Swiss trains win global design prize
The new Rhaetian Railway (RhB) trains have won two Red Dot Awards for product design.
Designed by studio NOSE in Zurich, the “Capricorn” trains were created according to the specifications of the narrow-gauge railway in Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. The name Capricorn is the Romansh word for the ibex that live in the region.
The design is intended to represent the RhB as a “high-performance, modern and comfortable mountain railway with Graubünden charm and character”. The Capricorn’s Red Dot Awards, announced on Wednesday, are for its exterior appearance as well as interior design.
The Red Dot Design Award is one of the largest design competitions in the world. The award has been presented by the Design Zentrum Nordrhein-Westfalen in Essen, Germany, since 1955. Other winners over the years include famous names like Google, Maserati and Sony.
The RhB has ordered 56 Capricorns from Swiss train manufacturer Stadler. It is the largest purchase of rolling stock in the history of the railway. So far it has received 16 of the trains, 13 of which are now in service. The 56th vehicle is expected to be delivered in mid-2024.
More
How to behave on a Swiss train
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
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.