Chemins de fer du Jura

The Chemins de fer du Jura, abbreviated to CJ, is a railway company in the canton of Jura in northwestern Switzerland. It was formed in 1944 from the merger of four independent companies connecting Porrentruy to Bonfol, Saignelégier to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Glovelier to Saignelégier and Tavannes to Tramelan and Le Noirmont. The lines extend for a total of 84.8 kilometres (52.7 mi) of which just over 73 kilometres (45 mi) is metre gauge. The 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) line from Porrentruy to Bonfol is standard gauge. The company also operates local bus services in the area.

Chemins de fer du Jura

Overview
Dates of operation	1944 (1944)–
Predecessors	Régional Porrentruy–Bonfol Régional Saignelégier-Glovelier Saignelégier–La Chaux-de-Fonds Railway Tavannes–Le Noirmont Railway
Technical
Track gauge	1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	1500 V DC (metre gauge) 15 kV 16 2/3 Hz (standard gauge)
Length	73.8 km (45.86 mi) (metre gauge) 11 km (6.84 mi) (standard gauge)
Route map Bonfol R51 to Belfort – Montbéliard TGV Vendlincourt S3 R51 Porrentruy Alle Courgenay St-Ursanne Combe-Tabeillon Glovelier R36 Bollement Bassecourt La Combe Courfaivre Pré-Petitjean Courtételle Le Bémont Delémont Saignelégier S3 to Basel SBB Muriaux to Biel/Bienne Les Emibois R37 Le Noirmont Les Breuleux-Eglise Le Creux-des-Biches Les Breuleux Le Boéchet La Chaux-des-Breuleux Les Bois JU BE La Large-Journée Le Pied-d'Or JU BE Les Reussilles La Chaux-d'Abel Tramelan-Chalet La Ferrière Tramelan BE NE Tramelan-Dessous La Cibourg Birs La Chaux-de-Fonds-Est to Moutier R22 to Les Ponts-de-Martel Tavannes R37 to Biel/Bienne R22 R36 La Chaux-de-Fonds / to Neuchâtel / to Le Locle

Operations

As of the December 2023 timetable change, Chemins de fer du Jura (CJ) operates the following regional railway services:

• R36: La Chaux-de-Fonds – Le Noirmont – Saignelégier – Glovelier
• R37: Le Noirmont – Les Breuleux – Tramelan – Tavannes
• R51: Porrentruy – Bonfol

CJ also operates the following bus lines:

• 121: St-Imier – Chasseral
• 123: St-Imier – St-Imier, hôpital – St-Imier
• 131: Tramelan – Les Breuleux – St-Imier

History

The first company to open a line in the region was the Chemin de fer Tavannes-Tramelan, which opened the 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge line linking the villages in its name in 1884. This line was extended by the Chemin de fer Tramelan-Les Breuleux-Le Noirmont to reach Le Noirmont and was electrified in 1913. In 1927 the two companies merged to form the Chemin de fer Tavannes–Noirmont.

On 7 December 1892 the longest of the region's lines, the Chemin de fer Saignelégier-La Chaux-de-Fonds (SC) was opened linking the places in its title. The 25 km (15.5 mi) line ran from Saignelégier (Place d'Armes) to La Chaux-de-Fonds, the final kilometre being laid along the streets to the town centre.

The 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge Porrentruy–Bonfol railway line and Saignelégier–Glovelier railway were opened in 1901 and 1904 respectively. Finally, Porrentruy–Bonfol was extended to Pfetterhouse in 1910. This extension was closed in 1970. The line between Saignelégier and Glovelier relaid to metre gauge in 1953.

Following the amalgamation of the companies in 1943, the rail system was restructured between 1946 and 1953. The complete system was electrified, some 40 years after the first electric trains had run.

References

• Wägli, Hans G.; Jacobi, Sébastien (2010). Schienennetz Schweiz - Bahnprofil Schweiz CH+ [Swiss rail network] (in German) (3rd ed.). Zürich: AS Verlag. ISBN 978-3-909111-74-9.

External links

• Official website