Faced with increasing complaints about delays and insufficient seating capacities, the management of the state-run Swiss Federal RailwaysExternal link said on Monday that it would aim to improve customer information and ease rules for departing trains in stations.
The managers said trains in Switzerland were among the most punctual in a European comparison, but that the system was often stretched to its limits.
It’s not always easy to find the right balance between customer demands and safety, but “for the Federal Railways, safety is first,” chief executive officer Andreas Meyer told a news conference.
Over the past few years, the state-run railways have been plagued by a delay in the delivery of new double-decker trains, building projects and maintenance work of the rail network, as well as accidents, including the death earlier this year of a conductor trapped in a train door.
Observers say the Federal Railways is seen as a symbol of Swiss values, including punctuality and reliability.
More
More
Are Swiss trains becoming less punctual, pricier and more dangerous?
This content was published on
Long known for its efficiency, critics say service on the Swiss Federal Railways is deteriorating. Do they have a point?
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
Porrentruy mayor comments on Swiss pool ban controversy
This content was published on
The mayor of the Swiss town of Porrentruy, which has been in the headlines in neighbouring France after restricting access to a pool to locals after a spate of anti-social behaviour, says he has received much support in recent days.
Swiss universities to release multilingual AI programme
This content was published on
This summer researchers at Swiss universities will make available a large language model (LLM), an AI programme trained on vast amounts of data, developed on public infrastructure.
This content was published on
After a one-year test phase, Zurich's cantonal police are introducing an online police station. Demand is high and the response from the public has been positive.
This content was published on
The chic resort of St Moritz in southeastern Switzerland has registered "summer" as a trademark under the name "St Summer". The resort in canton Graubünden is launching a campaign to strengthen its summer business.
Swiss authorities detail progress on station access for people with reduced mobility
This content was published on
The Federal Office of Transport (FOT) said on Wednesday that 43 stations had been adapted for people with reduced mobility last year. The vast majority of rail travellers (82%) now benefit from easier access to stations, it says.
This content was published on
The prices of homes and apartments in Switzerland rose again in June. In the Lake Geneva region, prices of detached houses rose sharply. Meanwhile, in Zurich and its surrounding region the opposite trend was observed.
Crowded airports expected in Switzerland this summer
This content was published on
Switzerland's main airports are preparing for a busy summer holiday period. A number of changes have been introduced to improve passenger flows that are expected to be well above average in July and August.
Zurich police arrest 38 football and hockey fans after violent incidents
This content was published on
Zurich police have investigated 48 cases of fan violence at stadiums in the Swiss city since last autumn and arrested a total of 38 people, Swiss public television, SRF, reports.
Cashflow problems affect UN Human Rights Council activities
This content was published on
Certain activities of the Geneva-based United Nations Human Rights Council cannot be carried out in 2025-2026 due of the ongoing cash crisis affecting the UN.
Plaintiffs take Khaled Nezzar case to European Court of Human Rights
This content was published on
Two plaintiffs in a serious war crimes case against former Algerian Defence Minister Khaled Nezzar have filed an appeal with the European Court of Human Rights.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Rail bosses worried over train punctuality
This content was published on
Swiss Federal Railways has set up a taskforce to look into train punctuality - currently 90.1% - after it slipped slightly last year.
This content was published on
“Customers are not only concerned about safety or punctuality, but how clean the trains are”, Federal Railways spokesman, Stephan Wehrle, told Swiss Public Television, RTS. The CHF10 million investment in the tunnel is part of a total budget of CHF46 million that the Federal Railways will invest in external train washing facilities by 2023. Modernisation This new addition…
Swiss take the train more often, and further, than European neighbours
This content was published on
The latest Europe-wide figures confirm Switzerland’s reputation as a country of trains, with average trips and kilometres covered far higher than elsewhere.
Swiss public transport given good marks for cost-effectiveness
This content was published on
Using public transport infrequently in Switzerland is expensive, but thanks to new special offers, it does well when it comes to value for money.
This content was published on
SBB CEO Meyer has been under fire following the fatal accident on August 4 that saw the conductor trapped by a door and dragged along a platform by a train. Since then, some 20 faulty doors have been identified amid tests on thousands, he told SonntagsBlickExternal link on Sunday. This number has risen from the…
This content was published on
The Swiss Federal Railway is currently trying to fill a gap of 30 drivers a day. Stress and holiday compensation are among the reasons.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.