Swiss Paddlesteamer Timetables

Welcome to John's

Swiss and Italian paddle steamer Timetables
This is an unofficial site
(Always check locally before booking for any future sailing)

Monday 25th July 2011

PS Unterwalden (Lake Luzern)

photo: Daniel Eichenberger
The paddle steamer approaches Kehrsiten Dorf with Mount Pilatus
towering above in the background

Sunday 24th July 2011

PS Schiller (Lake Luzern)

photos Robert Horlacher
The paddle steamer operates her lunchtime "Dampfer-Sinfonie" and is
seen initially sailing parallel with PS Uri and later returning with PS Gallia

Thursday 14th July 2011

PS Patria (Lake Como)

photos: Andrew King
Work on re-building the paddle steamer is progressing well
as seen from a passing motor vessel on the lake

Tuesday 5th July 2011

PS Unterwalden (Lake Luzern)

photos: Peter Devrell
The paddle steamer has just left Vitznau on her return to Luzern

Good Friday 22nd April 2011

PS La Suisse (Lake Geneva)

photo: Robert Horlacher
The paddle steamer has just left Château-de-Chillon pier
and is seen passing the castle

Monday 20th June 2011

MPV G Zanardelli (Lake Garda)

picture: Limone webcam
The well loaded motor paddle vessel approaches Limone
on sailing 53 from Riva to Malcesine

Whit Sunday 12th June 2011

PS Concordia (Lake Como)

photo: Riccardo Suzzi
This was the first Sunday of the 2011 season that the paddle steamer operated
a private charter to Menaggio by AVIS (italian association of blood donors) of Como rather than being on timetabled service

Wednesday 8th June 2011

MPV G Zanardelli (Lake Garda)

picture: Limone webcam
The motor paddle vessel calls at Limone
on sailing 53 from Riva to Malcesine

Sunday 29th May 2011

PS Blümlisalp (Lake Thun)

photo: Adrian (Switzerland)
The paddle steamer approaches Thun at the end of her morning charter
prior to operating her first timetabled sailing of the season

Sunday 15th May 2011

PS Unterwalden (Lake Luzern)

photo: Robert Horlacher
The paddle steamer approaches Beckenried on her first timetabled sailing
since her major re-build

Saturday 7th May 2011
Return to service of
PS Unterwalden (Lake Luzern)

photos: Daniel and Hans Eichenberger (click on each picture to enlarge)
A special parade took place to mark the completion of the major re-build of
PS Unterwalden

Now where did the sixth paddle steamer appear from ? - see right hand picture !
I am sure the "locals" know --- but DO YOU ?

Sunday 17th April 2011

PS Concordia (Lake Como)

photo: Jacopo Tagliaferri
The paddle steamer calls at Cadenabbia on her return sailing 235 to Como
on her first day in sevice during 2011

Sunday 10th April 2011

PS Uri (Lake Luzern)

photo: Daniel Eichenberger

"WINTER STEAM" or "START OF THE SEASON"
Take your pick !!!!!
The paddle steamer departs Beckenried on the first return public sailing
of April 2011

Thursday 7th May 2011

PS Unterwalden and PS Uri (Lake Luzern)

photo: Robert Horlacher
The paddle steamers pass near Hertenstein
PS Unterwalden (left) on a photo charter and PS Uri (right) on trials

21st February 2011

PS Neuchâtel (Lake Neuchâtel)

photo: Fernand Naudin

Work takes place on the hull as the first stage of the paddle steamer's
major overhaul at Sugiez

February 2011

PS Simplon (Lake Geneva)

photo: Monsieur Fernand

The bell and anchor winch after overhaul
awaiting refitting to the paddle steamer

February 2011

PS Rhône (Lake Geneva)

photo: Monsieur Fernand

The former covering which hid the engine has been replaced with perspex
over the winter allowing passengers to watch the engine at work

Wednesday 16th January 2011

PS Unterwalden (Lake Luzern)

photo: Daniel Eichenberger

The paddle steamer made her first test sailing since her re-build

Sunday 2nd January 2011

PS Uri (Lake Luzern)

photo: Daniel Eichenberger
The paddle steamer sailed the full length of the lake
to Fluëlen and return - calling at the front edge of the cargo bridge
This was the final sailing of her extended 2010 season

