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2001

2001
31st December 2001

Lake Geneva MPV Helvétie operated a special New Year's Eve Dance Cruise from Geneva at 2045
This turned out to be the final public sailing before the paddle steamer went to Ouchy Harbour for long-term lay-up
Lake Luzern PS Uri operated a special New Year's Eve Gala Cruise from Luzern at 1930
25th December 2001
Lake Luzern
The 100 year old PS Uri operated some timetabled sailings over the festive period between Tuesday 25th December 2001 and Wednesday 2nd January 2002 - see special feature  for full details
9th December 2001
Lake Geneva
MPV Italie took over the Winter Sunday afternoon sailings from Lausanne to St-Gingolph and return commencing on Sunday 9th December
7th December 2001
Lake Geneva
MPV Helvétie operated an evening disco cruise from Geneva at 2330 on Friday 7th December
2nd December 2001
Lake Geneva
The final sailings of 2001 by MPV Vevey
took take place on Sunday 2nd December departing Lausanne at 1230 for St-Gingolph and return
1st December 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Montreux operated an evening Scottish Whisky Dinner cruise from Geneva at 2100 on Saturday 1st December
Although this was the last public sailing of 2001 by PS Montreux - the paddle steamer was subsequently decorated specially for the Christmas charter sailings
23rd November 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Montreux operated an evening Scottish Whisky Dinner cruise from Lausanne at 2100 on Friday 23rd November
4th November 2001
Lake Geneva
MPV Vevey operated the Winter Sunday afternoon sailing from Lausanne to St-Gingolph and return commencing on Sunday 4th November
This followed an external re-paint during week commencing Monday 29th October
3rd November 2001
Lake Geneva
MPV Italie took over the Lausanne to Evian-les-Bains ferry service from mv Léman on Saturdays and Sundays commencing Saturday 3rd November following an
external re-paint during week commencing Monday 22nd October
31st October 2001
Lake Geneva
mv Léman made a rare visit to Yvoire on Wednesday 31st October when the motor vessel towed PS La Suisse for Winter work
at the French port, having left Ouchy works at 0800
28th October 2001
Lake Luzern
The final sailings of the 2001 season by PS Uri   PS Unterwalden and PS Stadt Luzern took place on Sunday 28th October
The sailings included two final visits to Alpnachstad by PS Unterwalden
27th October 2001
Lake Luzern
The final sailings of 2001 by PS Schiller
took place on Saturday 27th October
21st October 2001
Lake Luzern
All four of the operational paddle steamers were in service together for the final time during 2001 on Sunday 21st October
The sailings included a rare Autumn visit to Alpnachstad by PS Unterwalden
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp made her final 2001 sailings 15-16 on Sunday 21st October
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Rapperswil made her final 2001 sailings 101-102-111-112 on Sunday 21st October vice a motor vessel
20th October 2001
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp operated an evening 'fondue' cruise from Thun at 1910 on Saturday 20th October
13th October 2001
Lake Geneva
Owing to the small number of bookings, mv Chablais replaced the much larger PS Simplon on the remaining weekly Autumn evening 'Taverne Alsacienne' sailings from Lausanne at 2030 on Saturdays 13th to 27th October
12th October 2001
Lake Geneva
Owing to the small number of bookings, mv Ville-de-Genève replaced the much larger MPV Helvétie on the remaining weekly Autumn evening 'Taverne Alsacienne' sailings from Geneva Pâquis at 2030 on Fridays 12th and 19th October also Friday 26th October
7th October 2001
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp operated a breakfast cruise from Thun at 1000 on Sunday 7th October
6th October 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon operated the first of four weekly Autumn evening 'Taverne Alsacienne' sailings from Lausanne-Ouchy at 2030 on Saturday 6th October
5th October 2001
Lake Geneva
MPV Helvétie operated the first of four weekly Autumn evening 'Taverne Alsacienne' sailings from Geneva Pâquis at 2030 on Friday 5th October
30th September 2001
Lake Brienz
PS Lötschberg operated a four-hour cultural and culinary cruise from Interlaken Ost at 1300 on Sunday 30th September
23rd September 2001
Lake Brienz
PS Lötschberg remained in timetabled service until Sunday 23rd September
This was two weeks later than in 2000
Lake Luzern
Sunday 23rd September was the last day that the advertised timetable required all five paddle steamers to be in service on the same day
This was also be the last opportunity to sail on PS Gallia before its withdrawal for a two-year major re-build
21st September 2001
Lake Brienz
PS Lötschberg operated an evening 'country' cruise from Interlaken Ost at 1945 on Friday 21st September
