Swiss public transport expected to lose CHF1.5 billion due to Covid-19
The collapse in the number of commuters and other passengers on Swiss trains and buses due to the pandemic is likely to leave a big hole in the finances of public transport companies.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Le Matin Dimanche/SonntagsZeitung/sb
العربية
ar
وسائل النقل العام السويسرية تتوقع خسارة بقيمة 1.5 مليار فرنك جراء كورونا
The Le Matin Dimanche and SonntagsZeitung newspapers reported on Sunday that Alliance SwissPass, the national public transport organisation, expects the number of yearly national train passes to fall by 6% and half-price annual passes to drop by 1% by the end of the year. This should result in a financial loss of CHF119 million for passes alone.
If this is added to the fall in local passes and individual train and bus tickets, SwissPass expects an overall loss of CHF1.5-1.8 billion in turnover for 2020.
Despite pupils returning to school as part of the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures, trains and buses remain only half full, transport companies say.
Passenger numbers have increased very gradually, and currently stand at around 55% of normal capacity in regional trains and 45% on intercity trains.
At the height of the pandemic, passenger volume dropped by 90%.
Post Bus – the yellow buses seen on many Swiss roads – also said that passenger numbers were well down compared with before the coronavirus crisis, but were slowly picking up. There was also an 80-90% drop in passenger numbers at Post Bus during March and April, the company added. Now the buses are about half full.
On Monday, train company BLS announced that it had transported about 60% fewer passengers than normal since the start of the lockdown. It predicts a loss of CHF40 million on its regional lines this year.
Next Wednesday, the Swiss government is expected to discuss a project to compensate public transport companies. A parliamentary transport committee will then consider the issue in order to finalise plans before autumn.
How is your country dealing with the return of stolen artifacts?
Western nations like Switzerland often have to deal with the process of recovering or returning looted artifacts which have been illegally imported. What’s the situation like in your country?
What do you think Switzerland’s Alain Berset can bring to the Council of Europe?
The former interior minister is to become the first Swiss Secretary General of the Council of Europe – which issues should his five-year term focus on?
Algerian to face trial in Switzerland for ties to Islamic State
This content was published on
A 51-year-old Algerian man has been charged by the Swiss Federal Prosecutor's Office for involvement in the banned terrorist group.
Sylvain Saudan, ‘skier of the impossible’, dies aged 87
This content was published on
The Swiss father of extreme skiing pioneered descents from the Alps to the Himalayas – and became the sport’s first star.
Hayek family buys additional Swatch shares for nearly CHF11 million
This content was published on
Following the acquisition of registered shares worth over CHF20.6 million on Monday, the Hayek family made another purchase on Tuesday.
Suicide capsule to be used in Switzerland this year, says euthanasia organisation
This content was published on
The organisation “The Last Resort” has confirmed that the suicide capsule Sarco is to be used in Switzerland. This should happen this year, it said.
Ukrainian children flown to Switzerland for cancer treatment
This content was published on
The Swiss air rescue service Rega flew two Ukrainian children with cancer to Switzerland from a hospital in Kyiv hit by Russian missiles.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.