Type Joint-stock company Headquarters Meilen, Switzerland | Industry Transport Founded 1932 Area served Lake Zurich | |
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The Zürichsee-Fähre Horgen–Meilen, or Horgen–Meilen Lake Zurich ferry, is a Swiss car ferry that operates across Lake Zurich between the lakeside towns of Horgen and Meilen. The ferry route is situated 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) south of the city of Zurich, and the ferry avoids a round trip by road of some 30 kilometres (19 mi) by road via that city.
Contents
History
The company was founded in 1932, with operation commencing in November 1933. Initially the service was run with the single ferry Schwan, built for the opening, and providing a half-hourly service. Service was suspended between 1942 and 1946, as a consequence of Second World War. From 1946, the ferry was reintroduced with an hourly service.
Over time, demand rose so that a continuous shuttle operation had to be introduced. In 1968 a replacement vessel, also known as Schwan, was launched and took over the service, providing a half-hourly service. Over the next 35 years, four further ferries were constructed, allowing a more frequent service to be provided.
In 1973 a new approach to the Horgen ferry terminal was constructed, with a bridge over the lakeside railway line, allowing the previously used level crossing to be closed.
Operation
On the Horgen side of the lake, the ferries operate from a ferry terminal with its own road-bridge across the lakeside railway line, and some 600 metres (2,000 ft) on foot along the lakeside promenade from Horgen railway station. On the Meilen side of the lake, the ferries operate from a ferry terminal on Seestrasse, a similar distance from Meilen railway station.
Ferries operate from early morning to late evening. Ferries operate every 10 minutes throughout the day, with frequencies increasing to every 6 or 7 minutes in peak periods. The crossing time is 10 minutes.
In 2011, 69,950 ferry crossings were operated, carrying in total 2,192,175 people, 1,226,540 cars and 99,470 trucks.
Fleet
The ferry service is operated with a fleet of five motor ferries: