The History of the Trans Europ Express]. Düsseldorf: Alba Publikation. ISBN 978-3-87094-199-4.  (German)

External links

Media related to Iris at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.