Little-known but all the more fascinating: from 1905 to 1960, an electric tram operated in Spiez – the eletrically-powered Spiezer Verbindungsbahn (“Spiez Connecting Railway”, or SVB). Over a distance of just 1.25 km, it linked Spiez railway station with the boat landing stage on Lake Thun – the BLS shipping company’s «Ländte».
In 1913, BLS acquired a majority shareholding in the tramway and provided substantial support over the following years. It not only handled the maintenance and overhaul of the vehicles, but also helped ensure that the line remained a stable part of the regional transport infrastructure.
The route mastered a height difference of over 70 metres with gradients of up to 8.7 percent. Running directly along Seestrasse, the SVB offered spectacular views of the lake and the Bernese Alps. Its open summer carriages and the charming ride along the steep line made it an important feature of Spiez’s townscape.
But in 1960, the service came to an end. Operations ceased, the tracks and overhead lines were dismantled – and the tram quietly disappeared from everyday life.
These images are from the collection of Peter Willen and the text has been translated from a German-language original by BLS Historic on Facebook. Lead photo: Ce 2/2 Nr. 1 and 2 at the Spiez ship station in 1913, photo W. Ritschard.
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