SBB: These high -speed trains are taken into account

ThoseRail –On which high-speed train will they set them out?

The ex-federal aegie wants to buy high speed oars for connections to Rome, Barcelona or London. A call for tenders is scheduled for 2026.

Posted today at 8:00 p.m.

It is an unexpected turnaround: the SBBs project to acquire up to 40 high -speed trains. This would allow them to even connect tourist destinations such as Rome, Barcelona and London.

Vincent Ducrot, director general of SPFs, had so far shown himself to be reluctant in the face of these acquisitions. He notably invoked a lack of rail expertise in this area and limited liquidity compared to foreign competitors.

It seems in the meantime to have changed his mind. Interested manufacturers may present their projects to the SBB between mid-April and mid-May. The final tender will be officially launched in 2026, for an order estimated at 1 billion francs or more.

According to an announcement on SIMAP, the public procurement platform, two options are being studied: either SBB will rent the future trains, or they will buy them, with a maintenance contract of fifteen years with the manufacturers.

What suppliers and trains are taken into account? Here is an overview.

A high -speed giruno?

A high -speed train straight out of the factories of the Stadler Swiss manufacturer? “It does not exist, it does not make sense,” we hear in unison in the rail sector. “Not so fast,” retorts Jürg Grob, the spokesperson for the company based in East Switzerland. “Stadler is in principle interested in the order and will participate in the information session,” he adds.

One thing is certain: currently, the Giruno train from Stadler, which CFFs use in particular for connections to Italy, is too slow for European high -speed networks. But that should not necessarily remain like this, underlines the boss of Stadler, Markus Bernsteiner. “Thanks to our knowledge of engineering, we are able to roll the Giruno faster than its current maximum speed of 250 km/h.”

Despite these promises, Stadler will probably not be the first choice. If only because of the approval process which generally lasts years and costs millions. It is undoubtedly too risky for Stadler and the SBB.

TGV: International travel emblem

The TGV is the high -speed train par excellence in Europe. Formerly painted in bright orange, it has become for many a symbol of rail travel abroad. In addition, Switzerland’s TGV links to Paris are among the most popular. A purchase from the manufacturer Alstom, a regular supplier of the SNCF, which already collaborates with the SBB, would therefore be logical.

The purchase of new TGV M, however, could not take place before 2031, because Alstom must first respond to the orders of the SNCF. This bought 115 TGV for around 4 billion euros. The first trains were to be put into service in 2024. But due to delivery problems, this date has already been postponed several times.

ICE: the German fast train

Siemens is also interested in the call for tenders and will participate in the meeting with the SBB. But then again, the question arises: with what Ice would the CFF go in Italy, France, Barcelona or London? Certainly not with Ice 4 as it currently circulates also in Switzerland. “This train does not exceed 265 km/h,” notes Kaspar Woker, rail expert.

Other high-speed trains in Siemens circulate in Spain under the name of S-103. As for the 3NEO type ICE of the Deutsche Bahn, they circulate towards Amsterdam and Brussels. The problem: “In France, the train has so far been authorized only on a single high -speed line,” says Kaspar Woker. SNCF and Alstom are indeed trying to protect access to the French network as much as possible. “This is why the Siemens trains do not go into account for SBB.”

Frecciarossa 1000: the Italien favors

It seems much more likely that the SBB is betting on the Italian trains Frecciarossa 1000 of the Consortium of manufacturers Hitachi and Alstom. These trains are highly appreciated, not only in Switzerland.

The Italian railway subsidiary soon wishes to use the “red arrows”, as they are called, to connect Rome to Munich, and later in Berlin. Currently, the railways are working on the adaptation of trains for traffic across the Alps to Germany. So why not also for Switzerland?

Frecciarossa, as used by Trenitalia, offers four levels of comfort. According to the class, meals are even included in the price. “This offer would be particularly well received by wealthy Swiss customers,” said the railway expert Kaspar Woker.

Talgo: Spanish outsider

He still remains the Spanish manufacturer Talgo. The country has the largest high -speed train network in Europe. With ultra -rapid trains like the new April Talgo, Madrid is easily accessible from the southern and northern provinces of the country.

Could CFFs also bet on April Talgo? “Probably not,” said expert Kaspar Woker. On the one hand, trains have not been used commercially since last year. On the other hand, the manufacturer is in full recovery and fights against a lack of capacity.

In addition, due to authorization problems, this train is neither in service in France, nor in Italy, the country in which CFFs want to develop their offer.

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