★ 4K 🇨🇭Genève - 🇫🇷Bellegarde cab ride [08.2020] Switzerland - France 

Welcome aboard the SL6 commuter train, in this video from Geneva in the south western corner of Switzerland into France.
The line is part of the Lyon - Geneva railway which was originally built between 1856 - 1859 by PLM (Compagnie des Chemins de fer de Paris à Lyon et à la Méditerranée), French's largest private railway operator.
In 1913, SBB took over the section on Swiss land (to La Plaine) and planned on electrifying it in 1945. The SNCF also planned on electrifying their line, so an agreement was made resulting in 1500 volt DC catenary lines all the way to Geneva. This was incompatible with the SBB AC 15'000 volt system, leading to the development of a DC motorwagon, the BDe 4/4 II, to handle the regional traffic. Due to the fact that these were under-motorised, they often failed and had to be replaced by diesel locomotives, often diesel shunters like the Em 3/3. Sometimes regional trains were even pulled by the 4 system Ee 3/3 IV shunters.
In 1994 the motor cars were replaced by motor cars of the type Bem 550.
In 2014, the section between Geneva & Bellegarde was converted to 25'000 volt AC (a French norm), simplifying rail operations over the border. The Bem 550's were subsequently scrapped and replaced by modern rolling stock able to operate under both 15kV & 25kV, such as today's train, the Flirt France.
One thing you may have noticed in our French trips so far - there are lots of interesting abandoned railway lines around, telling a story of France's once colossal railway network.
Linked videos:
9:47 Geneva - Annemasse: Awaiting release
11:45 Geneva airport - Zürich: • ★ 4K 🇨🇭Tilt train Gene...
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