(News) Swiss Lake Paddle Steamer Timetables. Latest News, Fleet Lists, Archives, Pictures, Special Sailings, Features and loads more!

PS Uri operated eleven days of sailings throughout the Festive Season between Christmas Day and Sunday 4th January 2004 ......

...... as well as evening Cruises on 27th 29th and 31st December also 3rd January 2003

7th December 2003

PS Montreux operated the first of three Sunday Christmas Brunch Cruises from Lausanne at 1200 to the Montreux Christmas Market on Sunday 7th December
New for 2003 - during the lay-over period at Montreux the paddle steamer operated a short non-landing "mini-cruise" round the Upper Lake
see also photo feature for 7th December

18th October 2003

PS Stadt Luzern operated a special Fund Raising Cruise from Luzern at 1115 on Saturday 18th October for the major re-build of PS Gallia

PS Blümlisalp operated an evening 'Fondue' Cruise from Thun at 1910 on Saturday 18th October

14th and 15th
October 2003

MPV Italie unusually made some Autumn visits to the French port of Evian-les-Bains on Tuesday and Wednesday 14th and 15th October
At this time of year, the motor paddle vessel normally sails along the Swiss coast

4th October 2003

PS Blümlisalp operated an evening 'Fondue' Cruise from Thun at 1910 on Saturday 4th October

22nd September 2003

PS Savoie made her last appearance of 2003 on Monday 22nd September and operated sailings 36-91a-80b-191
These were the final public sailings before the paddle steamer was withdrawn from service for a major re-build
PS La Suisse also made her final public appearance of 2003 on sailings 64-155

21st September 2003

PS Lötschberg made her final public appearance of 2003 on Sunday 21st September and operated the regular sailings 63-64-69-70 from Interlaken to Brienz

18th September 2003

PS Rhône made her final public appearance of 2003 on Thursday 18th September by unusually operating sailings 47-71-118-83-184 vice a motor vessel as a consequence of charter sailings and the shortage of other operational paddle steamers

8th September 2003

PS Valais was finally towed by mv Léman from Geneva Jardin-Anglais (her static home for over 40 years) to Ouchy dock for demolition
A court "injunction" for one month was then served on the CGN to prevent immediate action, pending a possible last-minute "rescue bid" but this was not successful
Consequently the paddle steamer was subsequently scrappped (see photo feature)

6th September 2003

PS Stadt Zürich operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Zurich at 2000 on Saturday 6th September

Lake Garda

MPV G Zanardelli operated an all day Regatta Cruise from Gargnano at 0845 on Saturday 6th September

5th September 2003

PS Lötschberg operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Interlaken at 1930 on Friday 5th September

4th September 2003

PS Rhône operated the annual special sailing to Thonon-les-Bains Fair from Lausanne at 0915 on Thursday 4th September
This was expected to be the final public sailing by PS Rhône during 2003, but as a result of damage to PS La Suisse she subsequently also operated timetables sailings on Sunday 7th September and Thursday 18th September

30th August 2003

Cancelled
PS La Suisse was planned to operate an evening 'Love Boat' Cruise from Montreux at 1900 on Saturday 30th August instead of PS Simplon, but this was cancelled at short notice due to the accident entering Ouchy dock the pevious evening

29th August 2003

mv Lausanne broke down before leaving Geneva (Mont-Blanc pier)
In consequence mv Col-Vert operated a very full sailing 64a to Lausanne where mv Ville-de-Genève took over sailings 64b-155
On Saturday 30th August and Sunday 31st August the Rhône Express sailings 64-155 were ultimately covered by PS Rhône with her "2 Day Roster" sailings replaced by mv Henry-Dunant

PS La Suisse failed to stop whilst entering Ouchy dock late on Friday 29th August after working a charter sailing (vice PS Simplon) and hit a wall damaging her bow - fortunately leaving her new figurehead untouched
This resulted in the paddle steamer being immediately taken out of service for repairs leaving her Late Summer "Rhone Express" sailings 64-155 to be operated by motor vessels mv Lausanne or mv Ville-de-Genève until Sunday 21st September
PS La Suisse returned to timetabled service on the last day of the season

Last visit of 2003 to Switzerland
PS Hohentwiel operated two international cruises from Rorschach to Lindau on Friday 29th August

18th August 2003

PS Simplon suffered an explosion shortly after leaving Geneva (Jardin-Anglais pier) at the start of sailing 80 whilst crossing to Pâquis pier
It is understood four crew members were slightly injured but no passengers were hurt
The paddle steamer was towed back to the pier and was immediately withdrawn from service
mv Col-Vert took the 20 or so passengers on a delayed sailing 80a to Nyon where mv Henry-Dunant took over sailings 80b to Lausanne - here mv Léman took over sailings 80c-191 in the Upper Lake
The paddle steamer was towed to Ouchy yard by mv Général-Guisan during the afternoon and moored near to the laid-up MPV Helvétie

