The Langenthal-Jura Railway (German: Langenthal-Jura-Bahn, abbreviated LJB) was a privately owned railway company that operated a metre‑gauge line in north‑western Switzerland.
History
- The LJB was founded in the early 20th century to provide a rail connection between the town of Langenthal (canton of Bern) and the Jura region, reaching the locality of Oensingen in the canton of Solothurn.
- Construction of the line began shortly after the company’s establishment, and the railway commenced operations in 1908.
Route and infrastructure
- The line ran roughly east‑west for about 14 kilometres, linking Langenthal with Oensingen and serving intermediate communities such as Roggwil and Niederbipp.
- It was built to the metre‑gauge (1 000 mm) track standard that was common among many Swiss private railways of the period.
Operations
- Passenger and freight services were provided using steam locomotives initially; later, the line was modernised and electrified in accordance with the standard Swiss railway electrification system (15 kV, 16.7 Hz AC).
- The LJB’s timetable connected with the national rail network at Langenthal, facilitating regional travel and the transport of agricultural and industrial goods.
Merger and successor
- In the latter half of the 20th century, the Langenthal-Jura Railway entered a series of cooperative agreements with neighbouring private railways.
- In 1999 the LJB’s assets and operations were incorporated into Aare Seeland mobil (ASM), a regional transport operator that now manages both rail and bus services in the Bern and Solothurn cantons.
Legacy
- The former LJB line continues to function as part of ASM’s network, maintaining its role in regional mobility.
- Historical rolling stock from the LJB has been preserved by railway museums and heritage organisations, reflecting the line’s contribution to the development of Swiss narrow‑gauge rail transport.
