Switzerland - 1981, 1987 and 1990

Tuesday 5 May 1981 – Verkhersbetriebe der Stadt Luzern (VBL) rigid trolleybus 214 seen at Schweizerhofquai/Seebrücke in Luzern working cross city service 4 from Wesemlin to Hubelmatt. One of the Büssing articulated trolleybuses is directly behind. Both buses are carrying local flags, a tradition on special days.

Tuesday 5 May 1981 – Verkhersbetriebe der Stadt Luzern (VBL) rigid trolleybus 216 seen in Alpenstrasse in Luzern working cross city service 4 from Wesemlin to Hubelmatt. It is carrying local flags on the front dome, a tradition on special days.

Monday 4 May 1981 – Verkhersbetriebe der Stadt Luzern (VBL) 239 during a quick call at the main bus station as it passed through on cross city service 4 from Hubelmatt to Wesemlin. The services have only a short dwell time at this stop as other services (1, 2 and 4/5) share the same wires and platform (Perron 2). They arrived via Pilatusstrasse, called at Perron 2, departed crossing the main city bridge (Seebrücke) and continued along Schweizerhofquai before diverging to their different destinations. For example between 0700 and 0730 the following departures took place: 0700 (1), 0703 (2), 0703 (4/5), 0706 (1), 0709 (2), 0709 (4/5), 0712 (1), 0715 (2), 0715 (4/5), 0718 (1), 0721 (4/5), 0721 (2), 0724 (1), 0727 (2), 0727 (4/5) etc. The stone building forming the backcloth is the Hotel Monopol where I stayed during this trip. My room (possibly on the top floor) offered a great view of the bus station area!

Monday 4 May 1981 – Verkhersbetriebe der Stadt Luzern (VBL) employed a small number of contractors to work some of its services. This view shows a dual doored Mercedes-Benz O 302 and a Swiss built bus operated by contractors. Both carry blue based liveries resembling that of VBL.

Friday 13 November 1987 – Verkhersbetriebe der Stadt Luzern (VBL) employed a small number of contractors to work some of its services. This Ramsier und Jenzer bodied Mercedes-Benz was operated by Gottfried Waser AG (trading as GOWA) based in Stans just outside Luzern. Seen at Brüelstrasse (Kreuzbuchstrasse) working service 14.

Monday 4 May 1981 – Luzern bus station from my room at the Hotel Monopol, the main railway station is to the right. The twin spires of the church of St. Leodegar can be seen across the water of Vierwaldstättersee (Lake Luzern) (behind the taller tree). This was a business trip to our regional office located close to the church and they did me proud by requesting a room offering this magnificent view (except that the opportunity to view it was limited). Some of the blue buses of Verkhersbetriebe der Stadt Luzern (VBL) can be seen, an artic trolleybus heads towards the bottom of the photo. Above it is a diesel version awaiting to turn into the bus station and beyond that are two rigid trolleybuses. Beyond the concourse are a couple more diesel buses of VBL plus a cream bus perhaps working a contract for VBL.

Tuesday 5 May 1981 - Verkhersbetriebe der Stadt Luzern (VBL) ticket machine and timetable board at Schweizerhofquai/Seebrücke in Luzern. The main display is in German but Italian, French, English and Spanish options can be read on the sides of the machine.