🇨🇭 Erstfeld

Major

Quick Facts

Country	🇨🇭
Type	Major
Coordinates	46.821043, 8.650957
Timezone	Europe/Zurich
Connections	776
UIC Code	8505114

About Erstfeld

Erstfeld is a historically significant station in the canton of Uri at the northern portal of the Gotthard railway corridor, where the traditional adhesion main line begins its steep climb through the spiralling tunnels toward Göschenen and the original Gotthard Tunnel. The town has been defined by its railway heritage since the opening of the Gotthard line in 1882, and retains a large locomotive maintenance depot that has serviced the heavy freight traffic of one of Europe's busiest transalpine rail arteries for over a century. Today SBB passenger services stop at Erstfeld on the route between Lucerne and Bellinzona, while most high-speed and freight traffic runs through the deeper Gotthard Base Tunnel a few kilometres to the west.

Frequently Asked Questions

Erstfeld is on the mainline SBB Gotthard route, and the nearest station for changing to the Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn towards Andermatt is Göschenen, one stop south. From Göschenen, the rack railway descends through the Schöllenen Gorge to Andermatt in around twenty minutes.

SBB InterCity and Intercity Express trains on the Gotthard Panorama Express route stop at Erstfeld, as do regional trains on the Uri S-Bahn network. Erstfeld is a traditional railway town and the site of the historic Gotthard locomotive depot.

Erstfeld does not have staffed luggage storage; passengers with large bags should use the facilities at Altdorf, the cantonal capital a few minutes north by train, or at Luzern. Self-service lockers may be available at some hours; check the SBB app for current status.

Erstfeld was historically the starting point of the steep Gotthard ramp, requiring banking locomotives to assist heavy trains up the mountain gradient. The locomotive roundhouse and workshops have been partly converted into a railway heritage centre that tells the story of the Gotthard line.

Erstfeld lies at the entrance to the Upper Reuss valley, with walking trails into the surrounding Alpine foothills accessible directly from the station. The town is a convenient base for exploring the Uri canton, with the historic market town of Altdorf just four kilometres north.

Operators

OBB

National ·

Trenitalia

National ·

SBB

National ·

SNCF

National ·

DB

National ·

Top Destinations

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