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Arbalète (train)
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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).
Quick Facts Overview, Service type ...
Overview | |||||
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Service type | Trans Europ Express (TEE) (1957–1979) InterCity (IC) (1979–1987) EuroCity (EC) (1987–1997) | ||||
Status | Replaced by a TGV | ||||
Locale | France Switzerland | ||||
First service | 2 June 1957 (1957-06-02) | ||||
Last service | 28 September 1997 (1997-09-28) | ||||
Former operator(s) | SNCF SBB-CFF-FFS | ||||
Route | |||||
Termini | Paris-Est Zürich HB | ||||
Service frequency | Daily | ||||
Technical | |||||
Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | ||||
Electrification | 15 kV AC, 16.7 Hz (Basel SBB–Zürich HB) | ||||
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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.