Switzerland’s railway was built by a public vote, not a company

Switzerland’s railway system has its roots in a national decision made more than a century ago.

In a referendum held in 1898, Swiss voters approved the purchase of the country’s railways by the Confederation, under the slogan “Swiss railways for the Swiss people.”

The Swiss Federal Railways, or SBB, officially began operations on January 1, 1902.

More than a century later, SBB has developed into one of Europe’s busiest and most heavily used railway networks. The system carries passengers as well as around 160,000 net tonnes of freight, according to the Swiss Embassy in Bangladesh.

Since 2025, SBB has operated its railway network entirely on renewable electricity, with hydropower accounting for the largest share of its energy supply.

The organisation currently operates through four main divisions: Passenger Markets, Passenger Operations, Infrastructure, and Real Estate. Its freight business operates separately under SBB Cargo.

Around 35,800 employees work across the organisation to keep the railway system operating each day.

SBB’s century-long development reflects how Switzerland’s publicly owned railway system has evolved from its steam-era beginnings into a modern, renewable-powered transport network.