The Arbalète (alternatively written L'Arbalète)The Thomas Cook Timetable, for example, always identified the train as "L'Arbalète". was an express train that linked Paris-Est in Paris, France, with Zürich HB in Zurich, Switzerland. Introduced in 1957, it was operated by the SNCF and the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB-CFF-FFS).

The train was named after the crossbow used by William Tell to hit the apple on his son's head.

Originally, and for 22 years, the Arbalète was a first-class-only Trans Europ Express (TEE). On 27 May 1979, it became a two-class InterCity (IC) train,Thomas Cook International Timetable (May 27–June 30, 1979, edition), p. 6. Peterborough, UK: Thomas Cook Publishing. and on 31 May 1987, it was included in the then-new EuroCity (EC) network.Thomas Cook Continental Timetable (May 31–June 30, 1987, edition), pp. 472, 475. Thomas Cook Publishing. It was discontinued in September 1997, replaced by a TGV service that was routed via Pontarlier and Bern instead of Mulhouse and Basel.

See also

History of rail transport in France History of rail transport in Switzerland List of named passenger trains of Europe

References

Notes

Bibliography