Rail traffic controller – show Switzerland the way.
As a rail traffic controller, you play an important role in ensuring smooth rail services and have a significant impact on customer satisfaction.
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Safely transporting thousands of passengers and tons of freight on time through the world’s longest railway tunnel is truly an exciting experience.
OmarUebelhart
Rail traffic controller and Production team leader, with a passion for good food and anything on two wheels.
At the heart of the network.
As a rail traffic controller, you maintain an overview of your rail network and manage the trains which run on it in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Thanks to your monitoring and quick reactions, people and freight always arrive safely and on time, no matter what hour of the day or night. You make sure that passengers feel comfortable on Europe’s busiest rail network and arrive at their destinations satisfied.
Your role as a rail traffic controller.
In the train-control centre.
As a rail traffic controller in the train-control centre, you maintain an overview of your rail network and monitor and manage the trains which run on it in the safest, most punctual and environmentally friendly way. You liaise with colleagues, locomotive crews, railticketing helpdesks, and construction and shunting staff, and ensure that passengers are kept informed.
In the event of disruptions, you take charge of operational management: you analyse the situation, implement measures and resolve the disruption so that normal operations can be restored as quickly as possible. This means you share responsibility for Switzerland’s transport network. Without you, the network comes to a standstill. This job is important for the whole system and has an immediate impact: you coordinate people and technology and make quick decisions, providing a direct contribution to the safe and reliable running of rail transport.
In the marshalling yard.
As a rail traffic controller in the marshalling yard, you manage key freight transport hubs – at Muttenz marshalling yard you are responsible for the gateway to international traffic, and at Limmattal marshalling yard for handling national freight traffic. Other important sites with local management are Lausanne Triage and Chiasso-Smistamento. You monitor and control train traffic across various signal boxes. This means you ensure safe and smooth operations behind the scenes.
Rail traffic control in the train-control centre.
Several training courses begin each year at the four train-control centres at Olten, Zürich Flughafen, Renens and Pollegio. You will learn everything you need to know about the work of a rail traffic controller in our paid further training programme, which you can complete on a full or part-time basis.
Part-time training.
The paid part-time training programme is completed with a workload of 60% and lasts 14 months. You alternate between weeks of theory work and weeks of practical work. Theory days are Thursday, Friday and Saturday; practical days are specified at the start and fixed for the duration of the training period. After successful completion of the training, an opportunity for full-time work or part-time from 60% is available, provided your performance, quality of work and commitment are satisfactory.
Full-time training lasts eight months and is aimed at those who wish to focus entirely on their learning. It is offered several times a year at various locations across Switzerland and combines theory and practice in a compact format.
The paid further training is completed at a 100% workload in the same training class as traffic controllers in the train-control centre. Following your training as a rail traffic controller, you will be taught the additional electrical/digital signal box technologies required specifically for the marshalling yard in modules which will take place in the relevant marshalling yard.
During the training, you will already be part of the SBB team and reap all the associated benefits. At the end of your training – whether full or part time – you will take the theoretical and practical proficiency examination as set out by the Swiss Federal Office of Transport (FOT).
As a prospective traffic controller, you count joined-up thinking and goal-oriented action among your strengths.
You also meet the following requirements:
Completed vocational training (at least three years) or baccalaureate.
You are diligent, reliable and willing to work on a 24-hour shift rotation.
Your joined-up thinking and independent working methods help you to respond to incidents quickly and appropriately.
Oral and written proficiency in the workplace language.
You have perfect colour vision (no red/green colour blindness).
In the train-control centre.
As a rail traffic controller in the train-control centre, you are responsible for your assigned sector. You are part of an extended team of specialists — such as dispatcher rail services, assistants and customer information specialists — who provide you with technical and operational support.
Your workstation comprises eight screens, on which various systems run simultaneously. This allows you to keep track of rail operations in your sector: train routing data, the timetable scheduling system and schematic track diagrams. You also operate the telephone system to contact, for example, locomotive crews or other departments in the event of disruptions.
In the marshalling yard.
As a rail traffic controller in the marshalling yard, you work on-site in a signal box and are responsible for the area assigned to you. You are part of an interdisciplinary team — including the marshalling yard shift supervisor and the train composition and formation dispatcher — who provide you with technical and operational support.
Your workstation comprises six to eight screens, on which various systems run simultaneously. This provides you with all the key information on shunting and freight traffic in your area: the timetable dispatching system, schematic track diagrams and other operational data. In addition, you control shunting and train movements using a push-button signal box and use the telephone system to communicate directly with locomotive and shunting personnel.
Information event.
Interested in finding out more about a career as an rail traffic controller? If so, come along to one of our information events and gain a first-hand insight into the working day of a rail traffic controller.
No time? Event fully booked? No problem. Watch the recording of our information event (in German) whenever and wherever suits you best.
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Experience report (in German).
In their report, Tanja and Peter talk about their experiences before, during and after their further training and tell us what still fascinates them about their job.
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Have you already attended an information event or watched the digital recording? If so, you can apply online for a vacancy now. The application process includes psychological and medical fitness examinations. The psychological examination is carried out by a psychologist and ensures that you are capable of meeting the requirements of this security-related role.
We have a fair and progressive remuneration system. We reward individual performance, take the nature of the job market into account and create transparency. We have also been awarded the We Pay Fair label.
Pay during and after training.
The gross salary per month, including the wage for the thirteenth month, depends on age, experience and location. The graphics show the minimum salary scales by age (excluding extra pay).
Salary during your training.
Salary after training.
Extra pay and allowances.
Up to CHF 500 for nights and Sundays. depending on the shift plan. (Hourly rate for night work: CHF 6 / hourly Sunday rate: CHF 16). Between CHF 100 and 150 during the training period.
Child allowance: CHF 320 for the first child (CHF 215 for each additional child) and other SBB benefits.
Your individual pay will be determined by applying the pay system in our collective employment agreement when you sign your employment contract.
Other benefits.
In addition to a fair and transparent salary, you also enjoy many other additional benefits at SBB. From attractive discounts on public transport and family-friendly working conditions to additional holiday and leisure offers, we create the optimal conditions so you can balance your life and your career.
As a rail traffic controller, you have various opportunities for further training. You can specialise in a particular field or pursue a management career. In this specialist career path, you can progress to roles such as dispatcher rail services and passenger information dispatcher, head of control room, trainer or take on project-related tasks. A career in management offers opportunities such as becoming a team leader; internal and external courses, practical training and mentoring will support you at every stage.
SBB operates around the clock which means that, as a rail traffic controller, you will be on duty on weekdays, at weekends and on public holidays. Irregular working times are normal at SBB. In return, you get to enjoy empty ski slopes during the week, never again have to run errands when the shops are at their busiest, and can plan your free time more flexibly. You will work either full-time or part-time, whereby your hours are determined by your availability and the needs of the relevant site.