17th September 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Rhône was brought back into service for one day to cover for mv Général-Guisan which had broken down the previous afternoon - this was the last day of the CGN Late Summer Timetable
16th September 2001
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated a Swiss coast cruise commencing at Rorschach on Sunday 16th September
14th September 2001
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Zürich operated an evening Jazz cruise from Zurich at 2000 on Friday 14th September
7th September 2001
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Rapperswil operated an evening Jazz cruise from Zurich at 2000 on Friday 7th September
6th September 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Rhône operated the annual special cruise from Lausanne at 0915 for the 524th Thonon-les-Bains Fair on Thursday 6th September
This was the last public sailing by PS Rhône during 2001
2nd September 2001
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp operated a breakfast cruise from Thun at 1000 on Sunday 2nd September
31st August 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Montreux and PS Rhône both finished their advertised timetabled sailings of the 2001 season on Friday 31st August
Lake Luzern
Evening cruises from Luzern
PS Unterwalden and PS Uri both operated the final sailing 105 of the season at 1920 from Luzern on Friday 31st August
25th August 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon operated the third and final evening 'love-boat' cruise from Montreux at
1845 on Saturday 25th August
24th August 2001
Lake Brienz
PS Lötschberg operated an evening jazz cruise from Interlaken Ost at 1900 on Friday 24th August
Lake Luzern
PS Gallia sailed along with the other four paddle steamers to provide a rare mid-week 'full-house' on timetabled services on Friday 24th August
This was this be the last time before 2004 when PS Gallia is expected to re-enter service
18th August 2001
Lake Luzern
PS Gallia operated an appeal special cruise from Luzern at 1230 on Saturday 18th
August
to raise funds for its major re-build (due to take place over the next two years)
15th August 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon operated sailings 80-191 on Wednesday 15th August instead of PS Savoie
Lake Luzern
PS Schiller operated sailings 7-18-21-24 and PS Unterwalden operated the regular 1915 'Sunset Cruise' from Luzern to Vitznau as PS Uri started the day at Flüelen operating sailings 12-17-28
Lake Maggiore
PS Piemonte operated the annual public fireworks cruise from Arona at 2030 to Laveno fireworks on Wednesday 15th August - again the paddle steamer only sailed at the Italian end of the lake
14th August 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon operated sailings 36-91 on Tuesday 14th August instead of PS Savoie
Lake Luzern
PS Uri operated an evening cruise from Flüelen at 1930 on Tuesday 14th August
In consequence PS Unterwalden operated
the regular 1915 'Sunset Cruise' from Luzern to Vitznau
11th August 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon and MPV Helvétie operated evening fireworks cruises from Lausanne and Yvoire respectively to Geneva on Saturday 11th August
Lake Luzern
In additional to the normal timetabled sailings, special sailings by PS Stadt Luzern and PS Unterwalden operated evening fireworks cruises from Luzern at 1945 on Saturday 11th August cruising round Luzern Bay for the annual fireworks display
10th August 2001
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp operated an evening jazz cruise from Thun at 2000 on Friday 10th August
1st August 2001
All lakes
Swiss National Day - Wednesday 1st August
Lake Brienz
In additional to the daytime timetabled sailings,   PS Lötschberg operated an evening fireworks cruise from Interlaken Ost at 2030
Lake Geneva
In additional to the normal timetabled sailings there were again special sailings for Swiss National Day
Dance Cruises
MPV Helvétie, PS Savoie and MPV Italie operated evening dance cruises from
Geneva, Lausanne and the "Upper Lake" piers respectively
Lake Luzern
In additional to the normal daytime timetabled sailings extra sailings operated to Rütli Meadow
PS Gallia operated sailings 17-28 with the return sailing running non-stop
"flat-out" from Beckenried to Luzern
Visit of Airship zeppelin
PS Unterwalden operated a special morning cruise at 0930 for the public to watch
mv Rütli bring specially franked mail from Rütli pier to Luzern bay and transfer it onto the airship for onward conveyance to the River Rhine
Fireworks at Brunnen
All five paddle steamers sailed in convoy
from Luzern at 2000 to Brunnen for the annual fireworks display
in consequence, the regular Wednesday evening sailings 29-36 (1915 Luzern to Vitznau and 2027 return) were operated by
a motor vessel
PS Uri suffered a minor defect to the engine whilst operating sailing 21 on Wednesday 1st August
The paddle steamer terminated its sailing at Kehrsiten-Bürgenstock and returned to dock for 'quick' repairs to enable it to take part in the evening fireworks parade - the remainder of sailing 21 and sailing 24 was covered by mv Wäldstatter
