The company is a railway operator with both narrow and standard gauge lines centred in the town of Bulle. The main line of the narrow gauge network runs from Palézieux railway station (at Palézieux-Gare), on the SBB main line from Bern to Lausanne, via Châtel-St-Denis and Bulle to Montbovon. The short Bulle - Broc branch, which leaves this line between Bulle and La Tour-de-Trême, serves the nearby Nestlé (formerly Cailler) chocolate factory. The company also operates two standard-gauge lines, between Bulle and Romont and Fribourg - Ins via Murten/Morat. Trains on the latter route have been extended and now operate a regular interval service Fribourg - Murten - Ins - Neuchatel, taking them on to BLS tracks (Ins - Neuchatel).
The closure of a connecting line took place in 1969, when the section of the Chemins de fer Veveysans from Chatel-St-Denis to Vevey on Lake Geneva was closed. If it had survived, it would nowadays almost certainly have become a useful tourist route from the lake to the chocolate factory (and would link Nestlé's HQ at Vevey with one of its main factories). One contributing factor was the political and human geography of Switzerland (Vevey is in Canton Vaud but Chatel St Denis is in Canton Fribourg). Evidence of the existence of this line still exists at Chatel St Denis, where Bulle - Palézieux trains have to reverse (Bulle - Vevey was the 'direct' straight line route).
TPF operations are centered on Bulle which has a depot, workshops and offers a connection to the standard gauge line to Romont as well as express bus services to the capital. The transfer to the Montreux–Lenk im Simmental line takes place in Montbovon.
Today, on both systems, passenger traffic is carried out by electric units, single driving cars, coupled at busy times to trailers. Standard gauge goods traffic can transfer to the metre gauge where the wagons are transported on carrier trucks. The company still has few metre gauge wagons, all now connected with railway engineering.
Locomotives and rolling stock
A few vehicles inherited from the former companies and even dating back to pre - First World War days are in use for shunting and departmental use.
In August 2012, TPF, together with the BAM, the MOB and Travys, called tenders for 17 narrow-gauge trains. It was announced that Stadler had won the contract for CHF 150 million in March 2013. TPF will be supplied with six three-unit sets with a continuous output of 1340 kW and a top speed of 100 km/h. The first trains will be delivered in early 2015 and will replace older stock.[1][2]
Metre Gauge Locomotives and Rolling Stock
No.
Name
Class
Builders details
Date
Rebuilt
Notes.
11
Te 2/2
GFM/MFO
1913
1991
Works No. 33.
12
Te 2/2
GFM/AI
1913
1954
13
Te 4/4
SWS/AI/GFM
1901
1959
14
Te 4/4
SWS/AI/GFM
1901
1978
15
Tm 2/2
Schöma/Deutz
1971
1981
16
Tm 2/2
CFD Industries
1987
101
Ville de Bulle
GDe 4/4
SLM/BBC
1983
Out of Service from 10.12.06, Sold to MOB, April 2007, No.6005
102
Neirivue
GDe 4/4
SLM/BBC
1983
Out of Service from 10.12.06, Sold to MOB, April 2007, No.6006
115
Be 4/4
SWS/Alioth
1905
1959
Electric Railcar, 46 seats. Used for historic train operations(See:Retro-Train), but also still used for workaday works/engineering duties
116
Be 4/4
SWS/Alioth
1922
1951/1999
Preserved Electric Railcar, 46 seats. (See:Retro-Train)
121
Remaufens
BDe 4/4
ACMV/ABB
1992
122
La Tour-de-Trême
BDe 4/4
ACMV/ABB
1992
123
Broc
BDe 4/4
ACMV/ABB
1996
124
Vuadens
BDe 4/4
ACMV/ABB
1996
131
Be 4/4
SWS/BBC
1943
132
Be 4/4
SWS/BBC
1943
Withdrawn
141
Gruyères1
BDe 4/4
Schindler/SAAS
1972
142
Semsales
BDe 4/4
Schindler/SAAS
1972
151
La Gruyère1
Be 4/4
ACMV/BBC
1977
152
Châtel St. Denis
Be 4/4
ACMV/BBC
1977
221
Bt
ACMV/BBC
1992
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
222
Bt
ACMV/BBC
1992
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
223
Bt
ACMV/BBC
1992
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
224
Bt
Vevey/ABB
1996
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
225
Bt
ACMV/BBC
1996
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
226
Bt
Vevey/ABB
1996
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
232
B2
GFM
1919
Preserved Coach (See:Retro Train)
235
B2
SWS
1903
Preserved Coach (See:Retro Train)
237
B2
SWS
1905
Preserved Coach (See:Retro Train)
245
Brs
SIG/R+J
1931
1991
Preserved Coach (See:Retro Train), ex-Brünigbahn
247
Brs
SIG
1932
1985
Preserved Coach (See:Retro Train), ex-Brünigbahn
251
Bt
SIG/SAAS
1977
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
252
Bt
SIG/SAAS
1977
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
