Transports publics Fribourgeois
The Transports Publics Fribourgeois is a joining together of public transport interests in the canton of Fribourg including rail and road operations.
The Railways
The Chemin de Fer Fribourgeois Gruyere - Fribourg - Morat is a railway operator with both narrow and standard gauge lines centred in the town of Bulle. The main line of the narrow gauge network runs from Palézieux, on the SBB main line from Bern to Lausanne, via Châtel-St.-Denis and Bulle to Montbovon. The short Bulle - Broc branch, which leaves this line between Bulle and La Tour de Treme, serves the nearby Nestlé chocolate factory. The company also operates two short standard-gauge lines, between Bulle and Romont and, completely separate, a line between Fribourg, Murten and Ins.
The Palézieux - Montbovon line was opened throughout in 1904. The Chemins de Fer Chateau St.Denis-Palezieux (CP) and the Chemins de Fer Chatel-St.-Denis - Bulle - Montbovon (CBM) amalgamated in 1907 to form the Chemins de fer électriques de la Gruyère (CEG), adding the Bulle - Broc branch line in 1912. The two standard gauge operations joined in a further amalagamation on 1st January 1942 when together they formed the Chemins de Fer Gruyere-Fribourg-Morat.
Operations are centred on Bulle which has a depot, workshops and offers a connection to the standard gauge line to Romont. The transfer to the Chemin de fer Montreux Oberland Bernoise takes place in Montbovon.
Today, on both systems, passenger traffic is carried out by electric units, single driving cars, coupled at busy times to trailers. Standard gauge goods traffic can transfer to the metre gauge where the wagons are transported on carrier trucks. The company has few metre gauge wagons, all connected with railway engineering.
Locomotives and Rolling Stock
To date, in early Autumn 2006, all the locomotives and rolling stock on both the standard and narrow gauge lines was inherited from the previous companies, some dating back to pre - First World War days, however plans have been agreed for the Standard Gauge lines to be operated by new fixed three - car electric sets.
Initially, 6 "automotrices", motorised driving vehicles, will be rebuilt from present vehicles to a new, second class design incorporating new seating, information displays and video recording. It is believed these will be numbered in a series from 181 to 186 inclusive. The centre car, again all second class, will be from new building by Stadler and incorporate a low level centre section suitable for pram / buggy and disabled access. The centre cars will have large windows and other facilities as featured throughout the train. The "Voiture pilote" cars, the driving trailers, will be divided into two compartments for first and second class passengers and again incorporate the facilities featured elsewhere in the train. Operating speed will be to a maximum of 125 km/h
Livery
The trains were painted in an uninspiring grey livery with a broad orange band below the windows, marked "La Gruyere". In 2006 the first of the repainted units appeared on the line in a plain white livery with lining and "tpf" lettering in cherry red.
