More dialogue, more impact: Two new Swissrail formats for a strong rail sector

At the same time, the need for exchange and direction is growing: What works in practice? Where can we learn from each other? With two new formats, Swissrail brings decision-makers and experts together – for more dialogue and greater impact across the sector.

Against this backdrop, Swissrail has developed two new formats with a clear goal: to strengthen dialogue across the sector and increase collaboration between operators, system integrators and the supplier industry.

Exchange before tenders: A workshop format bridging operators and industry

With its new workshop format ahead of public tenders, Swissrail, together with operators, creates a space where key questions can be discussed early and transparently. The first workshop of this kind took place with SBB in the context of future rail control technology.

SBB’s existing rail control system ILTIS has been in use since 1994. As the long-term partnership agreement is coming to an end, the contract must be retendered. SBB will tender the new rail control technology under the project name RailCC. In advance, SBB and Swissrail invited industry partners to a joint workshop to identify and discuss key questions and focus areas for the upcoming RFI. This open approach demonstrates how transparency and collaboration can work – and is particularly crucial in digital transformation processes. Swissrail firmly believes in this cooperative approach and sees significant potential in coordinated collaboration when implementing complex projects.

A highlight: all workshop results will be shared publicly. This marks an important milestone for open, partnership-based collaboration between operators and industry – and can serve as a model for future projects. Swissrail thanks SBB for the excellent preparation and facilitation, and all participating industry representatives for their valuable contributions and perspectives.

Swissrail looks forward to continuing to contribute early on to shaping topics for the mobility of the future ahead of public tenders.

“Pitch your Innovation”: practical solutions for real challenges

Beyond exchange before tenders, the sector also needs formats that connect innovation directly with practice. This is exactly where the second new approach comes in: “Pitch your Innovation”. The aim: the supplier industry can present concrete solutions directly to customers – aligned with real challenges from day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning.

A pilot event recently took place at Stadler in Bussnang. Selected companies from across Switzerland presented innovative solutions to current challenges in the service business – ranging from depot optimisation and digital tools to AI applications. With 19 pitches and a broadly composed Stadler jury, the day offered strong potential for future collaboration between industry partners. Feedback was positive: the format brings creative minds together, enables tangible solution approaches and lays the foundation for new business relationships.

Building on these positive experiences, “Pitch your Innovation” is set to be repeated – with different system integrators and open to all Swissrail members.

Outlook

With these two new formats, Swissrail is strengthening the sector’s ecosystem in a targeted way: earlier, transparent dialogue before tenders and practice-oriented innovation pitches for concrete challenges. Both approaches pursue the same goal: enabling cooperation, addressing challenges proactively and bringing innovation faster to where it creates impact – in operations, for customers and in the mobility of tomorrow.

The interview was published in the December 2025 issue of Swissrail’s association magazine “express”.

You can read the full issue here.

Note on the translation: this text was translated using AI and checked by us. If you find any mistakes or something that is not clear, please let us know.