Appenzeller Bahnen
A Swiss regional railway company operating metre-gauge, rack, standard-gauge and mountain railway services, together with regional buses.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Appenzeller Bahnen, commonly abbreviated AB and known in English as Appenzell Railways, is a Swiss regional transport company headquartered in Herisau. It operates railway and bus services across the cantons of Appenzell Innerrhoden, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, St. Gallen and Thurgau. Its network links regional communities with St. Gallen and other transport hubs, while several of its lines also serve as tourist and excursion routes through the Appenzell region. The present company was established in 2006 through the consolidation of several historically independent railway operators. Its corporate predecessor, also called Appenzeller Bahnen, was formed in 1988 through the merger of the Appenzellerbahn and the St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell–Altstätten-Bahn. The 2006 transaction brought the Rorschach–Heiden railway, the Rheineck–Walzenhausen mountain railway and the Trogenerbahn into the enlarged organization. In 2021, Appenzeller Bahnen acquired the Frauenfeld–Wil railway, extending its operating responsibilities into the canton of Thurgau. The companies had already cooperated operationally for many years before that transaction. The company’s principal network consists of several lines built at different times and with different engineering characteristics. The St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell, Gossau–Appenzell–Wasserauen and Altstätten–Gais routes form a connected narrow-gauge system using metre gauge and 1,500-volt direct-current electrification. The St. Gallen–Trogen route is also metre gauge but historically operated as a separate railway. A major infrastructure program carried out from 2016 to 2018 connected the St. Gallen–Trogen and Appenzell–St. Gallen systems. The project included conversion of the Trogen line to 1,500 volts, construction of the Ruckhalde tunnel and replacement of the former urban alignment through St. Gallen. Through-running began in October 2018. Other routes retain distinct technical identities. The Rorschach–Heiden line uses standard gauge and includes rack railway operation, while the Rheineck–Walzenhausen line uses a wider gauge and operates as a mountain railway. The Altstätten–Gais route also contains rack sections. These differences reflect the varied geography and historical development of the network rather than a single uniform railway design. Appenzeller Bahnen provides scheduled regional passenger services integrated into the St. Gallen S-Bahn and, for some routes, the Bodensee S-Bahn. As of December 2023, the company operated eight regional train services, numbered S15 and S20–S26, as well as bus line 190. It also operates night buses over routes corresponding to the St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell and St. Gallen–Trogen corridors. Its role combines everyday regional mobility, connections to the wider Swiss public-transport system and visitor access to the Appenzell landscape.
History
The history of Appenzeller Bahnen is rooted in a group of independent railway companies created to connect the towns and mountain communities of northeastern Switzerland. The Rorschach–Heiden-Bergbahn opened between Rorschach and Heiden in 1875. In the same year, the Appenzellerbahn began service from St. Gallen Winkeln to Urnäsch, later extending from Urnäsch to Appenzell in 1886. The line between Herisau and Winkeln was subsequently replaced in 1913 by a route to Gossau. Further local railways followed. The Frauenfeld–Wil railway opened in 1887. The St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell-Bahn began service between St. Gallen and Gais in 1889 and reached Appenzell in 1904. The Rheineck–Walzenhausen-Bergbahn opened in 1896, while the Trogenerbahn connected St. Gallen and Trogen from 1903. The Altstätten–Gais-Bahn opened in 1911, and the Säntisbahn began operating between Appenzell and Wasserauen in 1912. The first important consolidations occurred after the Second World War. The Appenzellerbahn and Säntisbahn merged in 1947 while retaining the Appenzellerbahn name. In 1948, the St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell-Bahn and Altstätten–Gais-Bahn combined to form the St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell–Altstätten-Bahn. These reorganizations brought related local routes under broader operating structures but did not yet create the present company. In 1988, the Appenzellerbahn and the St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell–Altstätten-Bahn merged to form an Appenzeller Bahnen company. The organization was expanded again in 2006 when it acquired the Rorschach–Heiden-Bergbahn, Rheineck–Walzenhausen-Bergbahn and Trogenerbahn. This consolidation created a company responsible for a geographically dispersed collection of railways with different gauges, electrification systems and operating methods. A major modernization and integration project took place between 2016 and 2018. The Appenzell–St. Gallen line and St. Gallen–Trogen line had been physically close but operationally incompatible. The Trogen route used a different voltage, had a short section affected by the St. Gallen trolleybus system and terminated separately in the city. In addition, the steep rack-railway approach from Appenzell presented compatibility issues for adhesion-only vehicles. Appenzeller Bahnen addressed these constraints by re-electrifying the Trogen route at 1,500 volts direct current, constructing the Ruckhalde tunnel and replacing the old urban alignment. The former route through St. Gallen closed in April 2018, and through-running started in October of that year. In 2021, Appenzeller Bahnen acquired the Frauenfeld–Wil railway. Although the line was not physically connected to the Appenzeller Bahnen network, the two organizations had maintained close operational cooperation since before the acquisition. The transaction added another regional railway responsibility and broadened the company’s presence into Thurgau. Today, Appenzeller Bahnen operates a mixed regional transport portfolio. Its connected eastern network includes metre-gauge electrified lines between St. Gallen, Gais, Appenzell, Gossau, Wasserauen, Altstätten and Trogen. Separate services operate between Rorschach and Heiden, Rheineck and Walzenhausen, and Frauenfeld and Wil. The company also runs bus services, including line 190 and night services. Its passenger operations are integrated into the St. Gallen S-Bahn and, on relevant routes, the Bodensee S-Bahn. The resulting organization combines local commuting, interurban connections, mountain railway operation and tourism-oriented mobility.
