The figure marks an increase of 0.6 percentage points on the previous year, the Federal Railways said on Tuesday, and a decrease of 0.1 percentage points on the pandemic year 2020, when there were in any case much fewer passengers on the move.
“On time”, according to the definition of the company, means arriving with no more than a three-minute delay.
The company said the “very punctual” result was driven by – among other reasons – the mild weather conditions, the ongoing dip in passenger numbers at the start of 2021, and better coordination of construction work.
Some 98.7% of passengers meanwhile made their connections, marking a very slight dip on the previous year, partly due to problems with international connections.
Regional differences
Punctuality varied however across the country: while the (biggest) German-speaking region was most punctual, delays were more frequent in the south-western French-speaking region. This was due to the many construction projects underway, the Federal Railways said. It is currently working on a timetable overhaul in the region.
The Swiss are avid train travellers, with reports in the past putting them well at the top of European lists, both in terms of frequency of usage and kilometres covered.
Of the country’s 5,100 km of railway, around 3,200 km is operated by the Swiss Federal Railways. Founded in 1902, the former federal organisation became a public limited company in 1999.
More
More
Demographics
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?
Swiss foreign minister praises improved relations with Italy
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday with the good relations that Switzerland has developed with Italy.
Boating and swimming to be banned on part of River Aare in Bern
This content was published on
From September, the city and canton of Bern will be carrying out extensive construction work on the River Aare to protect against flooding and to renovate the Marzili outdoor pool.
Moutier: foreigners familiarise themselves with right to vote
This content was published on
From 2026, Moutier will be part of the Swiss canton of Jura, gaining more than 1,000 new voters. On Monday around 50 people were informed about their new rights.
Switzerland ‘more than ready’ to host Ukraine summit
This content was published on
Switzerland is more than ready to host a summit between Russia and Ukraine, says Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, highlighting Switzerland's expertise in this area.
This content was published on
Every second aircraft at Zurich Airport took off late this summer. However, the situation has already improved significantly compared to last year.
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
Three Swiss trains a day run with a known safety defect
This content was published on
A report by the Swiss Safety Investigation Service (SESE) has warned that up to three Swiss trains a day run with a known defect.
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.