SBB evaluates procurement of high-speed trains

Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is considering acquiring up to 40 high-speed trains to enhance international rail connections, particularly to destinations like Italy and France.

The proposed fleet could also serve routes extending to cities such as Barcelona or even London by 2030, as the demand for train travel to and from Switzerland continues to grow.

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To meet increasing passenger numbers and expand cross-border services, Swiss Railways is assessing the feasibility of procuring these new trains. The company is actively collaborating with international railway partners to enhance connectivity. Additionally, SBB anticipates the need for more trains in the coming years to replace aging vehicles set for retirement in the latter half of the 2030s.

Despite these plans, Switzerland currently lacks railway infrastructure that meets international high-speed standards, an SBB spokeswoman told the Keystone-SDA news agency. Globally, trains traveling at speeds exceeding 300 km/h are classified as high-speed, while Switzerland's rail network has a maximum speed limit of 200 km/h, according to SBB's official website. As a result, the new trains would operate at high speeds only outside Switzerland, on foreign segments of the routes.

As part of its procurement strategy, SBB has initiated two information requests on the Simap platform to explore options for acquiring and maintaining the high-speed fleet. The company is considering two primary approaches: outright purchase with a 15-year maintenance service contract or an operating lease agreement for the same duration.

Discussions with potential train manufacturers and leasing companies are scheduled for April or May of this year, SBB stated. If the project moves forward, a formal tender process is anticipated in 2026. Photo by Alf van Beem, Wikimedia commons.