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SBB to benefit from 12-billion franc injection

The Local
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SBB to benefit from 12-billion franc injection
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Switzerland’s Federal Council will invest nearly 12 billion Swiss francs into the SBB to meet the growing demand for more trains.

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The 11.9-billion franc cash injection will allow the federal railway system to boost train capacities, reduce overloading and offer more trains every quarter and half hour by 2035.

Authorities say the money will also go towards renovating and developing certain stations to improve accessibility for passengers with disabilities and, again, to alleviate overcrowding as much as possible.

Read more: SBB to introduce free internet by 2019

The move, decided on Wednesday 31 October, comes after a consultation procedure and will be reviewed by parliament next year. The announced sum of 11.9billion francs is an increase on the initial budget of 11.5billion francs.

How will the 11.9 billion Swiss francs be spent?

  • New quarter- and half-hour trains from several major stations
  • Expansion of the Lötschberg base tunnel, running from the Bernese Oberland into canton Valais, to increase capacity for freight and passenger trains
  • More designated stops in Nyon, Morges, Neuenburg, Basel, Olten, Lenzburg, Zurich, Wädenswil and more
  • More double decker trains (on Lausanne-Biel and Zurich-East Switzerland trains) to increase capacity on busy journeys
  • Extra routes for freight trains on multiple lines
  • Improved infrastructure in specific stations

Earlier this week, numerous SBB lines between Zurich and Baden were affected by a computer failure which resulted in several trains being unable to travel – including trains between Zurich and Bern and Basel.

In September, Swiss transport minister (and one of seven presidents) Doris Leuthard was purportedly photographed sitting on the staircase of an overcrowded SBB train to Zurich. 
 
According to state broadcaster SRF, the woman on the right is Swiss transport minister Doris Leuthard. Photo: SRF
 
Some people suggested this may have been a PR stunt. Coincidentally, it was also Ms Leuthard who explained the decision to invest in SBB. You can watch her do so in a YouTube video
 
 
SBB announced an annual profit of 399million francs this year, representing an increase of 5% on the year before. However, in the same announcement, the company also reported that customer satisfaction and the public perception of SBB had fallen. 

According to SBB, 89% of trains were punctual last year. East Switzerland and the Zurich region took top marks in terms of being on time, while trains were more likely to be late in western Switzerland.

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