Record-breaking passenger numbers for SBB

SBB has recorded a significant fall in its net income in a record-breaking year for the operator.

More than a million passengers travelled on Switzerland’s rail network in a single day for the first time last year and SBB Cargo recorded a profit for the first time in 40 years.

Freight revenue increased by 4.7 per cent, allowing SBB Cargo to enter the black for the first time in 40 years.

Although performance figures were up, SBB still saw its net income fall by CHF 184.2 million to CHF 238.2 million. This has been attributed to increasing operating expenses, which topped CHF 332.1 million, caused by higher infrastructure charges and additional maintenance costs.

The organisation’s debt increased as a result by CHF 665 million to CHF 7.5 billion.

Looking forward to the rest 2014, SBB confirmed that the first phase of Zurich’s Cross-City Link will go into operation in the summer and that by autumn ground would be broken on Geneva 2030 – a project designed to increase capacity between Lausanne and Geneva.




Continue reading...