Zentralbahn transports nearly 14 million passengers
Stansstad - In 2024, the Zentralbahn carried approximately 13.8 million passengers on routes in the triangle between Lucerne, Engelberg-Titlis in the canton of Obwalden and Interlaken in the canton of Bern.
In 2024, the Zentralbahn transported around 13.8 million passengers on its routes serving the Lucerne, Engelberg-Titlis and Interlaken triangle, as zb Zentralbahn AG writes in a press release. Year on year, this equates to growth of 7 percent. Double-digit growth rates were recorded by the railway company on the Lucerne-Interlaken East, Lucerne-Sachseln (canton of Obwalden) and Lucerne-Horw (canton of Lucerne) lines.
Revenue from passenger transport rose by 18 percent to 61.2 million Swiss francs compared with 2023. Nevertheless, Zentralbahn reported a loss of 1.0 million Swiss francs at the end of financial year 2024. This loss was caused by expenses of 5.4 million Swiss francs for repair work that was required in the wake of the storm that hit Brienz on August 12, 2024.
In terms of milestones in the financial year, Zentralbahn cites its comprehensive modernization and expansion project in Meiringen in the canton of Bern, which was initiated in 2024. In Hergiswil in the canton of Nidwalden, a renovation project was carried out to upgrade the tracks at the station, the switches in the northern section, and the superstructure between the station and Idyllweg. In addition, the railway implemented control measures and structural improvements on the trains.
In the press release, zb Zentralbahn AG also announced a change at the top of the company. With effect from November 2025, Michael Schürch will leave his role as Managing Director to pursue a new professional challenge away from the company. The company did not provide any further details regarding the appointment of a successor. At the annual general meeting, Christophe Gardan was elected to the Board of Directors as the representative of the main shareholder SBB. He will replace Urban Ehret, who has vacated his seat on the board, until 2026.
