Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn The Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn ( BD ) is a privately-owned railway company in Switzerland . Its railway line connects Wohlen and Bremgarten in the canton of Aargau with Dietikon in the canton of Zurich . The line has been modernised and is part of the Zürich S-Bahn network . There is a half-hourly service frequency , increasing at peak times to quarter-hourly between Bremgarten and Dietikon . This line is very important for commuters to Zurich . Technical data Distance : 18.8 km Double-track : 1.6 km Along roads : 0.8 km Gauge : 1000 mm ; dual-gauge track between Wohlen and Bremgarten West , 1435/1000 mm ( length 6.6 km ) Minimum turning radius : 25m Power system : Direct current 1200 Volts Maximum gradient : 5.6 % History Wohlen-Bremgarten-Bahn The route between Wohlen and Bremgarten West was built to standard gauge by the Aargauische Südbahn railway ( Aarau - Wohlen - Rotkreuz ) . The service began on September 1 , 1876 , operated by steam locomotives . In 1882 the route was extended to include Brugg – Lenzburg – Wohlen – Bremgarten . On January 1 1902 , the Swiss Federal Railways , SBB , took over . Bremgarten-Dietikon Tramway The line to Wohlen had three disadvantages for Bremgarten : The timetable was poor , the station was too far away from the town centre and there was no direct connection to Zurich . In 1895 a plan was produced for an electrical tramway between Bremgarten and Dietikon . Construction began in 1901 , and the route was opened on April 30 , 1902 . Wohlen-Dietikon Nevertheless there was still a gap of about a kilometre between Bremgarten and Bremgarten West where passengers had to make their own way . The BD entered into negotiations with the SBB , and in 1910 , a permanent lease for the Wohlen-Bremgarten-Bahn began . The railway was electrified and an additional meter-gauge track was built between Wohlen and Bremgarten West . A railway bridge across the river Reuss was also constructed . Through-running trains between Wohlen and Dietikon began operating on February 8 , 1912 . After the merger After 1950 the line was modernised to suburban railway standards using new rolling stock and facilities . The opening of the rapid-transit Zürich S-Bahn network on May 27 1990 caused major development . The route and timetable were integrated into the rapid-transit railway network , and three new stops with interchange facilities with other public transport modes were added . In 1995 , a double-track section was built between Rudolfstetten Hofacker and Berikon-Widen , which was extended two years later to the Belveder stop . Route description A train from the Bremgarten-Dietikon-Bahn at the platform in Wohlen The line begins in Wohlen at a platform opposite the SBB station ( altitude 426 m ) . After a few metres , the freight line joins ; this produces a section of three-rail track ( 1000 mm for passenger trains , 1435 mm for freight trains ) . The line rises to 451 m altitude and passes into the Bremgarterwald ( Bremgarten Forest ) . The Erdmannlistein stop lies in the middle in the forest and serves exclusively trip traffic . After 6.6 km is the Bremgarten West station ( alt. 404 m ) , where the three-rail track for the standard-gauge freight trains ends . Thus far the line is rather flat ( maximum gradient of 1.5% ) , has gentle turning radii ( minimum 300 m ) and resembles a normal SBB standard-gauge line . After Bremgarten West , the line changes its character completely . After two sharp curves the line runs across the 156 m wide Reuss bridge . The company 's headquarters , including a depot and administration building , are located at Bremgarten station ( alt. 389 m ) . From here on the line runs right alongside the main street through a densely populated area . The line rises up slopes of up to 5.6% . After four sharp curves one reaches the Berikon - Widen station on the Mutschellen pass ( alt. 553 m ) . From now on the line goes downhill again . After a sharp left curve shortly before Rudolfstetten the downward gradient becomes gradually flatter . Between Bergfrieden and Dietikon the line has tramway-like characteristics with street-running . The line ends at Dietikon station ( alt. 391 m ) at a platform beside the SBB tracks . Future For many years there has been a plan for a tunnel between Bergfrieden and Dietikon , in order to avoid the tramway-like section . However , in times of limited funds such a project ( its very existence being extremely questionable ) is probably not realisable . More realistic is the project for a light rail system in the densely populated Limmattal area , west of Zurich . Continuing from the BD line the first stage would lead from Dietikon to Spreitenbach and Killwangen . The second stage would be from Dietikon through Urdorf and Schlieren to Zurich-Altstetten , with connection to the Zurich Tramway at the Farbhof terminus . External links official Website BD private info site Categories : Railway lines in Switzerland | Metre gauge railways In other languages : Deutsch 