17th August 2003

PS Hohentwiel operated two international cruises from Romanshorn to Friedrichshafen on Sunday 17th August

10th August 2003

PS Simplon operated the Two-day Roster sailings 80-191 and 36-91 between 10th and 15th August and 17th August under the banner of the Weeks of the Simplon
See item above which replaced the planned sailings between 18th and 28th August

PS Montreux broke down at Morges at approximately 1902 whilst operating sailing 173 ( apparantly a problem with the Gooch link motion on the port side - requiring a new bolt quickly brought from Ouchy works )
Initially it was planned to send PS Simplon but the crew were already on maximum hours after the "Fêtes de Genève" cruise the previous evening
- passengers either remained on board to finish their meals or continued their journey by train, with those for Yvoire itself connecting into the 2240 sailing 734 from Nyon on mv Grèbe
The 'plan' was for the paddle steamer to be towed back to Ouchy dock for repairs by mv Léman after her 'Evian Ferry' sailings --- however following 'on the spot' repairs the paddle steamer made her own way back to Lausanne at about 2130, (roughly in the booked times of sailing 218) but omitting the call at St-Sulpice
The paddle steamer returned to normal service at 1230 the following day

9th August 2003

PS Simplon operated the annual evening sailing from Yvoire (France) at 2005 to the Fêtes de Genève Fireworks at Geneva on Saturday 9th August
- this sailing was traditionally operated by MPV Helvétie (which had been laid-up from Spring 2002)

In additional to the normal timetabled sailings,
PS Stadt Luzern and PS Uri operated the annual special evening fireworks cruises from Luzern at 1945 on Saturday 9th August cruising round Luzern Bay for the annual fireworks display

8th August 2003

PS Blümlisalp operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Thun at 2000 on Friday 8th August

6th August 2003

PS Blümlisalp terminated her sailing 16 at Oberhofen at 1740 after hitting a swimmer at the pier - the 300 passengers on board were taken on to Thun by a motor vessel (possibly mv Stadt Thun on the following sailing 18)
Her evening sailings 127-128 were covered by mv Beatus
The paddle steamer returned to normal service at 1330 the following day

1st August 2003

All lakes

Swiss National Day - Friday 1st August

In additional to the regular timetabled sailings 63-64-69-70, PS Lötschberg operated an evening fireworks cruise from Interlaken
Unlike previous years, the paddle steamer picked up from piers at the West end of the lake, leaving the usual East end piers to be served by mv Jungfrau

In additional to the regular timetabled sailings PS Savoie and MPV Italie operate evening fireworks cruises

The four operational paddle steamers operated their Sunday timetable on Friday 1st August leaving all the Alpnachstad sailings to be operated by mv Europa
PS Unterwalden and PS Schiller exchanged normal rosters and the latter again operated non-stop from Beckenried to Luzern on sailing 28

Fireworks at Brunnen
All four operational paddle steamers sailed in convoy along with some of the motor vessels from Luzern at 2000 to Brunnen for the annual fireworks display

In additional to the regular afternoon timetabled sailings 15-16 PS Blümlisalp sailed in the annual evening naval parade from Thun at 2030

In additional to the normal timetabled sailings PS Stadt Zürich operate an evening cruise from Zurich at 2015 on Friday 1st August

PS Hohentwiel operated two international cruises from Rorschach to Lindau on Friday 1st August

27th July 2003

PS Concordia operated a lunch-time Jazz Cruise from Como depart 1100 on Sunday 27th July organised by APT Como
note the official poster had a picture of PS Piemonte (which of course sails on Lake Maggiore !!!)

Breakdown of mv Milano
In consequence of the above, the ex-ps mv Milano was rostered to operate sailings 10-47
Towards the end of the return journey, she broke down off Urio and was subsequently towed back to Tavernola Dock for quick repairs - she was back in service the following Tuesday
As is was poor weather, there were only about 50 passengers on board and they were transferred to a smaller motor vessel to complete their journey to Como
Can YOU supply any further details ?

