You are here: Home » Archives for Switzerland
Switzerland - Articles and news items
Issue 4 2011 / 4 August 2011 /
No country has better train and bus services than Switzerland. But recent increases in passenger numbers are stretching the system to its limits, especially at peak travel periods. Switzerland has therefore set clear priorities for future rail expansion: to increase capacity through longer, more frequent trains. Reductions in journey times are less central in view of the already attractive connections, and will therefore be realised at a later date.
High-speed trains such as the French TGV and the German ICE are the poster children for their respective country’s transport policy. They provide excellent long-distance connections between major cities. But on their own they cannot handle the huge passenger volumes. The hundreds of thousands of commuters who travel to and from work by public transport every day in Switzerland travel in normal S-Bahn or double-decker trains. During the morning and evening rush hours these trains are often full to the very last seat. And all predictions indicate that the number of rail passengers will continue to grow substantially. The Swiss Confederation’s transport scenarios assume an increase of more than 50% by 2030. For the cities, calculations indicate growth of up to 100%. (more…)
Issue 4 2011 / 4 August 2011 /
Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has the densest rail network in the world in terms of the number of trains per kilometre per day – and the number is still rising. This is a challenge that must be met without compromising on safety. Trains must therefore be monitored and scheduled with the utmost care. SBB’s Switzerlandwide integrated system of networked Wayside Train Monitoring Systems (WTMS) is one of the key elements in this process.
SBB is faring well: in 2010, 951,000 people a day travelled on the company’s train services – more than ever before. SBB Cargo also increased its output significantly, carrying 200,000 tonnes of freight a day. Utilisation of SBB network capacity had already been high, and the increase in demand has raised it even further. An average of 95.4 trains a day travelled over each kilometre of SBB track in 2010. This figure is unequalled anywhere in the world – and is still rising. (more…)
Issue 4 2011 / 4 August 2011 /
On 23 March 2011, between Faido and Sedrun in Switzerland, miners excavated the last metres of rock of the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Both single-track tubes are therefore now continuously bored over their full length of 57 kilometres. In the Ceneri Base tunnel, the main drives from the Sigirino intermediate heading, as well as the inward drives from both portals, are in progress.
The Gotthard Base Tunnel
Since the second final breakthrough on 23 March 2011, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is completely cut. Lining work in the Erstfeld, Sedrun and Faido sections is progressing according to plan. At Bodio West, installation of the railway infrastructure for the test section is in progress. (more…)
Issue 4 2010 / 4 August 2010 /
Construction of the new Gotthard line with the Gotthard and Ceneri Base Tunnels is on course. In October 2010, a further milestone will be the final breakthrough of the Gotthard: the miners will excavate the last stretch of rock between the portals at Erstfeld and Bodio/Pollegio. On the Ceneri, in March 2010, driving towards the north and south began from the intermediate heading at Sigirino. Both construction projects have therefore taken a major step forward towards their respective scheduled openings in 2017 (Gotthard) and 2019 (Ceneri). (more…)
Issue 4 2010 / 4 August 2010 /
Zurich Hauptbahnhof (Zurich main station, or Zurich HB) is the central hub for rail traffic in Switzerland. Trains pull in and out of the station virtually every minute, and over 300,000 passengers depart, arrive or change trains here daily. Commuter traffic is forecast to grow in the coming years, and over half a million passengers and passers-by are expected to be using the station every day – exceeding its current capacity limits.
Together with other infrastructure expansion projects, the new 9.6km cross-city link will soon ease the bottleneck, enabling new service patterns to be implemented for suburban (S-Bahn) rail traffic from the end of 2013 and for long-distance services as of 2015. The improved services and new connections will be of particular benefit to users of Zurich’s local S-Bahn network and to rail passengers travelling on the Geneva–Berne–Zurich Airport–St. Gallen route. (more…)
Issue 4 2010 / 4 August 2010 /
Most of the SBB rail network is in good condition. That was the conclusion of an external survey commissioned by SBB and published in February 2010. Future maintenance and renewal of the rail infrastructure will cost significantly more than was previously assumed. SBB Infrastructure has embarked on a comprehensive action plan designed to meet the increased requirements. Philippe Gauderon, Head of SBB Infrastructure and Member of the SBB Management Board, summarised the task ahead as follows: “In future, ‘action not reaction’ will be our motto.” (more…)
Rail industry news / 7 December 2009 /
SWITZERLAND: Meeting on December 2, the SBB board of directors approved a fourth phase of expansion for the Zürich S-Bahn network over the next decade.
(more…)
Issue 4 2009, Past issues / 21 July 2009 /
On 20 February 1994, a major political surprise occurred when, against all expectations, the Swiss voting population agreed upon a popular initiative to protect the Alps from transit traffic. This popular decision set the tone for a new Swiss transport policy. From then on, the goal of shifting freight transport through Switzerland from road to rail was anchored in the Constitution. This was the starting gun for the extension and modernisation of rail infrastructure in Switzerland, a process that is already far advanced, although still some way from completion.
(more…)
Issue 4 2009, Past issues / 21 July 2009 /
Mr. Philippe Gauderon took up his new position as Head of SBB Infrastructure and Member of the SBB Management Board at the start of 2009. After studying law at the University of Fribourg, Mr. Gauderon initially worked as a lawyer until 1985. Between 1985 and 1995, he held numerous senior positions at the Swiss Federal Office of Transport (FOT), including that of Deputy Director from 1990 to 1995. Mr. Gauderon joined SBB in 1996 as Director of what was then District 1 in Lausanne. When SBB was restructured as part of reforms to the rail system in 1999, Mr. Gauderon took over as Head of Regional Services in what was then known as the Passenger Traffic Division, where he was also a member of the divisional management board. In October 2003, he was made Head of Operating and Deputy Head of the Passenger Traffic Division.
(more…)
Issue 4 2009, Past issues / 21 July 2009 /
The year 2008 was highly successful for AlpTransit Gotthard Ltd. The work continues as scheduled and as things stand today, there is nothing to prevent the opening of the Gotthard Base Tunnel at the end of 2017 and the Ceneri Base Tunnel in 2019 as planned.
The Gotthard Base Tunnel is being constructed from five construction sites simultaneously. On the Amsteg and Bodio sections, the excavation work is already complete, and on 16 June 2009, the first breakthrough between Amsteg and Erstfeld was celebrated. In the east tunnel, a total of slightly over 6km of rock remains to be cut through.
At the beginning of June 2009, of the 153.3km total length of the tunnel system of the Gotthard Base Tunnel, 133km or (87%) had been excavated.
(more…)
Issue 4 2009, Past issues / 21 July 2009 /
Before new rail projects are discussed at SBB Infrastructure, the division first establishes the long-term demand and future mobility requirements of its customers in both the passenger and freight sectors.
(more…)
Issue 4 2008, Past issues / 1 August 2008 /
SBB is minimising the amount of time track is tied up with maintenance, by automating inspection systems and adopting standard components that can be installed rapidly. European Railway Review’s Technical Editor, James Abbott, talks to Daniel Wyder, SBB’s Head of Asset Management for Track.
Switzerland has some of the most intensely used railway lines in the world. During the day, a domestic passenger service organised on a regular interval system runs, while at night there are frequent trans-Alpine freight trains in transit from Germany to Italy running over the north-south main lines. The intensive traffic results in heavy annual tonnages: Switzerland overtook Japan in 2000 in having the world’s highest density of railway operations.
With such heavy usage, efficient maintenance to keep the permanent way in good condition is crucial. But the intensive service means that the time available for inspectors on the track is limited. (more…)
Login to access exclusive content