Due to financial bottlenecks: SBB halts test project with automatic trains

But a few weeks ago, SBB’s leadership around CEO Vincent Ducrot (61) suddenly changed its mind. Now it says “Publication cancelled” on the Simap purchasing platform.

questionable motive

Withdrawal of a public contract is a rare occurrence. What is even more remarkable is how the cancellation was justified: due to SBB’s “deteriorating financial situation”.

In response to Blick’s question, a company spokesperson stated: “There are not enough funds in the current performance contract period.”

The Federal Transport Agency (BAV), whose director Peter Füglistaler (64) recently called on the public transport sector to make it more cost-effective and efficient, was disturbed by the complaint of Switzerland’s largest transport company. “It is unclear to us what SBB means by ‘financial bottlenecks’,” a spokesperson writes. Existing resources have been known for four to five years.

Heated debates in Parliament

However, BAV does not seem to see a problem in the fact that those responsible at SBB no longer prioritize the planned test project for automatic train operation: “The ATO is currently no longer in focus, as it relies on other functions that need to be further developed first », said the spokesman. BAV therefore can understand the “re-prioritization” of the project.

Stopping the future project will likely be discussed in parliament. SBB’s financial situation is currently being hotly debated there.

In December, the National Council decided that SBB would receive a “one-off capital grant” of 1.15 billion francs to reduce debt. But this is too much for the Finance Commission of the Council of State. He wants to reduce this amount to 600 million francs, that is, almost by half.

At the end of January, a narrow majority spoke in favor of SBB reducing some of the debts incurred, especially during the Corona crisis.

Only temporarily on hold

Next, the Transport Commission of the Council of States will consider the issue, followed by the junior chamber as a whole. SBB’s halting of currently planned investments should provide support to those who support generous subsidy financing.

SBB emphasizes that tests for automatic train traffic have not been canceled yet. The group plans to continue the project “with an optimized approach and with even greater involvement of the industry”. “Next steps are currently being clarified,” the spokesman said.

SBB’s long-term goal is to lay the foundation for “early technology tests”, together with other railways in Europe, to create an economical, modern and attractive operating environment for the “railway of the future”.