18th July 2003

PS Blümlisalp operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Thun at 2000 on Friday 18th July

16th July 2003

PS Unterwalden operated a special evening cruise from Beckenried depart 1940 on Wednesday 16th July

15th July 2003

PS Uri operated a special evening cruise from Flüelen depart 1930 on Tuesday 15th July

14th July 2003

French National Holiday
PS Simplon operated an evening Cruise from Lausanne (depart 2000) to the fireworks display at Evian-les-Bains on Monday 14th July

13th July 2003

PS Hohentwiel operated two international cruises from Romanshorn to Friedrichshafen on Sunday 13th July

5th - 19th July 2003

PS Simplon operated a series of special afternoon cruises for the Montreux Jazz Festival departing at 1500 each date (all open to the general public)
   Saturday 5th July - Salsa
   Sunday 6th July - Blues and Gospel
   Saturday 12th July - Samba
   Sunday 13th July - Brazil
   Saturday 19th July - New Orleans and Swing

2nd July 2003

PS Savoie was operating her regular rostered sailings 80-191 (part of her regular "two-day" roster)
On departure from Nyon, after hearing some suspect noise, the paddle steamer was instructed to return to Ouchy yard for a 48 hour technical inspection of the engine (which she did, sailing at low-speed under her own steam)
PS Simplon took over sailing 80 from Lausanne (depart 1400) and the return sailing 191 from St-Gingolph (depart 1700)
PS Savoie returned to service on Saturday 5th July operating sailings 36-91 commencing from Lausanne at 0930

30th June 2003

ZSG 'Annual General Meeting' at Rapperswil
PS Stadt Rapperswil was unusually planned to operate the morning sailing 103 to Schmerikon, departing Zurich at 0955 on Monday 30th June

28th/29th June 2003

PS Rhône operated the 'midnight' ferry sailing from Lausanne to Evian-les-Bains and return on the night of Saturday/Sunday 28th/29th June instead of the regular mv Général-Guisan

28th June 2003

PS Stadt Rapperswil operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Zurich at 1800 on Saturday 28th June to the Jazz and Blues Festival at Rapperswil

PS Concordia and several motor vessels
operated a Fireworks cruise from Como to Isola Comacina on Saturday 28th June

27th June 2003

PS Stadt Luzern operated an "New Orleans" evening Jazz Cruise from Luzern at 2100 on Friday 27th June to mark the 75th aniversary of the paddle steamer (1928-2003)

In addition, PS Schiller unusually operated the 'tea-time' sailings 85-86 from Luzern (depart 1715) to Stansstad on Friday 27th June

PS Concordia operated the first of the weekly evening 'spaghettello' cruises of 2003 instead of the regular motor vessel on Friday 27th June

21st June 2003

PS Lötschberg operated an evening Jazz Cruise from Interlaken at 1930 on Saturday 21st June

19th June 2003

PS Hohentwiel operated two international cruises from Romanshorn to Friedrichshafen on Thursday 19th June

18th June 2003

PS Unterwalden unusually operated the "Wilhelm Tell Express" sailings 13-26 on Wednesday 18th June

9th June 2003
Whit Monday

PS Lötschberg operated sailings 63-64-69-70 - 1134 and 1438 Interlaken to Brienz and return - instead of a motor vessel on Whit Monday 9th June

PS Blümlisalp operated sailings 15-16 - 1330 Thun to Interlaken and return - instead of a motor vessel on Whit Monday 9th June

7th June 2003

PS Simplon operated an evening "Paradise
Boat" Cruise from Lausanne at 1900 on Saturday 7th June

1st June 2003

PS Stadt Zürich was the first paddle steamer of 2003 to visit Schmerikon and operated sailings 209-210 (1230 from Zurich and 1610 return) on Sunday 1st June

29th May to
3rd June 2003

cartoon:

G8 Summit at Evian-les-Bains
Local press reports confirm that all timetabled ferry sailings from Lausanne to Evian-les-Bains were suspended between Ascension Thursday 29th May and Tuesday 3rd June (despite a start date of Friday 30th May shown in the official CGN timetable) and were replaced by a temporary service by mv Léman between Pully and Tourronde pier (re-opened specially for 52 round trips over the six days)
ALL public timetabled services by the CGN and other small operators anywhere in the French area of the "Grand-Lac" of Lake Geneva were suspended
Click on the "swan" for further details of the remaining limited public sailings operated during the period, including altered "full-length" lake sailings by PS La Suisse

29th May 2003
Ascension Day

PS Lötschberg operated sailings 63-64-69-70 -
1134 and 1438 Interlaken to Brienz and return -
instead of a motor vessel on Ascension Thursday 29th May

PS Blümlisalp operated sailings 15-16 - 1330 Thun to Interlaken and return - instead of a
motor vessel on Ascension Thursday 29th May

PS Stadt Zürich operated sailings 101-102
-115-116 - 0930 and 1430 Zurich to Rapperswil
and return - instead of a motor vessel on
Ascension Thursday 29th May

First visit of 2003 to Switzerland
PS Hohentwiel operated two international
cruises from Romanshorn to Friedrichshafen on Ascension Thursday 29th May

25th May 2003

PS Lötschberg commenced operation for the 2003 season on Sunday 25th May one month
later then usual with the traditional sailings
53-64-60-70 from Interlaken at 1134 and 1438

Lake Garda

Both MPV Italia and MPV G Zanardelli
entered timetabled service earlier than expected on Sunday 25th May
MPV Italia unusually operated the full-length sailings 2-5 from Peschiera to Riva and return