Lake Thun
In additional to the regular afternoon timetabled sailings 15-16,  PS Blümlisalp sailed in the annual evening naval parade from Thun at 2030
Lake Zurich
In additional to the normal timetabled sailings, PS Stadt Zürich operated an evening cruise from Zurich at 2015
20th July 2001
Lake Thun
Shortly after leaving Beatushöhlen on sailing 16,  the steam engine of PS Blümlisalp stopped, apparantly due to a lack of oil in the lubrication cups at the start of the run from Interlaken
- passengers were transferred about an hour later to the next sailing 18  (operated by
mv Stadt Thun)
  The paddle steamer subsequently returned light to Thun and continued her normal roster ..........
          .......... re-commencing with the special evening jazz cruise from Thun (depart 2000)
18th July 2001
Lake Luzern
PS Schiller operated sailings 7-18-21-24 and PS Unterwalden operated the regular 1915 'Sunset Cruise' from Luzern to Vitznau as PS Uri had started the day at Flüelen operating sailings 12-17-28
17th July 2001
Lake Luzern
PS Uri operated an evening cruise from Flüelen at 1930 on Tuesday 17th July
In consequence PS Unterwalden operated
the regular 1915 'Sunset Cruise' from Luzern to Vitznau
14th July 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Savoie and MPV Italie operated evening dance cruises from Lausanne and the "Upper Lake" piers respectively on Saturday 14th July whilst PS Simplon operated an afternoon samba cruise from Montreux
11th July 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Savoie suffered damage at Montreux pier during gales on Wednesday 11th July but continued in service
The paddle steamer was withdrawn from service for 'quick' repairs at Ouchy works on the morning of Friday 13th July during which time her morning sailing to St-Gingolph was undertaken by mv Ville-de-Genève
8th to 21st July 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon operated a series of special cruises for Montreux Jazz Festival
   Sunday 8th July - Salsa
   Saturday 14th July - Samba
   Sunday 15th July - Gospel and Blues
   Saturday 21st July - African and Caribean
7th July 2001
Lake Brienz
PS Lötschberg operated an evening jazz cruise from Interlaken Ost at 1900 on Saturday 7th July
6th and 7th July 2001
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Zürich and PS Stadt Rapperswil both operated fireworks cruises in connection
with the Zurich Festival on Friday 6th July and Saturday 7th July
6th July 2001
Lake Luzern
PS Unterwalden operated the first evening music cruise of the season from Luzern at 1920 on Friday 6th July
4th July 2001
Lake Geneva
MPV Italie operated the first of nine weekly evening dance cruises from the Upper Lake piers on Wednesday 4th July
1st July 2001
Lake Brienz
PS Lötschberg operated a breakfast cruise from Interlaken at 0845 on Sunday 1st July
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon operated an evening 'love-boat' cruise from Montreux at 1845 on Sunday 1st July
Additional daily timetabled sailings commenced on Sunday 1st July operated by PS Montreux and PS Rhône
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated an international cruise from Romanshorn at 1400 on Sunday 1st July
30th June 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Simplon operated an evening 'love-boat' cruise from Montreux at 1845 on Saturday 30th June
29th June 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Montreux operated two 'short "free" cruises' and a 'lunch cruise' from Geneva in addition to the 'shareholders special' from Lausanne to Geneva for the AGM on Friday 29th June
25th June 2001
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Zurich or PS Stadt Rapperswil made an additional public sailing from Zurich at 1230 on Monday 25th June
24th June 2001
Lake Brienz
PS Lötschberg made her first public timetabled sailing on Sunday 24th June
operating sailings 63-64-69-70
22nd June 2001
Lake Brienz
PS Lötschberg operated her Maiden Voyage from Interlaken at 1630 on Friday 22nd June following the major re-build, including the installation of a new boiler, over the previous Winter
16th June 2001
Lake Konstanz
PS Hohentwiel operated a Swiss coast cruise commencing at Rorschach on Saturday 16th June
14th to 16th June 2001
Lake Geneva
MPV Helvétie opened a season of evening cruises from Geneva at 2300 on
   Thursday 14th June - Dance and Salsa
   Friday 15th June - Dance
   Saturday 16th June - Salsa
Similar cruises during the Summer were operated by mv Lausanne
10th June 2001
All Lakes
Sunday 10th June (two weeks later than usual) marked the official start of Summer Schedules
for all Swiss Railways and Lake Steamers (including calls at most of the "Summer
Only" piers)
There were minor timing alterations to many services - for full details see the individual Timetable Index for each lake:-
Brienz - motor vessels only until Sunday 1st July
Geneva - exception (started Sunday 20th May)
Luzern
Thun
Zurich
9th June 2001