- 2021
Frauenfeld–Wil railway acquired
[1]Appenzeller Bahnen took over the Frauenfeld–Wil railway after years of operational cooperation.
- 2018
Through-running between Appenzell and Trogen began
[1]After the Ruckhalde tunnel and associated electrification work, the connected service entered operation in October.
- 2016
St. Gallen integration project began
[1]Construction and systems work began to connect the Appenzell–St. Gallen and St. Gallen–Trogen routes.
- 2006
Regional railway consolidation completed
[1]The Appenzeller Bahnen company acquired the Rorschach–Heiden-Bergbahn, Rheineck–Walzenhausen-Bergbahn and Trogenerbahn.
- 1988
Modern corporate predecessor established
[1]The Appenzellerbahn and St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell–Altstätten-Bahn merged to create an Appenzeller Bahnen company.
- 1948
SGA and Altstätten–Gais-Bahn merged
[1]The St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell-Bahn and Altstätten–Gais-Bahn formed a combined railway company.
- 1947
Appenzellerbahn and Säntisbahn merged
[1]The two companies combined while retaining the Appenzellerbahn identity.
- 1912
Säntisbahn opened
[1]The Säntisbahn began service between Appenzell and Wasserauen.
- 1903
Trogenerbahn opened
[1]The Trogenerbahn began connecting St. Gallen and Trogen.
- 1889
St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell-Bahn began operating
[1]The railway opened its initial route between St. Gallen and Gais.
Products and positioning
A regional Swiss public-transport operator combining commuter and S-Bahn connectivity with historic mountain, rack and narrow-gauge railway services in northeastern Switzerland.
Regional railway · 1889
St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell railway
A metre-gauge, electrified regional railway linking St. Gallen with Gais and Appenzell. It forms part of Appenzeller Bahnen’s connected eastern network and supports both local travel and integration with the St. Gallen S-Bahn.
Regional and excursion railway · 1875
Gossau–Appenzell–Wasserauen railway
A metre-gauge adhesion railway running from Gossau through Appenzell to Wasserauen. The line provides regional transport and access to the Appenzell landscape and excursion destinations.
Regional railway · 1903
St. Gallen–Trogen railway
A metre-gauge route between St. Gallen and Trogen. Once operated independently from the Appenzell route, it was integrated into through-running operations after electrification changes and construction of the Ruckhalde tunnel.
Mountain and rack railway · 1875
Rorschach–Heiden railway
A geographically separate standard-gauge mountain railway connecting Rorschach and Heiden. Its route includes rack railway sections and has been part of the Appenzeller Bahnen organization since the 2006 consolidation.
Mountain railway · 1896
Rheineck–Walzenhausen railway
A separate mountain railway linking Rheineck and Walzenhausen. It uses a distinctive wider gauge and includes rack railway operation, reflecting the steep terrain of the route.
Regional and rack railway · 1911
Altstätten–Gais railway
A metre-gauge regional route between Altstätten and Gais with rack railway sections. It is part of the broader connected Appenzeller Bahnen network and serves communities in the Appenzell region.
Regional railway · 1887
Frauenfeld–Wil railway
A regional railway between Frauenfeld and Wil. The line became part of Appenzeller Bahnen through the 2021 takeover, although it is not physically connected to the company’s other railway routes.
Bus transportation
Regional bus services
Appenzeller Bahnen supplements its railway network with regional bus operations, including line 190 between Teufen and Speicher and night services broadly following the St. Gallen–Gais–Appenzell and St. Gallen–Trogen corridors.
Brand decisions
2021
Takeover of Frauenfeld–Wil railwayM&ABackground
Appenzeller Bahnen and the Frauenfeld–Wil railway had cooperated closely for years, despite remaining separate legal entities.
Action taken
Appenzeller Bahnen acquired the Frauenfeld–Wil railway.
Aftermath
The company added responsibility for a non-connected regional railway serving the Frauenfeld–Wil corridor and expanded its presence into Thurgau.
2016
Integration of the Appenzell and Trogen corridorsStrategyBackground
The two St. Gallen-area routes had adjacent but separate termini, different electrical systems and rolling-stock compatibility constraints.
Action taken
Appenzeller Bahnen undertook a major infrastructure program involving re-electrification of the Trogen line, construction of the Ruckhalde tunnel and replacement of the former urban alignment.
Aftermath
The former alignment closed in April 2018 and through-running between the two corridors began in October 2018.
2006
Consolidation of additional regional railwaysM&ABackground
Several historically independent railways operated in the same broad region but retained separate corporate structures.
Action taken
Appenzeller Bahnen acquired the Rorschach–Heiden-Bergbahn, Rheineck–Walzenhausen-Bergbahn and Trogenerbahn.
Aftermath
The enlarged company became responsible for a mixed group of connected and geographically separate railways with different gauges and operating systems.
Recent events
- 2021
Appenzeller Bahnen acquired Frauenfeld–Wil railway[1]
M&A
Appenzeller Bahnen took over the Frauenfeld–Wil railway, which had cooperated closely with the company for years while remaining legally separate.
- 2018
St. Gallen cross-city rail connection entered through service[1]
Product launch
Following the Ruckhalde tunnel project and related electrification and infrastructure work, the Appenzell and Trogen systems began operating through St. Gallen in October 2018.
- 2006
Appenzeller Bahnen formed through consolidation of regional railway companies[1]
M&A
The Appenzeller Bahnen organization was enlarged through the merger, legally structured as an acquisition, of the Rorschach–Heiden railway, Rheineck–Walzenhausen mountain railway and Trogenerbahn.
Sources2 sources
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