Composition of the trains

Jeepoaros98

To take a train in the morning between Lausanne and Geneva is a true delight (read with sarcasm please). I’m now on IC1. There are 10 2nd class cars and 6 1st class. Not everyone can afford to travel 1st class, I even allow myself to state that most of us need to use the 2nd class service. While we, the 2nd class customers need to often walk through a number of train cars to find one empty spot to sit down, there are basically 6 empty first class cars pulled by this train. Now I have two questions:
1) how was the decision to set up this train composition taken in regards to the majority of your (2nd class) customers who are even paying increased ticket prices this year?
2) how was the decision to set up this train composition taken in regards to the environmental concerns of the Planet. Is it environmentally friendly and even economic to run 6 1st class cars almost empty?

Thank you in advance, SBB, for your consideration.

Dominika

Danhiel

Jeepoaros98 The compositions could not be changed, they have 3 1st class cars and 5 2nd class cars (total 8 cars). On the IC 1, you have two compostions coupled together.

These trains were ordered in 2010, taken in service in 2018 and have a lifetime who could reach 40 years.

How can you imagine to be flexible with such trains? It is no more possible to add or remove cars for every train.

This is my personal opinion, not an official answer from the SBB.

Jeepoaros98

Danhiel Hi Danhiel, and thank you for taking your time to bring in your knowledge of the system. I understand now that the trains may remain as they are for 40 years. But it still doesn’t justify the way they are used. The world changes a lot in 40 years, right? I am not sure if you travel in the peak times in the critical Lausanne - Geneva line. But I don’t think it is ok to accept the current situation just because the trains were purchased like this… I believe SBB employs many creative minds with the quality of travel of their customers at heart. I was on trains when the SBB staff opened 1st class cars when there is no more space in the 2nd. Or maybe there could be a way to efficiently repurpose some 1st class into a 2nd class? Correct me again if I am wrong again with my thoughts. However, where there is a problem, there is a solution. And I think even SBB acknowledges that the Leman line in peak times is a problem…

Danhiel

Jeepoaros98 Hi,
It’s true, I’m retired and I avoid the peak times if possible.

Your idea to repurpose some 1st class into a 2nd class is good, but, as I know, some other works are already planed in the next years to improve the ride comfort and the availability of these trains. The workshop capacities are also limited. Normally, trains are refurbished only after 20 years.

I’m sure that SBB employs many creative minds, but technical or financial problems (covid debt for example) can curb creativity.

I see another problem. I observe in Bern that most people wait at the front of the IC trains to Zurich. I’m sure that more 2nd class free seats are available at the rear of the train, but it is necessary to walk 200-300 m. The trains are 400 m long, this is also the limit, the platforms are not longer.

RedBaron

Yesterday morning in 1st Class between Zurich and Bern (company paid ticket), I was glad I did not have to stand or sit on the floor or a stairway all the way!

Jeepoaros98

RedBaron Oh good you were able to sort it out! I still remember one of my rides, sitting on the stairs of an old train in August where the AC was not working… I mean, I don’t want to seem too negative, of course, I am happy there are trains, and they run on time and all, and that’s great. But at the same time, I think we have the right to complain as customers if the service we purchase is not right. As we wouldn’t be buying rotten apples at the grocery stores, we shouldn’t be expected to silently accept to sit on the stairs in an overcrowded train when we pay the ticket.

Danhiel

Jeepoaros98 Sure, you have the right to complain as customer, but you should not except an immediate solution or miracles. A new tunnel is planed between Geneva and Lausanne, opening in 2035 or 2040… Now it is impossible to add new trains, the line is saturated.

I give you another example. The signalisation between Morges and Nyon was installed at the end of the 1970’s, it is almost 50 years old. It works fine, it is now remote controlled by computers, but, basically, the capacity of the line is not better as 50 years ago, the average speed is not better, I think even less good.

Jeepoaros98

Danhiel Definitely agreed. Not expecting solutions or miracles for tomorrow. I know bigger changes could only come in years or decades. But really, taking that commute every day, and facing the same and same issues, the same overcrowded cars, the same 1st class empty cars… on an individual, psychological level, it helps to voice it out 🙂.