Switzerland’s shortest private railway turns 125 years old

Four stations on four kilometres: the Oensingen-Balsthal Railway (OeBB) has successfully resisted being replaced by a bus service several times in its long history. The route network of the OeBB is just over four kilometres long. The private railway in the canton of Solothurn serves four stations. The journey on Switzerland's shortest independent railway takes eight minutes. According to its own information, it is the "shortest, European interoperable railway line in Europe". The railway has been operational for 125 years, although a bus replacement has been discussed time and again. Voices critical of the railway were only recently heard in connection with the vote on the Klus bypass. The OeBB is partly responsible for commuter congestion on the roads due to its railway crossings. A passenger on the train says that there would perhaps be less congestion without the railway. Then the barriers would not be closed four times an hour. The woman travels by train from time to time.