Railway installations.

Along railway embankments, SBB provides a green corridor of great national significance: valuable habitats with high levels of species diversity form a network across the entire country.

The maintenance of green and wooded areas combines safety and conservation. The focus here is on nature-friendly embankment maintenance and the targeted tackling of invasive plants that threaten indigenous species and endanger embankment stability.

The embankments, woodlands, hedges and even isolated trees alongside the track network provide an ecologically valuable habitat for flora and fauna. To ensure safe and smooth railway operations, SBB carries out regular maintenance on these green areas. Nature sees the benefit of this too. Extensive maintenance and the absence of fertilisers and herbicides create fringe structures and other valuable natural retreats. In line with the implementation of the Swiss Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, maintenance is carried out in an increasingly nature-friendly way. Instead of mulching, areas are mowed and the cuttings are gathered together to create narrow strips of biodiversity. Also, invasive neophytes and problem plants on ecologically valuable areas are tackled and, where sensible, small structures are created to connect the habits of animals living alongside the railway lines. Accessing these hard-to-reach areas and removing the upkeep waste pose particular challenges. In the long term, 30% of embankments (750 hectares) will enjoy nature-friendly maintenance.

Invasive neophytes and problem plants threaten indigenous plants and can destabilise embankments with their rampant growth, leading to safety risks. SBB prioritises the tackling of species that are a hazard to health or problematic to operational safety. In addition, where resources are available, the most frequently listed species in the ‘List of invasive and potentially invasive neophytes in Switzerland’ are kept under control in ecologically valuable areas. The SBB neophyte strategy is based on federal legislation and has been approved by the relevant authority (FOT). The basic principle here is to reduce the use of herbicides to a minimum. As far as possible, herbaceous species are removed mechanically by weeding. The low-herbicide trunk injection method is used for wooded species.

Railway tracks can be an obstacle for animals and can fragment their habitat, especially when trains are frequent or there are multiple tracks. The permeability of railway installations is being improved through the animal-friendly renovation of water passageways for streams and rivers and the creation of wildlife crossings in wildlife corridors.

For amphibians, railway tracks present an almost insurmountable obstacle on their migration routes from winter habitats to spawning waters and back. Amphibian diverters have been shown to be effective in making railway installations permeable for amphibians. Over the next few years, these diverters will therefore be installed at identified conflict points where amphibian migration is hindered by tracks, and access ramps will be created where necessary.

Amphibienschutz an Bahngleisen

Image legend: Amphibian diverter with lowered ballast under the track

Image legend: Access ramp for amphibians and other small animals.

Open spaces around technical and operational buildings, as well as at railway stations offer opportunities for biodiversity: they serve as stepping stones, strengthen the network, cool urban heat islands and improve climate resilience.

Surfaces sealed with tarmac or concrete restrict soil functions such as the habitat function for animals and plants and the regulation function for the filtering and regulation of water. They also contribute to heat stress and the risk of flooding. Where operationally possible, surfaces are not sealed or are unsealed.

Birds often collide with glass or are injured on contact lines. Bird protection markings on windows reduce collisions; particular caution is required with freestanding glass surfaces, such as windbreaks, fall-protections walls and pedestrian walkways. The FOT guidelines recommend measures to avoid electric shocks on contact lines. In collaboration with the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach, aids have been created to help endangered animal species like bats and urban nesters to make better use of SBB buildings.

Light pollution at railways station has significant ecological consequences. Many insects die on light points and the light also disturbs birds, fish, plants and entire ecosystems. It affects human health as well. For this reason, the design and use of lighting is being scrutinised increasingly closely and adjusted during planning, renovation and operations.

Amphibians.

The Ebikon–Rotsee track renovation project perimeter crosses an amphibian spawning ground of national significance. Many migrating amphibians were identified along the railway line in the 2022 field survey. As the engineering works started during the springtime amphibian migration, an amphibian protection fence was installed from the beginning of February until the middle of April to prevent the amphibians from wandering inside the engineering works perimeter. This enabled the capturing of a large population of palmate newts, a mid-sized population of common toads and several Alpine newts so they could be transported to the Rotsee spawning ground.

Image legend: Amphibian protection fence at the engineering works perimeter

On the other side of the tracks, a protective fence was also set up for the return migration to prevent the amphibians and their young crossing the engineering works perimeter after spawning.

To ease future amphibian migrations across the tracks, an amphibian diverter has been installed every 10 metres as part of the track renewal project and the ballast has been lowered at the corresponding point so the animals can migrate under the track. An access ramp has been installed every 25 metres so the amphibians can negotiate the railway verge. The cable duct was also heaped with ballast in places as even a few centimetres presents an obstacle to the young animals.

Image legend: Cable duct heaped with ballast

Reptiles.

There was enough evidence to assume that the smooth snake, a severely endangered species, might be present within the project perimeter. It was therefore decided to catch these snakes before the start of engineering works using artificial hiding places that warm up quickly (black EPDM plastic). Three smooth snakes were caught in this way and resettled in a suitable alternative location. A banded grass snake and six slow worms were also resettled in this way.

The railway verges in the track renovation project were designed to be reptile-friendly. Larger stones and broad-meshed latticework were used as these provide a habitat for reptiles and other small animals.