SWITZERLAND: Rhätische Bahn is planning fleet replacements and infrastructure upgrades to equip it to handle fast-increasing leisure traffic on the highly scenic Bernina line. A 71% increase in passenger-km since 2016 has helped the metre-gauge operator to achieve overall growth three times higher than the Swiss average.
Operational challenges
While such high demand is very welcome from a business perspective, it presents RhB with significant operational challenges. Load factors have been exceeding 100%, particularly at weekends, putting pressure on the entire travel chain from booking and reservation management through to the work of station and onboard staff.
Mandatory seat reservations are being used to match demand to capacity on the tourist-oriented Bernina Express service, which carried 416 220 passengers in the first 10 months of 2025, up 13% on the same period of the previous year and a remarkable 68% increase on the pre-pandemic record year of 2019. Since December, optional seat reservations are also available on RhB’s regional services on the same route.
New rolling stock
All services on the Bernina line are currently operated using three-car ABe 8/12 Allegra dual-voltage EMUs supplied by Stadler in 2009-11. These can use both the Bernina line’s 1 kV DC electrification and the 11 kV 16·7 Hz on the rest of the RhB network.
RhB told Railway Gazette International that tenders are to be called this year for more EMUs for the route. These will be two-car half-units with conventional couplers at the outer ends and automatic couplers at the non-cab ends. The half-units will be able to operate in pairs back-to-back or with additional coaches inserted in the centre to increase capacity and provide operational flexibility; these extra vehicles would be procured at a later stage.
Tourist-focused offerings will be further enhanced by integrating the Bernina Express service into the regular timetable and by deploying observation coaches which are currently being rebuilt from older RhB coaches.
The existing panoramic coaches will need to be replaced within the next 10 years, but as an interim measure a refurbishment programme has provided additional luggage storage space and modernised the interiors. Work has included new trim, carpets and upholstery as well as fitting of power outlets at every seat to provide a contemporary travel experience aligned with customer expectations.
Additional services
An increase in overall services is planned, with half-hourly trains between St Moritz, Poschiavo and Tirano and journey times up to 30 min faster though a reduction in stops. There would be connections in Tirano with trains to Milano, and connections from Poschiavo and Pontresina to Chur every 2 h.
A longer-term strategy for 2040 is being developed by RhB in close co-ordination with federal and cantonal authorities, with the aim of offering services which can meet demand, enhance the tourist experience and improve operational efficiency while remaining within the limits of available financial resources.
