Find out more about emissions associated with engineering works, their impact and why the way ahead to an improved offering for railway companies, passengers and residents is bumpy – and what SBB is doing to protect people and the environment.
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SBB maintains one of the busiest rail networks in the world. A network used that intensively must also be well maintained to ensure trains always arrive safely and punctually at their destinations. SBB is also expanding its network cost-effectively with its focus squarely on customers. Its aim is to continue to meet customer needs in the future.
The federal government and parliament have decided to implement extensive infrastructure upgrades that SBB is implementing on behalf of and with funding from the federal government. The Swiss rail network is also one of the world's busiest and must be constantly maintained and upgraded to ensure it remains safe, punctual and efficient. The aim is to have a reliable offering for passengers and freight services, which continues to fulfil customer needs in the future.
Stations.
SBB is upgrading and extending existing stations (for instance additional underpasses and station approaches) or is refurbishing them.
SBB is adapting stations to the requirements of the Swiss Disability Discrimination Act (BehiG) by raising platforms and installing ramps or lifts, for example.
Along the route.
SBB is renewing or replacing rails, points, ballast or contact lines.
It is building and maintaining grade-separation structures such as tunnels or bridges so that trains can cross at different levels.
For residents.
Noise and vibrations from engineering works, in some cases even at night.
Construction site traffic and temporarily changed routes around stations or level crossings.
Construction logistics, i.e. delivering and removing materials and machinery, can cause restrictions. Not everything can be transported by rail. Installation sites close to construction sites are also indispensable for logistics to store materials and machinery. This can affect car parks and parking areas.
For passengers.
Diversions, longer routes, noise, less space at the station.
Timetable changes, longer travel times, diversions or rail replacement buses during the intensive construction phases.
To ensure engineering works can be completed safely on the network, tracks have to be closed and contact lines switched off. Trains on adjacent tracks then run more slowly. That means fewer trains can run and timetables need to be changed.
Whenever possible, SBB plans these kinds of works in quiet periods, for instance at night, at weekends or in the school holidays. In this way, passengers or freight services suffer as little disruption as possible.
Planning is difficult because a lot of different work has to be done simultaneously: new construction projects, maintenance of track and points as well as construction work by third parties, such as on roads or buildings near the railway. All this work calls for closures and must be well coordinated – even across regions and countries.
Detailed Information tailored to your travel plans is available in the online timetable as always at sbb.chLink opens in new window. or in the SBB Mobile app.
How does SBB perform the work so that trains can keep running?
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Engineering works during the day tend to be quicker and cheaper. SBB works at night only if necessary for safety reasons. For instance, if the construction site is very near to moving trains or the contact line. At night there are fewer trains, reducing the impact on passengers.
Weekends are also good for line closures because there is less commuter traffic in the morning and evening. Leisure traffic is more evenly spread over the day, making it is easier for SBB to plan its substitute offers. There are also fewer freight trains at weekends.
SBB carries out environmental monitoring, especially during major construction projects. During construction, such monitoring helps ensure that SBB complies with the relevant rules and implements them correctly. These include statutory regulation on environmental protection and the environmental protection measures set out for the project.
Noise.
Despite measures taken as regards planning and project planning, execution and behaviour, not all noise emissions can be avoided during engineering works. SBB is aware that this can be annoying for local residents. It endeavours to carry out noisy work during the day wherever possible, avoiding carrying out this kind of work in periods where people are trying to rest. It also complies with the construction noise regulation of the Federal Office for the Environment. This includes the following measures:
Construction machinery adheres to sound power levels.
The machinery is state of the art.
Construction materials and machinery are normally transported during the day.
SBB provides a contact point for questions regarding construction activities.
Measures are accompanied by environmental monitoring of building work.
The affected local residents are informed beforehand whenever possible.
Authorities and SBB implement numerous requirements and measures to ensure that lorries do not unnecessarily inconvenience other road users or local residents. These include:
The restriction of traffic (number of lorries per hour)
Specification of transport routes and times
Stipulation of routes to and from the site (together with the relevant authorities)
Use of motorways and main roads, avoiding local roads wherever possible
Vibrations.
When construction sites cause a lot of vibration, crack monitoring reports are prepared on the exposed real estate. If there is a risk that work generating a lot of vibration could cause damage, or if real estate is affected that is very sensitive to vibrations, measurements are made to monitor buildings. SBB will respond where defined limit values are exceeded and take action before damage occurs. As with construction noise, local residents are notified early on of works that could cause vibrations.
Air pollution control.
On the construction site (construction machinery, transporting materials/machinery on the construction site): The Guideline on Operational and Technical Measures to Limit Air Pollutant Emissions from Construction Sites from the Federal Office for the Environment applies. SBB implements various measures to keep such emissions as low as possible. These include reducing the number of journeys by reusing materials, monitoring mechanical, thermal or chemical processes and placing requirements on equipment and machinery as well as on tendering and construction.
Away from the construction site (construction transport): Pollutant emissions during the construction phase are determined by the lorry traffic or based on the mileage covered on the public road network. Fully utilising load capacity, using short transport routes and implementing emission standards (lorries) in line with the state of the art constitute the key measures in reducing air pollution.
