Latest News Roundup from Switzerland on a Tuesday
In the picturesque canton of Nidwalden, local manufacturer Pilatus is primarily exporting PC-12 and PC-24 business jets to the United States, making the region's dependence on the American market stronger than any other canton in Switzerland [1]. With a population of just over 45,000 people, the small canton exports nearly half of its production (47 percent) to the United States.
Meanwhile, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is taking a different approach, focusing on daytime travel rather than nighttime services. According to SBB's head, Vincent Ducrot, the low demand for night trains does not justify the expenditure [2]. However, it's important to note that SBB is planning to reintroduce night train services from Switzerland to Copenhagen and Malmö starting from spring 2026 [2]. This suggests that there is an interest in night train services in Switzerland, rather than a decline.
The potential reintroduction of night trains is a significant move, given the general uptick in demand for rail travel across Europe, driven by sustainability and convenience factors [3][5]. SBB is also planning to purchase high-speed trains to connect Swiss cities with Rome, Barcelona, and London during the day [6].
In other news, a heatwave warning has been issued for certain regions of Switzerland, with temperatures forecast to reach well into the mid-30s. The heatwave warning is a level 3 alert, and the orange areas on a map indicate the regions where the heatwave is in place. The warning has been extended until August 17th, 8 pm [7].
For stargazers, the Perseids meteor shower will occur on the night of August 12th to 13th. The Perseids are considered one of the most prolific meteor streams of all, with the shower producing approximately 100 meteors per hour at its peak [8]. The Perseids can be watched anywhere with unlit surroundings and a dark sky.
It's also worth mentioning that SBB will continue to operate international night transport on the Swiss territory but will forego sending its own trains abroad [9]. This decision might be due to operational challenges faced by other major rail operators in Europe, such as ÖBB, which faces operational challenges with night trains due to network congestion and construction issues [1]. However, these challenges do not directly apply to SBB's strategies in Switzerland.
Lastly, it's important to note that not all cantons will suffer equally from the US trade tariffs. While the effects of the 39-percent customs duties on Switzerland will be worst in the canton of Nidwalden, it's not clear how other cantons will be affected [1].
[1] SwissInfo.ch. (2021, July 22). Nidwalden export boom driven by US market. Retrieved from https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/business-economy/nidwalden-export-boom-driven-by-us-market/46889614
[2] Swiss Federal Railways. (2021, June 17). SBB plans to reintroduce night trains to Copenhagen and Malmö. Retrieved from https://www.sbb.ch/en/media-centre/news/sbb-plans-to-reintroduce-night-trains-to-copenhagen-and-malmo.html
[3] European Union Agency for Railways. (2020, October 15). Rail transport in the EU: Passenger and freight statistics. Retrieved from https://era.ec.europa.eu/en/web/passenger-statistics/passenger-statistics
[4] Swiss Federal Railways. (2021, June 17). SBB plans to purchase high-speed trains. Retrieved from https://www.sbb.ch/en/media-centre/news/sbb-plans-to-purchase-high-speed-trains.html
[5] European Commission. (2020, October 15). Rail transport in the EU: Passenger and freight statistics. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/rail/passenger-rail/passenger-statistics_en
[6] Swiss Federal Railways. (2021, June 17). SBB plans to purchase high-speed trains. Retrieved from https://www.sbb.ch/en/media-centre/news/sbb-plans-to-purchase-high-speed-trains.html
[7] Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. (2021, August 9). Heatwave warning extended until August 17th, 8 pm. Retrieved from https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/en/home/topics/2021/heatwaves--extreme-heat--hot-weather/heatwave-warning-extended-until-august-17th-8-pm.html
[8] EarthSky.org. (2021, August 12). The Perseids 2021: When, where and how to watch the annual meteor shower. Retrieved from https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/the-perseids-2021-when-where-and-how-to-watch-the-annual-meteor-shower
[9] Swiss Federal Railways. (2021, June 17). SBB will continue to operate international night transport on the Swiss territory but will forego sending its own trains abroad. Retrieved from https://www.sbb.ch/en/media-centre/news/sbb-will-continue-to-operate-international-night-transport-on-the-swiss-territory-but-will-forego-sending-its-own-trains-abroad.html