253
Bt
SIG/SWP/BBC
1981
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
254
Bt
SIG/SWP/BBC
1981
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
255
Bt
SIG/SWP/BBC
1981
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
256
Bt
SIG/SWP/BBC
1981
Voiture Pilote (Driving Trailer)
401
DZ
SWS
1912
Post/Baggage Car
402
DZ
SWS
1912
Post/Baggage Car
1Gruyère is the name of the Region while Gruyères stands for the small town, situated between Bulle and Montbovon
2006 ex- Thurbo/MThB 11, Die Hegau-Bodensee Bahn, named Stadt Wil
567 316
RBDe
SWP/SIG/BBC
X
1985
long-term lease from TRN
567 181
RBDe4/4
SWP/SIG/ABB
X
1991
567 182
RBDe4/4
SWP/SIG/ABB
X
1991
361
B
FFA
1963
2000
362
B
FFA
1963
364
B
SWP/SIG
X
1984
365
B
SWP/SIG
X
1984
366
B
FFA
1963
ex-TMR/MO 41
367
B
Stadler
X
2006
low floor
368
B
Stadler
X
2006
low floor
369
B
Stadler
X
2006
low floor
371
ABt
SWS/BBC
X
1983
front door
372
ABt
SWP/BBC
1964
2003
ex- Bt originally number 302
373
ABt
SWP/SIG/BBC
X
1985
front door
374
Bt
SWP/BBC
1964
1983
1993 ex-TRN 203
375
Bt
SWP/BBC
1964
ex- Thurbo 203 and originally GFM 301
381
ABt
SWP/SIG/ABB
X
1991
382
ABt
SWP/SIG/ABB
X
1991
204
ABt
SWP/SIG/BBC
X
1985
long term-lease from TRN
383
ABt
SWP/SIG/ABB
X
1991
2006 ex-TRN 206
Abbreviations (see also above listing)
Aebi : Robert Aebi
Asper : Victor Asper Maschinenbau
New Deliveries
Five existing motor coaches 171-173, 181-182 plus one identical vehicle RBDe 567 316 on long-term lease from TRN SA were recently modernized, incorporating new seating, air condition, information displays and video recording. The same modernization occurred with matching driving trailers 371, 373, 381, 382 and 383 ex TRN SA plus one, ABt 204, on long-term lease from TRN SA. Also the two matching coaches 364-365 were treated accordingly. First class compartment is now in the driving trailer and no longer in the motor coach, which had before been classified RABDe 537.
Three new intermediate coaches, all second class, have been delivered from Stadler and incorporate a low level centre section suitable for pram / buggy and disabled access. These cars have large windows and other facilities as featured throughout the train.
Modernized ABt 371 and RBDe 567 171 with B 362 in old livery in Neuchâtel on 29 March 2006
Leased and modernized RBDe 567 316 and ABt 204 with tpf B 361 and 369 in Fribourg on 29 September 2006
New low-floor coach B 369 on 29 September 2006 in Fribourg
Livery
The trains were painted in a grey livery with a broad orange band below the windows, marked "La Gruyère", a few vehicles even still had the older green/cream livery. In 2001, the first of the repainted units appeared on the line in a plain white livery with lining and "tpf" lettering in cherry red.
Fare structure
From 12 December 2006, the TPF together with SBB-CFF-FFS, BLS, CarPostal Suisse, MOB, STB and VMCV introduced a canton-wide zone fare known as "frimobil", ordered and subsidized by the canton. It was advertised as "offering freedom and mobility throughout the region".
Vintage train
The company operate a "Retro Train" using vintage stock and railcar. Operating at weekends throughout the year it offers travel in a 1926-built coach named Moléjon coupled to a bar-coach named La Grevire (built in 1932), the power being supplied by an electric railcar dating from the early 1920s. Included in the price is a fondue followed by Meringues with local delicacy, Crème de Gruyère.
Narrow gauge freight services
Until 10 December 2006 the company operated three main freight routes:
To and from the Cailler chocolate factory at Broc, standard gauge wagons carried "piggy-back" on narrow gauge transporter trucks from and to Bulle. Haulage was performed by the branch electric unit of 121-124 series attaching the "piggy-backs" at Broc Fabrique.
Timber traffic originating at Montbovon, carried "piggy-back" to Bulle, and, on occasions other traffic to and from other stations.
Ballast traffic from Grandvillard in narrow gauge hopper cars to Gstaad.
From that date the handling of the first two freight routes was taken over by SBB Cargo, the third by MOB. Thus, the company's two GDe 4/4 locomotives, together with the hopper cars, became surplus to requirements and were sold to the MOB in April 2007. TPF is paid by SBB Cargo for conveying the standard gauge wagons on transporter trucks to/from Bulle and Montbovon by accordingly fitted motor coaches 121-124.
Meter gauge TPF BDe 4/4 123 is coupled to a standard gauge wagon on transporter trucks in Broc-Fabrique
_in_Broc-Fabrique.jpg)
