The M2 Lausanne Gare station showing one of the steeply graded platforms.

Ouchy M2 station, showing a train stabled on a closed platform 'not in use' and another train approaching in the distance. As this station is the end of line the photograph was taken in a way that also shows the track end, including the side guiderails as well as the rails used by the weight-bearing wheels. Photographed through a glass wall.

The Lausanne Metro system includes two lines in Lausanne, Switzerland, owned by two distinct companies and operated by a third. The Line m1 is a light metro, while the Line m2 is a fully automated metro which opened on October 27 2008. Lausanne has replaced Rennes as the smallest city in the world to have a full metro system.

Line m1

The m1 Metro was opened on May 24, 1991. The line is owned by a company named TSOL (Tramway du Sud-Ouest lausannois) and this acronym is widely used by the commuters who use the line. Trains on the line are operated by the Transports publics de la région lausannoise (TL, formerly Tramways Lausannois). The m1 is a light metro with only three underground stations.

The line, which is 8 km (5 mi) long, links the center of Lausanne, the major Universities (EPFL, UNIL) and Renens. The line is generally single track. At most stations a passing loop is provided to allow trains to pass, and a dedicated platform is provided for each direction. Exceptions to this are Bassenges, UNIL-Sorge and Provence stations, where the line is still single track serving one bidirectional platform.

Stations

Station Altitude Situation
Lausanne-Flon
Vigie
Montelly
Provence
Malley
Bourdonnette
UNIL-Dorigny
Mouline
UNIL-Sorge
EPFL
Bassenges
Cerisaie
Crochy
Epenex
Renens CFF

Line m2

The métro de Lausanne (m2) uses the track formerly used by the Lausanne-Ouchy, and then a brand new extension towards Epalinges, crossing the whole city of Lausanne from north to south.

History

• Complementary enquiry : September 2001
• Decision by the State Council : June 2002
• Funding requested from the High Council : September 2002
• Popular vote : end 2002
• Metro-Ouchy operations stopped : January 2006
• Duration of construction : 4 to 5 years
• Official Inauguration : 18 to 21 September 2008
• In operation from : October 27 2008

Technical

• Mostly in tunnel
• Rubber-tyred metro with the steepest slopes in Europe.

Characteristics of the line

M2

• 3.7 miles (6km) from Ouchy to Epalinges, including 1 mile (1.5km) replacing the former Lausanne-Ouchy.
• 14 stations.
• 1190ft slope (375 metres) slope.
• 5.7% slope average with maximum of 12%. The constraints in braking distance and deceleration is such that the M2 can travel faster upwards than downwards.

Performances

• 25 millions passengers/year (forecast)
• 37 000 jobs serviced.
• 37 mph (60 km/h) top speed.
• 18 minutes from one end of the line to the other.
• Up to 6 600 passengers/hour in each direction.
• One train every 3 minutes between CFF Station and La Sallaz (Every 6 minutes at the rest of the line).

A rubber-tyred metro

A Rubber-tyred metro is able to climb at high speed the Lausanne slopes (12% in some places ; 5.7% average on the whole line).