SBB boss Ducrot questions train stops at smaller stations
Published: Sunday, Mar 17th 2024, 11:20
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SBB CEO Vincent Ducrot is calling for a discussion about the future role of SBB in public transport in Switzerland. In an interview with "Sonntagsblick", he said, for example, that the question should be asked whether SBB should also stop at smaller stations in the future.
SBB is strong on medium and longer routes, says Ducrot in the interview. The fine distribution of passengers on the last fifteen minutes of the journey, on the other hand, is something for local public transport.
"We must (...) have the courage to think about taboos such as the node principle or the stop policy," said Ducrot. "We should approach centers more flexibly and move away from the rigid 0/15/30/45 node structure. For smaller stations, we need to think about where it makes sense for a train to stop."
Quarter-hourly intervals at junctions from 2035
According to a "status report" posted on the SBB website by Monika Ribar, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, the 0/15/30/45 node structure means that connections are available at important rail hubs at X.00, X.15, X.30 and X.45.
"If a train runs every 15 minutes, it will be possible to move away from the strict 0/15/30/45 node structure and approach the nodes more flexibly. They will become less important and we can dispense with expensive infrastructure for a few seconds of extra travel time," says Ribar according to this text.
At the media conference on SBB's bill a few days ago, Ducrot said that a quarter-hourly frequency at the rail junctions from 2035 would simplify the pulse and resolve connection problems without trains having to run faster.
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