Swiss railway news – Page 2
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NewsSBB Cargo aims to cut operating costs
SWITZERLAND: State-owned SBB Cargo is undertaking a realignment of its freight services under the Suisse Cargo Logistics programme, which would see the company become self-sufficient.
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NewsAppenzeller Bahnen applies to automate Rheineck – Walzenhausen line
SWITZERLAND: Appenzeller Bahnen has applied to the Federal Office of Transport for permission to convert its 1·96 km Rheineck –Walzenhausen rack-and-adhesion railway to fully automated operation.
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Metro Report InternationalSwiss light rail line prepared for automatic operation
SWITZERLAND: Automatic operation on the Waldenburgerbahn is scheduled to begin in September, with conversion to fully driverless operation envisaged for 2030.
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In depthPassenger trains: Stadler leads charge into alternative traction
While the political consensus on achieving net zero emissions may not be as robust today as it seemed to be only a few years ago, there can be little doubt that Europe’s railways remain committed to phasing out fossil fuel use. The transport sector still accounts for around a third ...
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NewsBerner Oberland-Bahnen orders EMUs to accommodate growing ridership
SWITZERLAND: Berner Oberland-Bahnen has ordered five more electric multiple-units from Stadler as an option on an existing order.
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NewsSwiss railway agrees ETCS upgrading framework contract
SWITZERLAND: BLS has agreed a long-term framework contract with Siemens Mobility covering the installation of ETCS Level 2 across its network.
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NewsEurostar plans direct trains from London to Frankfurt and Genève
EUROPE: Eurostar has announced plans to offer direct London – Frankfurt, London – Genève and Amsterdam – Brussels – Genève services once new trains are delivered in the early 2030s.
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NewsMountain railway orders ‘most beautiful’ rack trains
SWITZERLAND: Transports Montreux-Vevey-Riviera has awarded Stadler a contract to supply eight rack trainsets with large panoramic windows enabling tourists to enjoy views of the Alps and Lac Léman. The order signed on May 20 marks the final phase of a programme to overhaul the 10 km ...
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NewsUK to Switzerland high speed train working group to be established
EUROPE: A joint working group is to bring together the British and Swiss governments and rail industry experts to examine how to overcome the commercial and technical barriers to launching a direct high speed train service between the countries.
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NewsTrans-Alpine ‘Rolling Highway’ lorry-carrying service to end this year
EUROPE: The RAlpin ‘Rolling Highway’ piggyback service carrying accompanied lorries through the Alps by rail is to be discontinued in December, three years earlier than planned.
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NewsFranco-Swiss narrow gauge EMU deliveries begin
EUROPE: Stadler has delivered the first of seven dual-system electric multiple-units custom-designed for Mont Blanc Express services between France and Switzerland. The 55 km metre-gauge route is operated by Transports de Martigny et Régions, which is responsible for the Swiss section from Martigny to Le Châtelard, ...
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NewsEnhanced braking system raises speed on rack-and-pinion line
SWITZERLAND: Matterhorn Gotthard Railway and Stadler have unveiled a jointly-developed v+ braking system, which they say will enable operation of the ’world’s fastest’ rack-and-pinion rail service. One of MGBahn’s Stadler Orion metre-gauge electric multiple-units used on the Andermatt – Göschenen branch has been fitted with v+ ...
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NewsStadler profits hit by ‘environmental disasters’
INTERNATIONAL: Rolling stock and signalling supplier Stadler Rail has cited ‘environmental disasters’ as the main reason behind a fall in its profit margin. The Swiss-headquartered group issued its annual financial results on March 19, reporting a drop in EBIT margin of two percentage points to 3·1%. ...
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NewsFirst Saphir II trainset delivered
SWITZERLAND: Aargau Verkehr has taken delivery of the first of five Stadler ABe4/8 Saphir II electric multiple-units ordered for use on the 22 km Wynental and 10 km Suhrental lines west of Zürich from December 2025. The two-car 750 V DC EMUs ...
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NewsSwiss Federal Railways targets London as it seeks more cross-border high speed trains
EUROPE: Swiss Federal Railways is looking at ordering up to 40 high speed trainsets for use on international services to Italy and France, and ’potentially for other destinations such as Barcelona and London’. To meet growing demand for international travel, SBB is planning to expand the ...
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NewsWestbahn orders 250 km/h Smile trains
AUSTRIA: Open access operator Westbahn has awarded Stadler a contract to supply three Smile high speed trainsets to enable it to introduce Wien – Graz – Klagenfurt – Villach services from March 2026.
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NewsSwiss operator orders rack trains
SWITZERLAND: Transports Publics du Chablais has awarded Stadler a SFr140m contract to supply 13 rack-equipped Beh4/8 electric multiple-units. They are scheduled to enter service on the 6·2 km Aigle – Leysin and 17·1 km Bex – Villars – Bretaye lines from September 2028. The 1 000 ...
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NewsFirst battery Vectron locos ordered
SWITZERLAND: Widmer Rail Services company JeMyn has placed the first order for two Siemens Mobility Vectron electric locomotives with a battery module. This will enable zero-emission last mile freight and shunting operations on non-electrified tracks. Financing for the order announced on February 5 is being provided ...
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NewsWagons ordered under SBB Cargo fleet standardisation strategy
SWITZERLAND: SBB Cargo has awarded Tatravagónka contracts to supply up to 840 wagons as part of its strategy to standardise its fleet.
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NewsChemins de Fer du Jura interlocking contract awarded
SWITZERLAND: Chemins de Fer du Jura has awarded Stadler Signalling a SFr4·3m contract to renew signalling systems at Tavannes and Orange by 2027. This forms part of the railway’s project to modernise its Tavannes – Le Noirmont line to improve services and cater for the growing ...