The Loss at SBB Cargo Will Be More Significant in 2024 Than Expected

The SEV, the union of transport personnel, reports today on an impending job reduction at SBB Cargo Switzerland. The fact is: The results have worsened further in the past year, and the transported volumes have declined. SBB Cargo Switzerland is adapting to the market. By the end of 2025, SBB Cargo Switzerland will reduce around 80 full-time positions. The reduction will occur primarily through internal transfers within SBB or through natural turnover. SBB employs around 35,500 staff, which is nearly 600 more than the previous year.

(Bern) The freight transport of SBB Cargo Switzerland is expected to incur a significantly higher loss for the past year 2024 than anticipated. The main reasons are of a cyclical nature and are related to the further tightened economic situation: Fewer customers are using SBB Cargo Switzerland for their transport needs.

In response, the company is lowering its own costs, increasing revenue, enhancing utilization, and making targeted investments. Specifically, SBB Cargo Switzerland will reduce the existing surplus and thus eliminate around 80 full-time positions by the end of 2025. This affects positions in administration and operational staff. SBB Cargo Switzerland employs around 2,250 full-time positions.

SBB is in close communication with social partners. The job reduction is intended to be as socially acceptable as possible, occurring through internal transfers within SBB and natural turnover such as retirements – layoffs are the exception. Demographics and the shortage of skilled workers in many professions are helping in this regard.

SBB employs around 35,500 staff, which is nearly 600 more than the previous year. This has allowed for the catch-up of the underemployment, the internalization of external positions, and the accommodation of the increasing construction volume. The positions created in recent years are mostly in the operational area, such as locomotive and train personnel, engineers, technicians, craftsmen, or IT. Where positions are no longer needed, SBB will eliminate them. This is currently the case due to low demand and poor results at SBB Cargo Switzerland.

Making Freight Transport Fit for the Future

SBB is focusing on a strong, future-oriented rail freight transport. To achieve this, they are fundamentally realigning it. The concept “Suisse Cargo Logistics” serves as a framework for this realignment, where the railway is to be used for long distances and the transport of heavy goods wherever there is customer demand. Through investments in a modern fleet, automation, and a new production model, SBB will reduce costs by 60 million CHF and is relying on strong partnerships with customers through a reliable offering at cost-covering prices.

More Information at the Annual Press Conference on March 6, 2025

For the restructuring of the single wagon load traffic, SBB is counting on temporary financial support from the federal government. This is based on the total revision of the Freight Transport Act. After the transformation, SBB’s freight transport will operate independently, able to make reinvestments and meet the federal goals – without support from the public sector or the parent company SBB. The SBB will provide an overview of the situation and discuss the planned measures in more detail at the annual press conference on March 6, 2025.

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