Lake Luzern
Ten Years of the "Weg der Schweiz"
(Swiss Path)

The celebrations continued at Flüelen on Saturday 9th June when PS Uri operated
three "one hour" free cruises at 1800, 1915 and 2030
The paddle steamer returned to Luzern the following morning on sailing 12
8th June 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Rhône unusually operated the "Upper Lake" stopping service from Le Bouveret on Friday 8th June instead of mv Chablais
4th June 2001
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp operated sailings 15-16 (1327 from Thun to Interlaken and 1555 return) on Whit Monday 4th June instead of one of the motor vessels
1st June 2001
Lake Luzern
The first visit of the season to Alpnachstad by
a paddle steamer was by PS Unterwalden on Friday 1st June
24th May 2001
Lake Luzern
The 'flagship' of the fleet PS Stadt Luzern entered service much later than usual on Ascension Thursday 24th May following an extended winter ouerhaul
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp operated sailings 15-16 (1327 from Thun to Interlaken and 1555 return) on Ascension Thursday 24th May instead of a motor vessel
20th May 2001
Lake Geneva
Despite the later date in 2001 for the start of all official Swiss Timetables, the C G N commenced operating its Summer Timetable on Sunday 20th May
This was one week earlier than in 2000
The first public sailings by the re-built PS Montreux took place on Sunday 20th May
These were be special free half-hour cruises from Lausanne (depart 0910, 0955 and 1040) also from Montreux (depart 1610, 1700 and 1750)
19th May 2001
Lake Geneva
To mark the completion of a two-year rebuild including re-conversion to steam power PS Montreux operated a Maiden Voyage
from Lausanne on Saturday 19th May
for invited guests only
- this was supported by a public parade by
the other four paddle steamers

All five paddle steamers left Lausanne at 1200, paraded round the Upper Lake and arrived Montreux at 1550
13th May 2001
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp operated a morning breakfast cruise from Thun at 1000 on Sunday 13th May
5th May 2001
Lake Luzern
Ten Years of the "Weg der Schweiz"
(Swiss Path)
- Saturday 5th May

PS Uri operated the "Wander Express" (0832 from Luzern to Flüelen and 1526 return)
Also several other timetabled sailings were operated by PS Unterwalden and PS Schiller to celebrate a decade of Trails round the Urnersee (the upper end of Lake Luzern)
4th May 2001

