Dangerous substances still pose rail threat

There is a high risk along 72 km of the Swiss rail network Keystone

The transport of dangerous substances by rail, including chlorine, petrol or heating oil presents a high risk on 72 kilometres of the Swiss rail network.

The affected stretches cross main Swiss cities including Geneva, Basel, Zurich and the capital, Bern.

“Trains do not pass through the entire city but through zones which are densely populated and where there are major roads,” commented Davide Demicheli, spokesman of the Swiss Federal Transport Office.

He was confirming a report that appeared in Sunday’s SonntagsBlick newspaper.

In collaboration with the Swiss Federal Railways and the private BLS Railway, the federal authorities have compiled a report outlining the most critical spots.

It says that the risk is considered “high” on 72 km and “slight” on 295km. The threat is “negligible” over 3,104 km, or the majority of the rail network over which dangerous goods trains travel.

A similar report was compiled in 2001 when 34 km were considered “unacceptable” but this has since been corrected.

Chemical industry

“The chemical industry has put in a lot of effort to improve the situation,” Demicheli noted.

The measures taken concern in particular tank wagons that transport chlorine.

“The transport of petrol or heating oil is more frequent, but that of chlorine is more dangerous,” noted Demicheli.

This is why tank wagons must be fitted with absorbers to reduce the impact of shocks.

Protective shields around the tanks, aimed at preventing tanks from bursting after an accident, have been in use since October last year.

The new report says that all tank wagons which transport imported products – like chlorine which is not made in Switzerland – must adhere to technical safety standards by the middle of the year.

Derailment detection

Other measures include instruments that detect derailment and specific courses of action. For example, goods trains carrying chlorine are not permitted to travel on the line near Basel’s St Jakob’s stadium when a football game or other event is taking place. Those transporting petrol have to reduce their speed to 40 kmh.

Demicheli said that Geneva was statistically the most exposed but the risk of a catastrophe involving a goods train was one in a billion.

“All the same we are at the limit of what is acceptable,” commented Gery Balmer, who is head of the environment division at the transport office. “Further measures are needed.”

Although safety has increased markedly in the transport of dangerous substances by rail, there are continuing efforts in both Switzerland and abroad.

“Switzerland has managed to have its new safety norms accepted internationally,” transport office spokesman Demicheli said.

swissinfo with agencies

Key facts

The report says there is a “high” risk over 72 km of the Swiss rail network.
There is a “slight” risk over 295 km and a “negligible” risk over 3,104 km.
A report in 2001 found that 34 km of the rail network was “unacceptable” as far as safety was concerned.

In brief

The Swiss Federal Railways is the biggest haulier of dangerous goods in Switzerland. Of the overall tonnage transported by rail, 20% are dangerous goods.

On the SFR network, ten million tons of dangerous goods are transported every year. Of these, 6 million tons are transported in trainloads, and 4 million tons in wagonloads.


The shares of the major categories of goods:

65 % oil and derivatives
25 % chemicals
4 % gases
3 % pharmaceuticals/dyes
3 % fertilizer/waste