Swiss Stories

SBB

Intelligent technology for greater energy efficiency

Environment
Tablets for saving electricity? They exist. Thousands of Swiss train drivers are now using tablets with a new innovative software for reducing the electricity consumption of trains. For this innovative solution, the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) has received the prestigious prize for energy efficiency Watt d’Or of the Federal Office of Energy (FOE).
André Borschberg

André Borschberg - Turning obstacles into opportunities

Environment
Engineer, entrepreneur, CEO, accomplished pilot: this broad set of talents has enabled Switzerland's André Borschberg, co-founder of Solar Impulse, to play a key role in making this plane without fuel a reality.
Horse-drawn carriage

Across the Gotthard on foot and by train

Environment
Today's travellers have different ways of getting from one side of the Gotthard Massif to the other: they can either follow the old Gotthard Pass road, as our forebears did, or they can travel through the world's longest tunnel, the new Gotthard Tunnel.
Gottardo 2016 © Amberg Group

The Gotthard Tunnel: also a women's story

Environment
The world's longest rail tunnel, 57km long, opened on 1 June 2016. This feat of Swiss engineering, which crosses the Alps and links the cantons of Uri and Ticino, was built by AlpTransit Gotthard SA, a subsidiary of the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB). AlpTransit has a workforce of 170, including 53 women, which makes it something of an exception in the construction and infrastructure engineering sector.
Bertrand Piccard

Bertrand Piccard - The power of dreams for the energy of tomorrow

Environment
Bertrand Piccard, the Swiss mastermind behind Solar Impulse, has harnessed his pioneering spirit and thirst for exploration for a global cause: the quality of life for future generations.
Lag da Claus Surrein

When rock from the Gotthard Base Tunnel heads to the beach

Environment
After lying dormant in the heart of the mountain for several million years, a portion of the 28 million tonnes of material excavated to build the Gotthard Base Tunnel has been given a new and somewhat more exotic lease of life.
gottardo

A green tunnel

Environment
With UNESCO World Heritage sites, nature reserves, an arboretum and a highly active Swiss league for nature protection, wildlife conservation is of concern to the Swiss. The plans for the Gotthard Base Tunnel were drawn up with this in mind. 152 kilometers of shafts and passages were excavated with minimal environmental damage.