1901-2001
Lake Luzern
PS Uri is the oldest operational paddle steamer on any of the Swiss Lakes and was
100 years old !
The paddle steamer operated timetabled sailings 7-18 (0915 Luzern to Flüelen and
1200 return) before a special evening
Jubilee Cruise from Luzern at 1835
3rd May 2001
Lake Geneva
Paddle to the Market !
Unusually MPV Italie was rostered to operate the early morning "Thonon Market" sailings 11-64 from Lausanne at 0745 on Thursday 3rd May Thursday 10th May and Thursday 17th May
These sailings are usually the preserve of the large Evian-les-Bains ferry mv Léman
(or occasionally the smaller mv Henry-Dunant or mv Général-Guisan when they deputise on the ferry services)
1st to 3rd May 2001
Lake Geneva
PS Rhône operated sailings 33-50-64-155 from Lausanne to Evian-les-Bains and St-Gingolph on Tuesday 1st Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd May instead of mv Chablais to enable motor vessel to visit Ouchy works for a re-paint in the new "CGN blue" livery
29th April 2001
All lakes
Swiss Navigation Day traditionally marks the start of excursion sailings (as opposed
to ferry runs) on most of the Swiss Lakes
Lake Brienz
There were no sailings by a paddle steamer
this year as PS Lötschberg was in dock undertaking a major rebuild including a new boiler and restoration of the first class dining saloon to its original condition
Lake Geneva
MPV Helvétie made a rare public sailing operating the Geneva based sailings 80-110
-134-91
to Yvoire also PS Simplon entered
service early and operated the Lausanne based sailings 33-50-64-155 to Evian-les
-Bains and St-Gingolph
These were in addition to the regular weekend sailings 43-172-179-206 sailings by
MPV Italie from Lausanne to Geneva and
Evian-les-Bains
Lake Luzern
PS Schiller PS Unterwalden and PS Uri
were all be in service operating the 0915,
1120, 1315 and 1520 departures from Luzern
Lake Thun
PS Blümlisalp commenced operation for the 2001 season on Sunday 29th April with
the usual sailings 15-16 from Thun at 1327
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Rapperswil operated special "one hour trips" from Zurich at 1030, 1200, 1330, 1500 and 1630
PS Stadt Zürich operated sailings 111-112 (1330 Zurich to Rapperswil and 1525 return)
13th April 2001
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Zürich operated Bank Holiday sailings 111-112 (1330 Zurich to Rapperswil and 1525 return) on Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday
9th April 2001
Lake Geneva
A very large charter took place on Monday 9th April involving TEN vessels of the sixteen strong CGN fleet to carry approximately 3,200 passengers
PS La Suisse was proceeding light towards Geneva and broke down off Morges
MPV Italie (operating the Lausanne to Evian-les-Bains ferry service) was rapidly dispatched to Geneva to cover
mv Léman (which was at Ouchy awaiting her annual overhaul) was sent to Morges to tow the paddle steamer back to Ouchy dock for repairs
8th April 2001
Lake Luzern
PS Unterwalden and PS Uri operated the advertised sailings on the first day of the
Summer season - Sunday 8th April
Unusually both paddle steamers had
alreadly sailed in public service during the 2001 Winter Timetable period
1st April 2001
Lake Luzern
First Sailings of the Season
PS Unterwalden
operated sailings 17-26
(1315 Luzern to Flüelen and 1558 return) on Sunday 1st April - the last weekend of the Winter Timetable
Lake Zurich
PS Stadt Zürich entered service on Sunday
1st April
and operated sailings 111-112
(1330 Zurich to Rapperswil and 1525 return)
18th March 2001
Lake Luzern
PS Unterwalden was planned to operate sailings 17-26 (1315 Luzern to Flüelen and 1558 return) on Sunday 18th March but these were again cancelled due to the continuing bad weather
11th March 2001
Lake Luzern
Proposed First Sailings of the Season
PS Unterwalden
was planned to operate sailings 17-26 (1315 Luzern to Flüelen and 1558 return) on Sunday 11th March but these were cancelled due to bad weather
4th March 2001
Lake Geneva
MPV Vevey took over from MPV Italie and operated the Early Spring Sundays only sailings 64-173 (1230 Lausanne to
St-Gingolph and 1547 return) from Sunday
4th March
14th January 2001
Lake Geneva
MPV Italie opened the 2001 Season by operating the Sunday sailings 64-173 (1230 Lausanne to St-Gingolph and 1547 return)
on Sunday 14th January
1st January 2001
Lake Luzern
Following the success of the Millennium sailings, PS Uri again operated sailings 17-26, on New Year's Day and New Year Tuesday
 
Earlier News


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Updated - Lakes Brienz, Geneva, Luzern, Thun, Zurich, Konstanz, Maggiore, Como, Garda 9th March 2004   e-mail   (c)1999-2004 John B Bird