New Year's Eve - Friday 31st December 2010

PS Piemonte (Lake Maggiore)

photo: Mario Gavazzi
--> The paddle steamer loads at Aronma for her rare public sailing

Thursday 30th December 2010

PS Uri (Lake Luzern)

photo: Beat Zumstein
The paddle steamer set off from Flüelen on her return sailing 24 to Luzern
with very few passengers braving the outside decks

Christmas Day - Saturday 25th December 2010

PS Uri (Lake Luzern)

photo: Daniel Eichenberger
Despite the weather, the paddle steamer sailed the full length of the lake
to Fluëlen and return on Christmas Day

The winter got off to a bad start on

Thursday 30th September 2010

MPV Vevey (Lake Geneva)

cartoon: Burki
The motor paddle vessel made her final sailings on Thursday 30th September
prior to long-term lay-up awaiting finance for a major re-build
The "Birki" cartoon in the local paper sums up the strong local feeling
about officials delaying agreement to proceed immediately
Hopefully this will be resolved in the not-too-distant future
but this means none of the CGN's three MPVs will now sail in 2011...............

...............and this was followed by an announcement in similar vein from the Cantons
that funding for the winter overhaul of PS Rhône had also been suspended
due to the economic climate
BUT........................

Lake Geneva

...............the BEST paddle steamer Christmas News

The CGN have just confirmed PS Rhône WILL sail in 2011
(during July and August)
following a close re-vote in favour by the Cantons !!!

Saturday 18th December 2010

PS Unterwalden (Lake Luzern)

photo: Hans Eichenberger
The paddle steamer is steamed for the first time since her re-build
Note - there is not as much snow as in the UK !!!

Tuesday 23rd November 2010

PS Unterwalden (Lake Luzern)

photos: André Hofer
The paddle steamer is back in the water after her major re-build
The new enclosed upper deck saloon can be clearly seen
(this is likely to be a major factor in her increased use in the future)

Sunday 24th October 2010

PS Stadt Rapperswil (Lake Zurich)

photo: Daniel Eichenberger
The paddle steamer heads for "home" for the final time in 2010
having just called at Thalwil on sailing 116

Saturday 16th October 2010

PS Neuchâtel (Lake Neuchâtel)

photos: Olivier Bachmann
The paddle steamer is craned onto dry-land to start her major re-build

Sunday 17th October 2010

PS Stadt Luzern and PS Uri (Lake Luzern)

photos: Daniel Eichenberger
The paddle steamers arrive back at Luzern at the end of the 2010 season

Saturday 9th October 2010

PS Stadt Luzern (Lake Luzern)

photos: Daniel Eichenberger
The paddle steamer sails in the fog
Where have all the mountains gone ?

Sunday 3rd October 2010

PS Concordia (Lake Como)

photo: Jacopo Tagliaferri
The paddle steamer return to Como on her final sailing 45 of the season

Saturday 2nd October 2010

PS Stadt Luzern (Lake Luzern)

photos: Daniel Eichenberger
The paddle steamer passes the Meggenhorn
Note the snow covered mountains in the background
Despite the glorious warm weather - winter is fast approaching!

Tuesday 28th September 2010

PS Stadt Zürich (Lake Zurich)

photos: Roger Roth
Following the paddle steamer's premature finish to her season
she has already been lifted out of the water for attention to her damaged paddle wheel

Sunday 19th September 2010

PS Gallia (Lake Luzern)

photos: Daniel Eichenberger
The paddle steamer on its final day in service in 2010
also the last day under command of Captain Andrist

Headline News - now appears on the "Start Page" - click here

*This website was last updated on* *Saturday 4th February 2012*		see Log Page for full details
*** * * If this page loads without the Contents on the left, please click here * * ***
---------------------------------------------------

NO Swiss paddle steamer currently in service

Click here

for details of the last day the various Swiss paddle steamers were in service during 2011

updated following the last day in service of
service of
PS Unterwalden on Sunday 1st January 2012

