This year, the Swiss rail system SBB is celebrating their 175th anniversary, commemorating the first ride of the "Spanischbrötlibahn" between Zürich and Baden on August 9, 1847. The festivities for this are spread out over the coming months throughout Switzerland, with the first installment this weekend in northern Switzerland, namely Basel and Olten. Together with the local transport organizations, BVB and BLT, the SBB are offering a diverse program for all railway fans!

At Bahnhof SBB, you can explore the brand-new inter-regional train called Flirt Mouette (Saturday from 12:00-19:00 and Sunday from 11:00-17:00), as well as an old Trans-Europa-Express from 1961 (Sunday from 12:00-18:30). In the station's entrance hall, there is an information booth of the BLT focusing on Pick-e-Bikes, and you can test these scooters and bikes on a course at Meret-Oppenheim-Platz on the Gundeldingen side of the station (Saturday from 9:00-19:00 and Sunday from 11:00-17:00). There will also be several exhibits and other stalls throughout the station.

At the BVB Service Center (Wiesenplatz 7) you can visit the "tram wash" facilities, have your picture taken in the cab of a tram, and listen to readings by tram driver and writer Philipp Probst (Saturday from 10:00-16:00).

At the BVB Industriezentrum (Klybeckstrasse 212) you can watch a small but powerful pulling machine, the "Zagro," move the large trams; learn about the BVB's witch to battery-powered electric buses, and you can have your picture taken and placed on the anniversary tram (Saturday from 10:00-16:00).

At the BVB production site (Münchensteinerstrasse 85/87) you can try your hand at welding, the kids can explore a special playground, and if you've always wanted to own a piece of tracks, you can get it here (Saturday from 10:00-16:00)!

On Sunday, starting at 11:00, there will also be a large parade of trams near the Kunstmuseum/Wettsteinbrücke, including both the oldest and the newest trams of BVB and BLT. And if you miss that, you can visit the tram museum (Münchensteinerstrasse 105) from 12:30-16:30.

A bit further afield, there will be numerous activities in Olten, such as a market for railway fans, an open house at SBB Historic, visits to the SBB manufacturing site in Olten, and more. Additional events are taking place on the same weekend in the Zürich region.

You can find dates and more information about anniversary celebrations in other regions at https://175-jahre.ch/.

Website
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