Public transport in the Lausanne Region
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TL operate double decker buses on some longer-distance routes
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| Founded | 1894 |
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| Locale | Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland |
| Service area | Lausanne and environs |
| Service type | Métro, trolleybus, Diesel bus |
| Routes | 252 km (157 mi) network: 2 Métro lines • 10 trolleybus routes • 29 others |
| Destinations | • Ouchy • Renens • Épalinges • Lutry • outlying towns |
| Hubs | Lausanne Flon, Lausanne CFF, St-François |
| Stations | 48 (Métro) |
| Fleet | TL Bem 4/6 • MP 89 • various road vehicles |
| Fuel type | Electricity, Diesel, Natural gas |
| Director | Michel Joye |
| Website |
t-l |
Public transport in the Lausanne region
Transports publics de la région lausannoise, often abbreviated simply to TL, are the main operator of public transport in Lausanne and the wider agglomeration. As of 2012, TL operates a network of 10 trolleybus routes, 25 conventional bus routes and two métro lines, using more than 290 vehicles. TL operate weekend night services and demand responsive transport.
The history of the company is linked to the local railways. The origins can be traced back to the Lausanne–Ouchy Railway - a former funicular, which operated with several changes until 2006. That route was closed to make way for the new Métro line.
Lausanne was reached by the railway in 1858, but Lausanne railway station was built neither in the town centre nor in the port of Ouchy. Lausanne city authorities moved to connect the station to both these districts, and the Federal Council granted a concession to run a railway line between Lausanne and Ouchy in 1871.
The line was built by the Lausanne-Ouchy (LO) Railway Company, established in 1874, as a funicular - the first in Switzerland. Service began on the line on 15 March 1877, and on 5 December 1879 a separate line from Lausanne station to the town centre, the Lausanne-Gare (LG) was commissioned, meaning both districts were connected to the station.
Plans were laid for a tram network in 1894, and Lausanne Corporation tramways, or Société des tramways lausannois (French), as the current transport network was called. The electricity used to power the future network was produced by the Couvaloup plant, built in 1895, also where the first tramcars were stabled.
The first rails were laid on 1 March 1896 and the network was inaugurated by 29 August. Regular operations started on 1 December 1896, except the Pontaise line whose opening was delayed until 25 December due to additional safety tests.
The tram network grew; several lines were created and others extended. The first depot-workshop was built at Prélaz between 1898 and 1900 to accommodate the new cars. The Jorat Regional Electric Railway Company - or Compagnie des Chemins de fer électriques régionaux du Jorat (French) merged with TL in 1910, allowing them to double the length of their network and use the electricity power station at Mézières and a depot in Epalinges.
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Wikipedia