Siemens Mobility and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) have entered into a long-term framework agreement to modernize and digitalize Switzerland's railway interlockings. The agreement aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the country’s rail infrastructure by introducing Siemens’ Signaling X solution, which will move interlocking logic to central data centers. This shift is expected to enhance operational capacity and reliability for both passenger and freight services.
The framework agreement covers the construction of digital interlockings, including hardware, software, and a range of services such as development, training, and support. The initial term is ten years with options for three five-year extensions. Maintenance will be provided for 25 years to ensure reliable operation.
Over the next two decades, about 500 interlockings are set to be modernized, with approximately 80 percent of existing systems replaced. The first new interlockings are scheduled for commissioning in 2029. Orders for individual units will be awarded throughout the project period.
Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility GmbH, stated: “We are delighted to be shaping the future of the Swiss railway landscape together with SBB. At the heart of this transformation are virtual interlocking systems. With Signaling X, interlocking logic is intelligently shifted to central data centers, digitalizing rail operations from the ground up. This groundbreaking technology not only significantly increases the network’s capacity and reliability, but also decisively contributes to SBB’s climate goals. By providing guaranteed system availability of up to 100 percent, we are helping to achieve our shared goal: more trains running at shorter intervals for passenger and freight transport in Switzerland.”
Siemens Mobility has had a longstanding presence in Switzerland and has worked on numerous projects involving control and signaling technology for SBB. Local employees handle all stages of these projects—from development through support—which has contributed to a strong partnership between Siemens Mobility and SBB.
The company also maintains a significant installed base within SBB’s network and has developed migration plans that allow current platforms to transition smoothly toward future requirements.
Switzerland’s standard-gauge rail network operated by SBB spans 3,266 kilometers and supports both passenger and freight traffic.