Recovering from disruptions

In case of operational problems caused for example by a major breakdown or bad weather, a number of extra movements - especially for passenger service - may be required on very short notice.

The worse the day, the more extra movements are needed and the shorter the time available to plan them. On a normal day, the Operations Preparation unit at the Zurich dispatching center issues between 80 and 120 orders for special movements. A number approaching 200 indicates an instable situation with many late trains.

The biggest problem in case of major traffic disruption is to get the right passenger trainsets back to the right place at the right time. ("Right" means according to the national operating plan that is defined annually along with the train schedule.) In case of large-scale disruptions, such as the hurricaine of December 26, 1999, which severed SBB's network in 33 places, this process may require days.

To help with this task, the ID number of each locomotive and car is now automatically recorded as trains pass at a number of points around the SBB network.