Swiss Railways story:

The Swiss Federal Railways has developed from unpromising beginnings into one of the most advanced passengers and freight networks in the world.

First Swiss line was opened from Baden to Zürich in 1847, covering a distance of nearly 30 km (18 miles). In the 19th century, the beginning of the Swiss railways was built up by many private railways. Meanwhile, Switzerland's neighbours, France and Germany, had built several thousand kilometers of track before the Swiss laid a single rail.

The Gotthard tunnel was opened in 1882, which is one of the great tunneling feats of the century with its 15 km (9.3 miles) long. North and South of the country were linked by the opening of this tunnel. This track, the first to cross the Alps, was of immense importance to international trade within Europe.

Swiss private railways did not shy away from tunnels and bridges, despite the cost either in money and lives. From 1870 to 1910, and thanks to the efforts of privates companies, 2'500 km of track were built. This development of the transport system in the 19th century allowed a huge growth in the tourist industry in the Alpine region. More and more tourists were coming to enjoy the Swiss mountains, not least benefiting from the European railway system: now they could travel to the top without exerting themselves. Printed information and shedule became necessary to promote all these destinations. Train and travel posters began to cover the streets and the stations walls.

From the year 1890, railway companies, together with travel office and several hotels began printing the first genuine travel posters, featuring steam engine trains, cog-railways or funicular in idyllic scenery. Depicted in a romantic style, these lithographs are harmonious compositions bringing together scenic views of the region, illustrations of characters from folklore and a time-table or geographical map, usually linked together with golden frames and floral patterns.
At the turn of the century, as a result of a better understanding of how publicity influenced public perception, a more central design became prominent (only one image, one subject and a simple text) while still maintaining a naive style.             

From 1870, the funicular and the cogwheel system allowed Swiss entrepreneurs to build trains able to climb steep slopes.

A new era opened in 1902, when the first train of the new Swiss Federal Railways puffed into Bern's main station with the Swiss cross on the front of the locomotive. The Federal government decided to built a national company, the CFF - SBB. Then, as well as playing a pivotal role in the nation's economic and social life, the Swiss Railways system stands at the hub of the central European transportation system.

In 1908, inspired by the visually powerful work of Ferdinand Hodler, the painter Emil Cardinaux designed an avant-garde poster for Zermatt. Drawn in a style, rather daring for its time, it is a monument to the beauty of the Matterhorn, blazing with colour and over hanging a valley cast in shadow. The image is reduced to its most essential form of expression and no excess detail is allowed to interfere with the aesthetic value of the subtle play of colour, enhanced by the lithographic printing process. Cardinaux's revolutionary poster freed the tourist poster from any realistic constraints and created a more dynamic graphic language. This poster would later influence numerous artists such as or the painter.

The openings of the Simplon tunnel in 1906 and the Loetschberg in 1913 (BLS) opened one of most important international tracks from the North East of Europe to Italy, through the Swiss Alps. 

Aside from its commercial importance, Swiss tunnels ushered in the era of prestigious international trains, such as the Simplon-Orient Express.

Then the Swiss Federal Railways introduced a systematic electrification program from 1919 onward. The interwar period witnessed consolidation and steady improvement. Passenger and freight figures rose in line with the ambitious electrification program, and the system earned a reputation for efficiency, innovation and safety.

During the twenties and thirties, the specialized curved line used by the Romantic and Art Nouveau movements was replaced by a new form of graphic design, the Art Deco, essentially based on the use of the straight line.
Originating from the formal accomplishments of Cubism and Futurism (geometric forms, dynamism, structure and contrasting colours), graphic artists created posters of rare intellectual purity using vivid colours and highly stylised forms. Of course the famous A.M. Cassandre railways posters influenced numerous artists. A good example of this rare poster is by Willy Trapp or the one for the Monte Generoso.

The thirties also saw the development of a crucial safety innovation in Switzerland. Increasing speeds had led to a number of accidents. Electromagnets have been placed in the track that would warn each train electronically whether the line was clear; if it was not, a horn would be activated in the driver's cab. If the horn was ignored by the driver, emergency brakes would automatically cut in and halt the train. Signum, the name of the automatic braking systems, was subsequently used and adapted internationally.
In 1947 the national company celebrated the centenary of the birth of the Swiss railways in 1847 by re-activating an historical engine and its cars and producing the following posters.

CFF-SBB

More Swiss Railways:

M.O.B. Montreux-Oberland Bernois

Rochers de Naye

Martigny - Orsières

Furka - Oberalp

Davos - Parsenn

Rigi Bahn

Pilatus Bahn

Bürgenstock

Luzern - Stanstadt - Engelberg

Luzern - StanserHorn

Brunnen - Morchach, SeeThal Bahn

In 1981 the Venice Simplon Orient Express was restored and proposed again luxury carriages between London and Venice, via Paris and the Simplon.

Have a good night, in a luxury sleeping car!

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Bibliography:

- Swiss World: History of the Swiss Railways (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
- The Railways of Switzerland, Railway Gazette Publication, 1947.
- Allen, Cecil J., Swiss Travel Wonderland, London, Ian Allen, 1972