As a passenger attendant, you are the face of SBB and you play a key role in our passengers’ travel experience.
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I use my knowledge and experience to make sure our customers feel good every day, and they make me feel good as well – that’s how we keep Switzerland on the move together.
SandraKünzi
Head of Passenger Attendants (60%), sociable and travel-lover.
Connecting with people.
Every day, you interact with passengers, providing information, guidance and reassurance while helping them feel safe and well looked after throughout their journey. Assisting, informing and supporting thousands of travellers every day – and finding solutions together with them as required – is what makes this such a varied and rewarding role.
Your role as a passenger attendant.
As a passenger attendant, you are at the centre of everything, experiencing day-to-day rail operations first hand. You are a key point of contact for our passengers, providing them with information, advising them on onward connections and answering questions before and during their journey. You make onboard announcements to inform our passengers about connecting services. You inspect tickets and record the personal details of passengers who do not have a valid ticket. You remain confident and composed, even in challenging situations.
If a disruption occurs, you communicate clearly and help ensure passengers feel well advised and looked after. You ensure that safety regulations are observed and work closely with colleagues across different areas of the business. You also support passenger flow management at railway stations as required. Before departure, you prepare the train for service, carry out brake tests, and inspect the interior and exterior to ensure everything is ready for the journey.
We will teach you everything you need to know for your role as a passenger attendant. We provide a paid training programme combining theory with practical experience – either as an 8‑month full-time course or as a 12‑month part-time course (60%). This second training programme consists of six modules (including fares, customer service and rolling stock), teaching you everything you need to know for your role as a passenger attendant.
The course concludes with a final examination. If you pass, you’ll begin working onboard as a passenger attendant, putting your newly acquired knowledge directly into practice. You’ll then move onto a four-month consolidation phase, where you’ll gain valuable hands-on experience and build on what you’ve learned so far. Two focused classroom days, four supervised practical shifts and practice-based assignments will give you the confidence and skills you need for your day-to-day role on the train.
Several training courses begin every year in different locations in Switzerland. After completing the programme, you’ll be offered a position in your preferred training region wherever possible.
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As a future passenger attendant, you enjoy working with people and feel comfortable approaching others. You put the customer first, communicate clearly and remain calm and professional, even in challenging situations. Your strong mental and physical resilience enables you to stay composed, find practical solutions and project confidence in everything you do.
You are comfortable with working independently, take responsibility and have the confidence to assert yourself when necessary. At the same time, you remain organised and have an eye on the big picture, even in a fast-paced working environment. You are comfortable using digital tools and are committed to developing your skills over the long term.
You must also meet the following requirements:
Completed vocational training (at least two years) or a secondary school leaving qualification.
Excellent spoken German, French or Italian (minimum C1 level).
A willingness to learn two additional languages (German, French, Italian or English) to at least A2 level within two years. The required languages depend on the location and are specified in the relevant job advertisement.
You must be willing to work irregular hours.
You must be reliable, a team player and willing to personify SBB.
You’ll be working alongside colleagues from various parts of the company wherever our customers need you: on national long-distance services, on regional services or at stations. Your work as a passenger attendant can take you anywhere in Switzerland, but you will always start and finish your duties at the same place.
Our information video gives you an exciting insight into the varied day-to-day work as well as important information about training, requirements and the application process.
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Have you watched our information video? If so, apply directly for one of our current vacancies. Please include the following documents with your application:
Curriculum vitae
Federal vocational diploma and/or secondary school leaving qualification, including transcript of grades
The application process consists of a video interview, an online chat with an HR representative and an in-person meeting with management. If we feel you are a good match, you will have the opportunity to experience the role first hand during a job shadowing day as a passenger attendant. The final step is a medical fitness assessment in Bern.
We have a fair and progressive remuneration system. We reward individual performance, take the nature of the job market into account and ensure transparency. We have also been awarded the We Pay Fair label.
Pay during and after training.
Gross monthly pay, including your 13th salary payment, is determined by your age, experience and location. The diagram shows the pay range (excluding supplements) during and after training.
Supplements.
Up to CHF 500 for nights and Sundays. Supplements vary according to roustered duties (hourly allowance for nights: CHF 6/hourly Sunday rate: CHF 16).
Flat-rate subsistence allowance: CHF 19 per day
Child allowance: CHF 320 for the first child (CHF 215 for each additional child) and other SBB benefits.
Your individual pay will be determined by applying the pay system in our Collective Labour Agreement when you sign your employment contract.
GA Travelcard.
With the GA Travelcard, you can travel flexibly throughout Switzerland in both your professional and private life. If you have a 40% level of employment or above and a contract length of at least one year, the GA Travelcard is part of your benefits. You also benefit from attractive offers for your family as well as discounted train travel abroad.
Other benefits.
In addition to a fair and transparent salary, you also enjoy many other additional benefits at SBB. From attractive discounts on public transport and family-friendly working conditions to additional holiday and leisure offers, we create the optimal conditions so you can balance your life and your career.
As a passenger attendant working as part of SBB’s shift-based operations, you will be travelling around the whole of Switzerland from start of service to end of service on weekdays, weekends and public holidays. Irregular working times are normal at SBB. However, you can enjoy empty ski slopes during the week, will never again have to run errands when the shops are at their busiest and can plan your free time more flexibly.
As a passenger attendant, you have access to a wide range of internal career development opportunities at SBB. As you gain experience, you will have the chance to expand your responsibilities and take on new challenges, for example as a chief passenger attendant, trainer or team leader. This gives you the opportunity to keep developing both professionally and personally while actively shaping your career.
