BLS cuts 40 seats, closes centres and reduces services (cross-border guide)

Context

In brief

• BLS cuts 40 FTE positions in response to pressure on public transport costs
• 5 travel centers close in the Canton of Bern, limited hours at 2 other counters
• External train cleaning changes from every 14 days to once a month
• On-board inspections reduced from 2028, target savings: 5 million CHF in 2027-2028 biennium

Key Facts

• What: Reduction of 40 jobs, closure of 5 travel centers, reduction of services
• When: Implementation in the 2027-2028 biennium (inspections from 2028)
• Where: Canton of Bern (Seftigen, Hasle-Rüegsau, Ins, Münsingen, Zollikofen; limitations at Spiez and Interlaken West)
• Who: BLS (Bernese railway company)
• Amount: Approximately 5 million CHF in projected savings
• Lines affected: Bern-Langnau-Lucerne, Spiez-Zweisimmen

The railway company BLS announced today a reorganization plan that will significantly reduce staffing and services. The decision responds to growing economic pressure in the Swiss public transport sector, with pressure exerted by cantons and the Confederation on railway operators. This complex economic context forces railway operators to make difficult choices that directly impact the quality of employment and services.

The plan provides for the cut of approximately 40 full-time positions and the closure of five travel centers, all located in the Canton of Bern: Seftigen, Hasle-Rüegsau, Ins, Münsingen, and Zollikofen. Furthermore, opening hours of other counters at Spiez and Interlaken West will be limited, further reducing the availability of physical ticketing services for passengers. This strategy favors digital channels and automated machines, a choice that reflects modern trends but also impacts accessibility for those who prefer or need human interaction.

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Operational details

BLS's decision is not isolated within the Swiss context. Public transport faces structural economic challenges: management, maintenance, personnel, and energy costs continue to grow, while public funding from cantons and the Confederation remains under pressure. This financial squeeze creates a dynamic where railway operators must find internal efficiencies.

The Transport Personnel Union (SEV) described the situation by stating that 'cost pressure exerted by cantons and the Confederation is now having its first and drastic consequences'. This position reveals the crux of the problem: railway managers find themselves trapped between the need to maintain widespread public services and the reduction of public financial transfers. When these two factors clash, it is inevitable that something gives way.

The position of unions and the impact on personnel

The Transfair union expanded the protest message, emphasizing that 'it is personnel who bear the costs of public sector cost-saving measures'. This statement embodies a recurrent trend in the debate on the sustainability of Swiss public transport: when external economic pressure is not accompanied by structural solutions, it is workers (and potentially passengers) who suffer the direct consequences.

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Key points

BLS measures will come into force starting from the 2027-2028 biennium, with the reduction of on-board checks confirmed from 2028. This schedule allows frequent travelers to plan adjustments and verify developments on BLS official channels. The company has already indicated that closures and schedule limitations will affect the centers in Seftigen, Hasle-Rüegsau, Ins, Münsingen, Zollikofen and partially Spiez and Interlaken West.

How to organize with the new services

For those who depend on BLS for daily or occasional travel, the very first action is to consult the official BLS website to verify the status of your reference centers and the updated hours of the remaining open counters. The company has developed over the years a multi-channel strategy that includes the mobile app, online booking, automatic ticket dispensers and, of course, the possibility of purchasing travel tickets directly on board from staff (where still present).

In detail, the transition plan involves: immediate verification of your reference travel center if it is among the 5 that will close, migration to digital channels (BLS app, online portal, automats), advance planning of tickets especially for trips on critical lines (Bern-Langnau-Lucerne, Spiez-Zweisimmen), adjustment to the new on-board check frequencies from 2028.

For sector workers, the situation is more complex. The 40 job cuts will mainly affect operational and administrative profiles. Anyone working at BLS should maintain contact with their union representative or their reference union (SEV, Transfair) to understand if their position is at risk and what protection tools (training, internal mobility, wage subsidy) are available.

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