What do these positive results mean for Swiss passengers?

The results of the first half of 2026 indicate a healthy railway network: 1.45 million daily passengers up 4.0%, profit of CHF 126 million and punctuality at 94.1%. These data promise continuity in services and progressive improvements. Customer satisfaction rose to 80.1 points, a sign that investments in quality continue to bear tangible fruit for those who use Swiss trains on a daily basis.

What are the three strategic priorities set by André Wyss?

The Chairman stated reliability, innovation and capacity for financial action. Reliability requires maintaining and modernizing existing infrastructure, with extensions where they create the most benefit. Innovation is about digitalisation and new technologies to make better use of the system. Financial capacity requires collaboration with the Confederation to define coherent investments and sustainable framework conditions.

What financial resources do the SBB need in the coming years?

The SBB indicated that in the medium term it will be necessary to reach an annual profit of about 500 million francs, compared to 126 million in the first half of 2026. In the long run, the need for resources is even greater. This reflects the significant need for investment to renew fleets and ensure reliability and modernisation of the national rail network.

How does digitalisation improve rail services?

According to SBB, digitalisation, new technologies and new mobility solutions will need to help make better use of the existing system, increase reliability, create additional capacity and simplify travel. These improvements promise more reliable schedules, improved apps and platforms, and tighter integration with other Swiss public transport modes.

Did the punctuality of trains improve in the first half of 2026?

Punctuality remained at high levels at 94.1%, registering a slight decrease of 0.4 percentage points compared to the first half of 2025. Although not an improvement, the stability of this indicator attests to the SBB's commitment to ensuring the reliability of services, a crucial element for commuters who depend on the Swiss national rail system on a daily basis.

SBB in the sign of growth in the first half of the year (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 26 August 2026

Modern train at a Swiss railway station during daytime, contemporary railway infrastructure.

Swiss Federal Railways closes the first half of 2026 with profits almost doubling and over 1.45 million daily passengers, up 4.0% compared to 2025.

Context

In a nutshell

SBB carries 1.45 million passengers per day, +4.0% compared to the first half of 2025
Half-year profit doubled: CHF 126 million (2025: CHF 48 million)
Punctuality stable at 94.1%, customer satisfaction at 80.1 points
Three strategic priorities: reliability, innovation, financial capacity

Key facts

What: Positive results of the Swiss Federal Railways in the first half of 2026
When: First semester 2026 (January-June)
Where: The entire Swiss national rail network
Who: Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), President André Wyss
Passengers: 1.45 million daily (+4.0% on 2025)
Profit: CHF 126 million (it was CHF 48 million in the first half of 2025)
Punctuality: 94.1% (0.4 points below 2025)

Swiss Federal Railways closed the first half of 2026 with overall positive results, marked by a significant growth in the number of passengers and a profit almost doubled compared to the same period of the previous year. In the first six months, SBB trains carried an average of 1.45 million passengers per day, an increase of 4.0% compared to the first half of 2025, when they reached 1.39 million daily passengers.

At the same time, the level of customer satisfaction has improved. The score touches 80.1 points compared to 79.9 points recorded in the corresponding semester of 2025. Although the increase is modest, it reflects the consolidation of quality

Operational details

Conspicuous investments and the medium-term financial target

Despite the positive results of the first half, SBB faces significant financial challenges. The pressure on investments for fleet renewal remains considerable and weighs on the overall situation of the company. For this reason, the Swiss Federal Railways have announced that in the medium term it will be necessary to reach an annual profit of about 500 million francs. In the long run, the need for resources is even greater.

These figures highlight that the simple growth of passenger traffic, although positive, is not sufficient to ensure lasting financial stability without significant structural interventions. The company must have a robust financial capacity , ensured by both operational efficiency and consistent framework conditions agreed with the Swiss Confederation.

Maintenance, modernization and selective expansions

To ensure the reliability of the network, SBB is committed to maintaining and modernising the existing infrastructure. At the same time, they provide for expansions where it will be possible to generate greater benefits for customers. This approach reflects a strategy of selective resource allocation: not all additional infrastructure will produce equivalent value, so SBB will focus investments on projects that maximise the benefit for commuters and travellers

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Key points

Follow the development of services and plan the trip

The results of the first half of 2026 confirm that the Swiss rail system continues to evolve positively. For those who live and work in Switzerland, understanding these growth dynamics is useful for planning their travels and appreciating the investments underway on the national territory.

Official sources of information and corporate transparency

SBB regularly reports progress through officially published semi-annual and annual reports. Passengers, stakeholders and the media can consult these documents to follow trends in punctuality, customer satisfaction and modernisation investments. Communications disseminated through agencies such as Keystone-ATS guarantee transparency to the public and to Swiss newspapers.

Expected improvements in services and user experience

The SBB strategy foresees that, thanks to the financial growth achieved and the priority assigned to innovation, services will continue to evolve. Investments in digitization will enable advances in reservations, real-time schedules, and integration with other modes of public transportation. Those who frequently use Swiss trains should expect:

More reliable travel information through built-in apps and digital platforms
Better connection between rail, bus and other transport services

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Source: swissinfo.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What do these positive results mean for Swiss passengers?: The results of the first half of 2026 indicate a healthy railway network: 1.45 million daily passengers up 4.0%, profit of CHF 126 million and punctuality at 94.1%. These data promise continuity in services and progressive improvements. Customer satisfaction rose to 80.1 points, a sign that investments in quality continue to bear tangible fruit for those who use Swiss trains on a daily basis.
What are the three strategic priorities set by André Wyss?: The Chairman stated reliability, innovation and capacity for financial action. Reliability requires maintaining and modernizing existing infrastructure, with extensions where they create the most benefit. Innovation is about digitalisation and new technologies to make better use of the system. Financial capacity requires collaboration with the Confederation to define coherent investments and sustainable framework conditions.
What financial resources do the SBB need in the coming years?: The SBB indicated that in the medium term it will be necessary to reach an annual profit of about 500 million francs, compared to 126 million in the first half of 2026. In the long run, the need for resources is even greater. This reflects the significant need for investment to renew fleets and ensure reliability and modernisation of the national rail network.
How does digitalisation improve rail services?: According to SBB, digitalisation, new technologies and new mobility solutions will need to help make better use of the existing system, increase reliability, create additional capacity and simplify travel. These improvements promise more reliable schedules, improved apps and platforms, and tighter integration with other Swiss public transport modes.
Did the punctuality of trains improve in the first half of 2026?: Punctuality remained at high levels at 94.1%, registering a slight decrease of 0.4 percentage points compared to the first half of 2025. Although not an improvement, the stability of this indicator attests to the SBB's commitment to ensuring the reliability of services, a crucial element for commuters who depend on the Swiss national rail system on a daily basis.