Rail transport in Switzerland
| Rail network of Switzerland | |
|---|---|
[[File: |250px]]A Südostbahn Traverso on the Gotthard Railway | |
| Operation | |
| National railway | Swiss Federal Railways |
| Major operators | Swiss Federal Railways (SBB CFF FFS) BLS AG (BLS) Rhaetian Railway (RhB) Matterhorn-Gotthard-Bahn (MGB) |
| System length | |
| Total | 5,323 km (3,308 mi)4,641 km (2,883.8 mi) |
| Electrified | 99% 4,641 km (2,883.8 mi) |
| High-speed | 137 km (85.1 mi) |
| Track gauge | |
| Main | 1,435 mm/4 ft 8 1⁄2 in standard gauge |
| High-speed | standard gauge |
| 1,000 mm metre gauge | 865.7[convert: needs unit name] |
With 5,200 kilometres (3,200 mi) network length, Switzerland has a dense railway network.[2] It is the clear European leader in kilometers traveled: 2,505 km per inhabitant per year in 2019.[3] Worldwide, only the Japanese travel more by train.
100% of its network is electrified, except for the few tracks on which steam locomotives operate for tourism. There are 74 railway companies in Switzerland. The share of commuters who travel to work using public transport (as the main mode of transport) is 30%. The share of rail in goods transport performance by road and rail is 39%.[4]
Switzerland was ranked first in the 2017 European Railway Performance Index for its intensity of use, quality of service and strong safety rating.[5] Switzerland had excellent intensity of use, notably driven by passenger traffic, a good rating for quality of service, and a very good rating for safety. Switzerland captured high value in return for public investment with cost to performance ratios that outperform the average ratio for all European countries.[6]
Swiss Federal Railways is the largest railway company in Switzerland and handles most of the national and international traffic.
Switzerland is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Switzerland is 85.[7]
References
[change | change source]- ↑ "Bahn S4/S10" (in German). Zurich, Switzerland: Sihltal Zürich Uetliberg Bahn SZU AG. Retrieved 2015-04-22.
- ↑ "Transport – Facts and Figures". www.eda.admin.ch. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ↑ Imwinkelried, Daniel (18 September 2022). "Das Klimaticket soll Österreicher zum Umsteigen bewegen". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2022-09-19.
- ↑ "Public transport (incl. rail freight) - overview" (XSL). Neuchâtel, Switzerland: Federal Statistical Office. 15 December 2016. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
- ↑ "the 2017 European Railway Performance Index". Boston Consulting Group. 8 January 2021.
- ↑ "the 2017 European Railway Performance Index". Boston Consulting Group. 8 January 2021.
- ↑ "UIC country codes, Leaflet 920-14" (XLS or XML) (in German, French, and English). Paris, France: International Union of Railways. 18 April 2014. Retrieved 2011-05-15.