Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has announced that a new type of train will hit the tracks. 329 new Flirt Evo trains will be used on regional public transport services in Switzerland from 2026, promising better punctuality and more space.
Swiss-made Flirt Evo trains to be used on regional rail routes
Writing in a statement, SBB confirmed that new Flirt Evo trains from Swiss firm Stadler will be used to replace most of the trains currently used by regional providers, whose service life is set to expire in 2034. 329 trains have been ordered by SBB, Thurbo and RegionAlps, with the possibility of adding 181 more should the company follow through on its expansion plans.
The new trains sport more storage space for bicycles, luggage and strollers, alongside a good internet connection, power sockets in all carriages and better access for disabled people. Thanks to its new engines, the trains should also help improve punctuality. All of the trains will be built at Stadler’s facility in Canton Thurgau.
Image credit: ©SBB CFF FFS
Which rail routes in Switzerland will get the new trains?
The first of the brand new trains will be rolled out to Thurbo services in Canton Zurich and eastern Switzerland, and RegionAlps lines in Valais from 2026. This will be followed by the new Hochrhein-Bodensee-Express and SBB regional services in central Switzerland in 2028, and SBB services in the Jura (2029), Vaud (2030), Fribourg (2032), Canton Bern (2033) and some other smaller routes (2035).
The trains will also be used on S-Bahn lines between Basel, France and Germany from 2031. By 2035, most Flirt Evos will serve Winterthur and eastern Switzerland, followed by Vaud and Basel.
Speaking at a press conference, Thurbo company manager Claudio Bossert said that the new trains were perfect for their network of smaller stations and platforms, adding that they look “forward to the trains from Eastern Switzerland - for Eastern Switzerland." Yves Marclay, director of Region Alps, noted that “the trains will offer more capacity during peak hours and for leisure activities…The arrival of the Flirt Evo is awaited with great excitement in Valais."