Siemens Mobility and Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) have signed a long-term framework agreement to advance the digitalisation of Switzerland’s rail signalling infrastructure. The partnership marks the first implementation of Siemens’ Signaling X solution in the country and forms part of SBB’s strategy to build a more modern, efficient, and sustainable rail system.
The ten-year contract includes the design and construction of complete digital interlocking systems — covering both hardware and software — along with a comprehensive package of services ranging from development and training to long-term maintenance and support. The agreement can be extended three times for additional five-year periods and includes 25 years of maintenance to ensure continued operational reliability.
Over the next two decades, around 500 interlockings will be modernised, replacing approximately 80 per cent of Switzerland’s existing systems. The first installations are scheduled to enter service in 2029, with further orders for individual interlockings to follow throughout the programme.
Centralised digital control with Signaling X
At the core of the partnership is Signaling X, Siemens Mobility’s digital interlocking platform, which shifts interlocking logic to centralised data centres. By decoupling hardware from software and using a virtualised, data-driven architecture, Signaling X enables faster, more flexible, and more resilient network operations.
According to Siemens Mobility, the approach will increase network capacity, reduce maintenance requirements, and support SBB’s long-term sustainability goals by optimising energy use and train movements.
Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility, said:
“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 centres, digitalising 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.”
Long-term collaboration and expertise
Siemens Mobility has maintained a long-standing presence in Switzerland and has worked closely with SBB for decades on control, signalling, and modernisation projects. The company’s Swiss operations cover the full value chain — including design, production, assembly, and commissioning — supported by local teams with extensive technical expertise.
This continuity and local presence were key factors in SBB’s decision to extend its partnership with Siemens, ensuring that knowledge and capability remain embedded within Switzerland’s rail industry.
The new framework builds on earlier collaborations, including complex signalling upgrades and the deployment of modern control technology across key nodes of the SBB network. Siemens Mobility’s evolutionary approach provides a migration path from existing legacy systems to the new digital architecture, allowing infrastructure to transition smoothly while maintaining high levels of availability.
Digitalisation supporting sustainability and capacity growth
The modernisation of interlockings is a cornerstone of SBB’s wider digital transformation programme, designed to improve reliability, operational flexibility, and sustainability across its 3,266-kilometre standard-gauge network — the largest in Switzerland used for both passenger and freight services.
By introducing centralised, software-defined control, SBB aims to boost capacity and reduce delays, helping to accommodate rising demand for rail travel and freight movement. The digital architecture will also facilitate integration with other advanced technologies such as the European Train Control System (ETCS) and predictive maintenance systems.
Once fully deployed, the new interlocking technology will support shorter train intervals, enhanced fault detection, and faster recovery from disruptions — key benefits as Switzerland continues to expand its role as a European rail hub.
A foundation for the next generation of Swiss signalling
The partnership between Siemens Mobility and SBB represents one of the most ambitious digital interlocking programmes in Europe. It sets a foundation for the next generation of rail signalling systems that combine virtualisation, automation, and data-driven operations.
With the first commissioning planned for 2029, the digital transformation of SBB’s signalling network is set to extend well into the 2040s, aligning with broader European efforts to harmonise rail control systems and improve cross-border interoperability.
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