In 2025, Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) achieved record-high punctuality: 94.1% of trains arrived on time. This outstanding result was driven by the dedication of employees and the reliability of trains and infrastructure—despite significant challenges such as extensive construction work and a packed calendar of major events. Customer satisfaction also remained high.
Only the Canton of Tessin (Ticino in Italian-speaking Switzerland) saw a slight dip in punctuality, while performance in western Switzerland improved markedly.
December 28, 2025, marked the most punctual day in Swiss rail history, with 98.6% of trains reaching their destination on time. Overall punctuality in passenger services rose by 0.9 percentage points compared with 2024, up from 93.2% to a record 94.1%.
This achievement came despite numerous large-scale events requiring a total of 1,600 extra trains—such as the Eurovision Song Contest and the UEFA Women’s Euro—as well as major construction projects, including the closure of the Bern–Fribourg line. The strong commitment of staff, the high reliability of rolling stock and infrastructure, and mild autumn weather all contributed to the success.
Customer satisfaction remained strong, particularly regarding connection punctuality, which stood at 98.6%, just marginally below the 98.7% recorded in 2024.
Slight Decline in Ticino, Strong Gains in Western Switzerland
In Ticino, punctuality fell slightly to 92.1% (2024: 92.6%), mainly due to delays on trains arriving from Italy and construction work in the Lugano/Melide area. Strikes in Italy and the closure of the Simplon route—resulting in freight trains being diverted via the Gotthard corridor and record traffic through the Gotthard Base Tunnel—also had a negative impact.
By contrast, western Switzerland posted another clear improvement, with punctuality rising to 93.4% (2024: 91.9%; 2023: 89.2%). Connection punctuality reached 98.9%, above the national average. This positive trend was largely enabled by the 2025 timetable, which increased the overall robustness of the system.
International Services Remain Challenging
International passenger services continue to pose challenges. Trains arriving from Germany in particular often enter Switzerland with delays, affecting punctuality within the country. To mitigate this, SBB turns trains back at the border when necessary and operates replacement services within Switzerland.