For further information
- see Paddle Steamer Fleet Details page

FUTURE SPECIAL SAILINGS

Dates of ALL public special sailings
in 2011 by paddle steamers
(that I am aware of *)
on the Swiss and Italian lakes will be shown on the
News Page or the Parades Page
also on the appropriate lake Summary Page
under the relevant date
* - please e-mail me with details if YOU are aware of any others

(look for the "gold" or "lightblue" backgrounds)

In responce to numerous requests
Advance Information on some of the "POSSIBLE" sailings for Summer 2012 is now given

Please note - at this stage, some lakes are ONLY an outline compared with 2011 for those lakes which have declared their intentions
(incorporating ANY appropriate information supplied to me)

REMEMBER the situation may change CONSIDERABLY
nearer the time or as the season progresses

Click here

for "Advance Information 2012" Index Page giving links to the individual lakes
this information will be updated as appropriate
until detailed timetables are posted

Before visiting any of the lakes, PLEASE check first with the operator
much nearer the time

REMEMBER, you saw it here first !!!

Important
Site Updates
and News

For full details of ALL updates to this website see Log Page
For full details of paddle steamer news see News Page
For latest known 'status' of each operational paddle steamer see:-
Active Paddle Steamer Summary Page or
Paddle Steamer Details Page (includes details of all known future public sailings * )
or other Paddle Steamers/Motor Vessels Index Page

* - if you are aware of any others (or spot an error)
please e-mail me and I will update the information
for the benefit of other visitors to this website

Friday
15th June 2011

* * 60,000 visitors * *

have logged onto this website
since the counter was re-set to zero
on 20th February 2007

Thank you for visiting
and please 'spread' the word around by introducing it to ANOTHER one of your friends !!!

Once again, a very big thank you to those of you who have been in touch from all over the world
especially those who regularly supply information, pictures, etc.

--- perhaps YOU too can help ?

updated
20th February 2007

Summary of Sailings INDEX
First select one of the nine Swiss or Italian lakes below
(including the two which are International)
Then "click" on the link to obtain an overview of all the operational Swiss and Italian paddle steamers $, the routes operated and their regular timetabled and special public sailings
($ - includes one German - which occasionally visits Swiss waters)

There are also maps of both the Swiss and Italian lakes if case you are unfamiliar with the area
You can "click" on your selected lake to find the individual lake timetable index (which then has links to find out detailed timings and calling points of all paddle steamer operated sailings on your selected date)

Alternatively, you can use the following links to take you straight to the regularly updated summary of each lake, which now also includes details of all public special cruises advised to me that are planned to be operated by a paddle steamer

Lake Brienz; Lake Geneva Lake Luzern Lake Thun Lake Zurich
Lake Como Lake Garda Lake Maggiore Lake Konstanz (sailings to/from Swiss piers only)

5th January 2010

** HISTORY **
Things haven't changed much on Lake Brienz
over the last 35 years plus !
Mondays to Fridays 1975
Saturdays 1975 Sundays 1975

23rd December 2002

** HISTORY **
LAKE GENEVA - mid-1980's
Who wanted to know then which sailings
were operated by paddle steamers ?
In the peak-Summer of 1984 only one afternoon sailing
(starting Lausanne) was advertised as such in the official timetable !
along with the Saturday evening dance cruise
(an extension of the daily sailing 76)

Updates are usually posted between 1400 and 2400 the previous day
For full details of ALL website updates see Log Page

The best results from this website can be achieved by viewing in Firefox or Internet Explorer
but it should also be viewable from any browser

Your help is VITAL !!!
If YOU know something else or spot something wrong on these pages,
please e-mail me

This website site was originally planned to simply give a historical record of the timetabled sailings
made by the paddle steamers on the principle Swiss lakes

However, over the years it has gradually expanded to also give future sailings expected to be operated by the
18 remaining Swiss Paddle Steamers
(including the three Lake Geneva diesel-electric "motor paddle vessels" #)
on
Lakes Brienz Geneva # Luzern Neuchâtel $ Thun and Zurich

