ALPTRANSIT Gotthard confirmed on June 15 that Switzerland's 15.4km Ceneri Base Tunnel will not be commissioned until December 2020, a year later than previously scheduled, due to a dispute over tendering.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) unveiled its new Twindexx Express IR 200 long-distance EMU at Bombardier's Villeneuve plant in western Switzerland on June 8.

THE Swiss Federal Council approved a mandate on May 20 for the country to negotiate membership of the European Railway Agency (ERA), which is part of the European Union (EU).

What will happen to transalpine traffic when the Gotthard road tunnel closes for maintenance work? Can rail take the strain from the roads on this vital axis, and if so, how? Regional editor Anitra Green takes a look at the possibilities and the wider implications.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) increased its group net profit by 56.6% in 2014 to SFr 373m ($US 259.6m) with growth in all sectors.

SWISS railfreight operator BLS Cargo announced its annual results on March 17, revealing a 75% increase in profits to SFr 2.5m ($US 2.5m) and a 49% increase in Ebit to SFr 4 million in 2014 despite an 8% drop in net earnings, which fell to SFr 167.9m.

ALPTRANSIT Gotthard reached a key milestone in the construction of Switzerland's 15.4km Ceneri Base Tunnel on March 17, when the first bore of the tunnel was holed through 13 months ahead of schedule.

BELGIAN railfreight operator SNCB Logistics has launched a new fast wagonload service linking Belgium with Switzerland, cutting transit times from a week to 4.5 days.

SWISS regional railway Zentralbahn had a record year in 2014, with a new timetable, new trains, and improved marketing to tourists driving a surge in ridership.

SWISS Federal Railways (SBB) has named the winners of contracts worth a total of SFr 136m ($US 144m) for tracklaying services over the next 5-10 years.