⏱ 1 min 30 read
Background
On 22 June 2005, a general failure of the railway power grid brought trains to a standstill across Switzerland. Nearly 2,000 trains were stopped and 200,000 passengers were stranded, recalls Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). Since then, the company has been investing in its infrastructure to reduce this risk. Until now, restoring power after a general outage could take several hours.
The key points
On the night of 12 to 13 November 2026, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) successfully tested a system that automatically restores the power supply to trains after a general outage. In a typical outage scenario, the operation now takes five minutes.
The system is operational throughout Switzerland. The test was carried out without interrupting traffic, the company says. According to SBB, this technology places it among the best-performing railway operators in the world for restoring power.
Key figures
- 5 minutes : time to restore power in a typical general outage, compared with several hours previously
- Nearly 2,000 : trains stopped during the outage of 22 June 2005
- 200 000 : passengers stranded during that outage
What it means for businesses
- Commuters and employers : a general failure of the railway grid would stop trains for much less time.
- Rail freight : continuity of the network’s power supply is better secured.
Further reading
Sources
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