11th May 2003

All lakes

Swiss Mothers Day
usually results in additional or special sailings on most of the Swiss Lakes, some of which are by paddle steamers

This year there were no sailings by paddle steamer - only motor vessels
PS Lötschberg did not re-enter service until Sunday 25th May

All five paddle steamers operated a "Naval
Parade" on Sunday 11th May to mark "125 years
of the CGN" and "10 years of the Lausanne Olympic Museum" sailing from Geneva, Nyon and Lausanne to parade off Lausanne and the Olypmic museum from 1430 to 1530

In addition to the regular Spring Sunday sailings
by PS Stadt Luzern and PS Uri,
PS Unterwalden operated her first visit of the
year to Alpnachstad on Sunday 11th May vice a motor vessel

3rd May 2003

Reinstatement of the Figurehead
PS La Suisse operated a special Inauguration Cruise from Lausanne depart 0910, Nyon depart 1110 and Rolle depart 1215 on Saturday 3rd
May to mark the reinstatement of the
Figurehead

1st May 2003

PS Simplon made her first sailing of 2003 on Thursday 1st May and visited Evian-les-Bains
The paddle steamer operated ferry sailings 33-50 instead of mv Lausanne which had broken down

27th April 2003

All lakes

Swiss Navigation Day
traditionally marks the start of excursion sailings (as opposed to ferry runs) on most of the main Swiss Lakes

This year there were no sailings by the paddle steamer - only motor vessels
PS Lötschberg was not planned to re-enter service until Sunday 25th May

Lake Geneva
(see also
photo feature)

PS Rhône made her first sailing of 2003 and visited the "Upper Lake" on Swiss Navigation Day - this replaced mv Lausanne which was previously advertised to operate
sailing 64 1230 Lausanne to St-Gingolph
sailing 173 1535 St-Gingolph to Lausanne
sailing 179 1845 Lausanne to Evian-les-Bains
sailing 206 1925 Evian-les-Bains to Lausanne
on Sunday 27th April
In addition the two motor paddle vessels operated their normal Spring Sunday rosters

In addition to the regular advertised sailings, PS Unterwalden made two round trips from Luzern to Stansstad at 1125 and 1400 vice the normal motor vessel

PS Blümlisalp commenced operation for the 2003 season on Sunday 27th April with the usual sailings 15-16 from Thun at 1327

Lake Zurich
(see also
photo feature)

PS Stadt Zürich operated five special "one hour trips" from Zurich at 1030, 1200, 1330, 1500 and 1630 on Sunday 27th April
The official ZSG website showed a special price of just SF6 !

In addition, PS Stadt Rapperswil operated the regular timetabled sailings 111-112 vice a motor vessel - 1330 Zurich to Rapperswil and return

6th April 2003

The first sailings of the season advertised to be operated by paddle steamers were on Sunday 6th April and these are were operated by PS Unterwalden and PS Stadt Luzern departing Luzern for Flüelen at 0915 and 1120 respectively

PS Stadt Zürich re-entered serivce much earlier than usual by operating sailings 111-112 on Sunday 6th April departing Zurich at 1330 for Rapperswil

4th April 2003

Strong North winds at the Geneva end of the lake caused all sailings, including those by the two motor paddle vessels, to be withdrawn on Friday 4th April
The same thing happened on Monday 7th April

30th March 2003

MPV Italie re-entered serivce with the first one way 'full-length' Spring sailing 43 of the season and MPV Vevey operated the first Spring lunch cruise of the season from Geneva depart 1220 on Sunday 30th March - this motor paddle vessel operated most the 218 scheduled daily lunch cruises from Geneva throughout the 2003 season which ran until Sunday 2nd November
(see also item above)

16th March 2003

PS Concordia re-entered serivce very much earlier than usual by operating additional
sailings 20-45 on Winter Sunday 16th March departing Como at 1200 for Piona
There were similar additional sailings 20-45 the following Sunday, but these were operated by
the smaller mv Manzoni

14th February 2003

MPV Vevey operated a special evening Valentines Cruise from Lausanne at 2000 on Friday 14th February
The sailing was "fully booked" which proves a motor paddle vessel can be highly successful, even in Winter !

12th January 2003

MPV Vevey started her 2003 season on Sunday 12th January and operated sailings 64-173
- which she continued to do so throughout the
remainder of the winter timetable (until 23rd March)

5th January 2003

MPV Italie opened the 2003 season and operated sailings 64-173 (the latter retimed earlier to 1535)
on Sunday 5th January

PS Uri operated the morning breakfast cruise sailings 7-10 from Luzern to Beckenried at 0915
on Sunday 5th January before the final festive sailings 17-26 to Flüelen at 1315

1st January 2003