Rorschach–Heiden Rack Railway

For the historic Rorschach–Heiden line, we designed a new generation of vehicles for Appenzeller Bahnen. The two new railcars, each around 21 metres long, were developed specifically for the 5.7-kilometre route, combining adhesion and rack operation to tackle gradients of up to 93.6‰.

A key feature of the concept is the passenger experience at the front of the train. First class extends into the driver’s cab area, offering panoramic views of the track ahead and across Lake Constance. The vehicles are also prepared for fully automated operation in the future.

The result is a distinctive new generation of trains that combines the heritage of the Rorschach–Heiden Railway with a modern, forward-looking design.