However, in order to help holidaymakers and others plan their lake cruises,
where advance information is not yet available
LINKS will lead to the equivalent period during the previous year(s)
For those not familiar with the area
Summary of Sailings Index and Map Index pages are available
with further links to
"detailed summaries" of the sailings on each lake
PLEASE check with the operators nearer the time, as they often have to make
late changes, especially to the vessel operating a particular sailing

# - Three of which ( MPV Helvétie MPV Vevey) and MPV Italie) are presently "long-term laid-up" awaiting restoration
(although MPV Helvétie is to be used as a floating exhibition in 2012)
$ - PS Neuchâtel is currently undertaking a major restoration at Sugiez- having been transferred to the Trivapor Organisation

Lake Konstanz
(Switzerland/
Germany/Austria)

This website also gives Swiss information on the one remaining operational
German paddle steamer
which occasionally visits Swiss piers
This now includes Konstanz which is just three minutes by train "across the border"

Lake Maggiore
(Switzerland/Italy)

This website also gives limited Swiss and Italian information on the one remaining
Italian paddle steamer
now returned to service following a major rebuild which has in the past occasionally visited the Swiss piers
(Sadly with one exception since 2008 her only sailings are private charters)

Lake Como
(Italy)

This website also gives limited information about the two remaining
Italian paddle steamers
one of which is operational
and the other has just started
a major re-build having been lying idle since 1992

Lake Garda
(Italy)

This website also gives limited information about the two remaining
Italian motor paddle vessels
which usually operate timetabled services on a non-advertised basis during the main summer
also the occasional special
"Regatta" sailings

Note: Additional sailings are operated by motor vessels on all the lakes featured

Separate timetables lead from the links on each lake index (and archive index) page
Where timetables are large (mainly during peak summer dates),
it is advisable to
Open Frame in New Window
(a Restore Frames link is provided at the bottom right of every page)
Most underlined text will lead to an additional page
and larger pictures can be found by clicking on many of the small pictures

This site has been created from scratch. Whilst much of the basic information contained herein could be found by studying and translating timetables issued by the various companies, I have set out to present the timetables of the sailings on all lakes in English
in a consistant simplified form
They will normally be available for historical reference after expiry of official publicity - please e-mail me if you are unable to find any particular timetable or you find any link not working
(note: many old timetables were 'lost' when my webhost's server crashed some years ago and I have not had the time to re-create them all - any specific ones you request I will attempt to restore as long as I still have the information or if you can supply the details)

The timetables on this site normally only show the public regular and special sailings planned to be operated by paddle steamers (PSs)
(or - if I have been advised - day to day variations and/or what actully happened on the day)
[Note:- in the cases of Lake Geneva and Lake Garda, they also include those sailings operated by the operational motor paddle vessel (MPVs) $]
Sailings operated by a motor vessel are normally only shown when they deputise for a paddle steamer - or when a paddle steamer may cover on certain dates
$ - on Lake Geneva (MPV Helvétie MPV Italie and MPV Vevey) have been 'long-term' laid-up since early-Spring 2002 late-Winter 2005 and Autumn 2010 respectively

In order to further simplify presentation, timetables are split into limited dates to obviate
(a) the wavy lines - also other irritating notes which are so common in most official timetables (sometimes only in the 'local' language)
(b) a single multi-coloured column - where only part(s) of the sailing apply on some dates

Details of any day-to-day late variations to the
basic sailings
will only be posted if you advised me accordingly

Further timetables for 2012
are gradually being added/updated for those lakes which have declared their
(in some cases revised) intentions

Please BOOKMARK this site NOW
and revisit again soon!

This is an unofficial site.
No responsibility can be taken for the accuracy of any information contained in this site by the webmaster, the webhost or anyone else connected with the site.
Anyone visiting Switzerland or Italy to sail on the Paddle Steamers is strongly advised
to check the latest position with the operator concerned.

Information may be copied for personal use only
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES are any pages to be reproduced in whole or part thereof on any other web site or published in any other form whatsoever

Links from other sites would be appreciated
Please let me know if you have any suitable photographs, etc. for possible inclusion. Credit will be given if published

The web-master would be pleased to receive details of any further information, corrections or updates known to you, especially details of problems in loading any page or link so they can be corrected for use by subsequent visitors
e-mail